920: Extra-Curricular Activities
Responsible Administrator: Deputy Superintendent, Education Services
PURPOSE
Sturgeon Public Schools believes in and encourages interschool sports programs which provide educational experiences which will help students grow physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and morally.
This Administrative Procedure applies to relevant sports as defined in the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act and its Regulation, including interschool competitive athletics coordinated or sponsored by the Division.
“Female-only league, class or division” and “sex at birth” have the meanings set out in
the Fairness and Safety in Sport Regulation.
PROCESS
The Deputy Superintendent, Education Services shall be responsible for maintaining the procedure. In Sturgeon Public Schools, athletics are coordinated through the Interschool Sports Committee (ISC) Coordinator at the junior high level, Athletics Directors at the high school level, and the Division Principal as the central office liaison.
PROCEDURE
1. School facilities and Division owned equipment (excluding transportation) shall be available, free of charge, to students participating in extra-curricular athletics programs. Students may be required to provide their own personal equipment..
2. A fee may be charged to students to defray the costs of participation in extra-curricular athletics programs. Financial support may also be achieved through school fundraising projects.
2.1 If fees are charged, a statement of accounts shall be kept in accordance with Administrative Procedure 464 - Fees, and is subject to periodic review and audit.
2.2 No profit or benefit shall be realized by a school or the Division as a result of extra-curricular fees being charged.
3. Extra-curricular athletics programs shall be conducted in an environment of fairness, good sportsmanship, and safety.
3.1 Principals shall ensure proper supervision for all extra-curricular activities.
3.2 Schools will minimize loss of instructional time for coaches and athletes.
4. Extra-curricular athletics programs are to provide for maximum opportunities for both males and females to participate in a variety of activities (individual, dual, team).
4.1 In female-only competitions, eligibility is female sex at birth for athletes 12 years of age and older. At the time of registration, the individual—or if a minor, the parent/guardian—must confirm in writing that they understand
and meet the eligibility requirement.
4.2 The eligibility of any individual in a female-only competition may be challenged in writing by any coach in the competition or any parent of an individual participating in the competition. Confidential challenges are to be submitted to the Deputy Superintendent (or designate) for an immediate ruling, after consultation with the ISC Coordinator (junior high), the Athletics Director (high school), and the Division Principal. Subsequent
to the competition, the Deputy’s ruling may be appealed to the Superintendent.
4.2.1 The Division may dismiss a challenge if, in the Division’s opinion,reasonable grounds do not exist.
4.2.2 The Division may direct the individual (or, if a minor, the parent/guardian) to file a copy of the individual’s birth registration document with the Division for eligibility determination.
4.2.3 Within a reasonable time after a birth registration document is filed, the Division will determine whether the individual meets the eligibility requirement (if the document indicates sex at birth is female) or does not meet the requirement.
4.2.4 If the Division determines the individual does not meet the requirement, the individual is prohibited from participating in the female-only competition.
4.2.5 The Division may reconsider a prior dismissal under 4.2.1.
4.2.6 The Division may impose reasonable sanctions against a person who brings a challenge in bad faith.
4.3 The Division will meet the reporting and policy obligations set out in the Fairness and Safety in Sport Regulation and will align school athletics with the Alberta Schools Athletic Association (ASAA) policies and procedures.
4.4 Females may compete in male competitions.
4.5 Mixed gender or mixed sex competitions may occur as determined by the ISC Coordinator (junior high) or the school’s Athletics Director (high school), in consultation with the Division Principal when appropriate.
4.6 Reporting to the Minister:
4.6.1 Within 3 business days of a written challenge being made, the Division will notify the Minister.
4.6.2 Within 30 business days after a challenge is made, the Division will report the decision on that challenge to the Minister.
4.6.3 Annually (once every 12 months), the Division will report on requests for and the establishment of mixed-gender or mixed-sex leagues/classes/divisions.
4.6.4 Upon the Minister’s request, the Division Principal will coordinate information collection, and the Deputy Superintendent will submit the required reports to the Minister regarding complaints or decisions under this Administrative Procedure.
5. Extra-curricular athletics programs are to be organized and directed by coaches who stress educational objectives, fairness, safety, active participation by all participants, competence in the sport with an emphasis on enjoyment.
6. All extra-curricular athletics programs at a school are subject to the approval of the Principal.
7. Staff involved with extra-curricular athletics programs are to be familiar with the contents of the document Safety Guidelines for Secondary Interschool Athletics in Alberta and follow the recommended safety practices as is reasonable in the circumstances.
8. Athletics Coordination:
8.1 Junior high athletics will be coordinated through the Sturgeon Interschool Sports Council (ISC) Coordinator, appointed annually from among school Principals.
8.1.1 Duties include scheduling, playoff organization, and communication among schools.
8.2 High school athletics will be coordinated at each school by the Athletics Director in collaboration with the school's Principal.
8.2.1 Duties include scheduling, playoff organization, and communication within and between schools.
8.3 The Division Principal will serve as the central office liaison for athletics matters, ensuring consistency with division policy, alignment with ASAA expectations, and support for the Deputy Superintendent in responding to
challenges and fulfilling ministerial reporting requirements under the Fairness and Safety in Sport Regulation.
8.4 The ISC Coordinator (junior high) and Athletics Directors (high school) will meet with principals as needed, at minimum once per year. The Division Principal may convene additional meetings to address division-wide
athletics matters.
8.5 The ISC Coordinator (junior high) and Athletics Directors (high school) may receive funds from participating schools to support expenses of sports activities.
9. All coaches shall emphasize safety of the athletes and not allow students to be put in competitive situations where their physical health is in danger.
9.1 Coaches are to be knowledgeable about any physical problems regarding students under their direction as well as being aware of each student's Alberta Health Care number, name of the family physician, and a home phone number.
9.2 Parents have the responsibility of informing the coach of any relevant physical or medical problems.
10. Coaches are role models and will model for all students under their charge and for this reason are to model a high degree of sportsmanship, fairness, consistency, and self-control to their own students, students and coaches on other teams, and officials.
10.1. The self-esteem of each athlete must be respected.
10.2 Parental communication must be evident.
11. At extra-curricular athletic events students will behave in a manner that reflects positively on their school.
12. Early in the sports season the parents will be offered the opportunity to be informed of the coach's procedures and expectations in regards to the students and their parents. Early in the season, the coach shall provide a copy of the provisional game schedule to the parents.
13. Student travel to athletic events is subject to Administrative Procedure 310: Off-Site Activities - Day Trips in Province Overnight and Administrative Procedure 312: Off-Site Activities - Out of Province and International Trips.
14. The Principal may approve a coach who is not a member of the school's teaching staff.
14.1. The Principal must provide guidance and direction to this coach in regards to all rules and procedures pertaining to extra-curricular athletics.
14.2 If a person, other than a member of a teaching staff, coaches a school team, the Principal will assign a teacher to the coach for the purpose of coordinating and managing the team's activities.
14.2.1 The teacher liaison must be present for Zone and Provincial Competitions.
15. Student members of school teams must travel to all away games as directed by the Principal.
References:
Administrative Procedure 310: Off-Site Activities - Day Trips in Province Overnight
Administrative Procedure 312: Off-Site Activities - Out of Province and International Trips
Administrative Procedure 464: Fees
Administrative Procedure 520: Student Records Management
Education Act; Sections 1, 6, 11, 31, 32, 33, 52, 53, 196, 197, 204, 222
Access to Information Act (ATIA)
Fairness and Safety in Sport Act
Protection of Privacy Act (POPA)
Vital Statistics Act
Fairness and Safety in Sport Regulation
School Fees Regulation
Guide to Education ECS to Grade 12
Physical Education Safety Guidelines
Safety Guidelines for Physical Activity in Alberta Schools
Safety Guidelines for Secondary Inter-School Athletics in Alberta
History
2025 Aug 27 Initial Approval
Administrative Procedures IX. Students