Athletics

Athletics Overview

Athletics provide healthful and wholesome leisure-time activities for our youth, and are a building block of lifelong health and well being. By understanding that athletics play an important role in not only developing students physically, but also mentally and socially, Polk County Public Schools embraces the important role that athletics and our coaches play in that process.

To maximize the educational potential of athletics, interscholastic programs should be organized and conducted in accordance with these six basic principles:

• Interscholastic athletic programs should be regarded as integral parts of the total educational program and should be conducted so that they are worthy of such regard.
• Interscholastic athletic programs should supplement, rather than serve as substitutes for, basic physical education programs, physical recreation programs, and intramural athletic programs.
• Interscholastic athletic programs should be subject to the same administrative control as the total educational programs.
• Interscholastic athletic programs should be conducted by personnel with adequate training in the principles of coaching.
• The welfare of the participant should be placed above any other consideration. What happens to the student-athlete who participates in the sports program is of primary importance. His or her welfare should transcend any other consideration.
• Interscholastic athletic programs should be conducted in accordance with the letter and spirit of the rules and regulations of appropriate conference, state, and national athletic associations.

While it is wonderful that we have achieved success in the competitive field, the true focus of our athletics program is to foster character, integrity, and discipline.

Participation in interscholastic athletics by a student is a privilege, not a right. To earn this privilege, students must abide by the rules and meet the standards of academic performance and personal behavior that are related to school purpose.

Upcoming Events

All of our schools’ sports games are registered on MAXPREPS. Visit www.maxpreps.com to search for your school’s sports games, or visit your school’s individual website.

Need to find your school’s website? Check out our Schools Listing page.

Parent Information

Recruiting Information

Athletic Recruiting, Improper Contact & Impermissible Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

Participation in Sports

Home-Schooled, Full-Time Virtual, or Charter Students:

If home-schooled, full-time virtual school, or charter school (charters with no athletic teams) students wish to participate in sports at the public high school they are zoned for, the parents must notify the principal and/or the athletic director. All FHSAA paperwork and eligibility requirements must also be completed before the students can begin any activities associated with that team. View the practice start dates below.

If home-schooled, full-time virtual school, or charter school (charters with no athletic teams) students wish to participate in sports at another public school other than their zoned school, parents must complete the district controlled open enrollment form for participation only. This form will only be available during the district-approved time period; no other applications after the deadline will be considered or approved.

Private School Students:
If private school students, who attend a private school that is not a member of the FHSAA and has 200 or fewer students in grades 6-12, wish to participate in sports at the public high school they are zoned for, the parents must notify the principal and/or athletic director BEFORE the first day of practice for that sport in order to be eligible to participate in that sport. All FHSAA paperwork and eligibility requirements must also be completed before the students can begin any activities associated with that team. View the practice start dates below.

If private school students, who attend a private school that is not a member of the FHSAA and has 200 or fewer students in grades 6-12, wish to participate in sports at another public school other than their zoned school, parents must complete the district controlled open enrollment form for participation only. This form will only be available during the district-approved time period; no other applications after the deadline will be considered or approved.

Athletic Clearance

Pre-Participation Physical Examination - EL2

A student must have a physical evaluation each year and be certified as being physically fit to participate in interscholastic athletic programs prior to participating in interscholastic athletic competition or engaging in any practice, tryout, workout, or other physical activity associated with the student’s candidacy for an interscholastic team. Physical exams for the upcoming school year can be obtained no earlier than June 1. All physical exams obtained on June 1 or at any time during the school year will expire on May 31, regardless of the date of the physical exam. The student cannot be allowed to participate in any activity related to interscholastic athletic programs until the fully executed physical evaluation form is on file in the school (§ 1002.20(17)(b), F.S.).

Consent & Release – EL3

Student must provide school with signed consent and release form to participate. A student must have the consent of his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to participate in interscholastic athletic programs at a member school prior to participating in interscholastic athletic competition or engaging in any practice, tryout, workout, or other physical activity associated with the student’s candidacy for an interscholastic team. The student and his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must also release the FHSAA, its member schools and contest officials from all liability for any injury or claim that may result from the student’s participation in interscholastic athletics. This consent and release from liability must be provided in writing on a form developed by this Association for that purpose. The form must be signed by the student and his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s). The student cannot be allowed to participate in any activity related to interscholastic athletic programs until the fully executed consent form is on file in the school.

Parents should contact the school athletic director to determine if special arrangements have been made for athletic physical exams by local physicians or medical facilities before making an appointment with their family physician.

These forms are required by the FHSAA before a student-athlete can participate in any type of conditioning, workout, practices or contests and are ONLY AVAILABLE AT EACH HIGH SCHOOL IN THE OFFICE OF THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. These forms must be turned in directly to the athletic director. These forms contain additional statements that are specific to Polk County Public Schools and require the signatures of the parent/guardian and student-athlete.
For that reason, please do not download the EL2, EL3 forms from the FHSAA website.

To acquire the EL2 and EL3 forms, please email your school’s athletic director from the contact list below.

ATHLETIC COACHING CERTIFICATION

The Florida Department of Education issues two types of Athletic Coaching Certificates: A Three-Year Temporary Certificate and a Five-Year Certificate. The Three-Year Temporary Certificate is issued to give the applicant time to complete the requirements for the Five-Year Certificate. For individuals that hold a valid Florida Educator’s Certificate, an additional coaching certificate is not required by the state.

Who needs an Athletic Coaching Certificate

• Coaches who are paid a coaching supplement but do not hold a valid Temporary or Professional Educator Certificate. This includes cheerleading coaches if their assignment is a competitive sport.

ATHLETIC COACHING CERTIFICATES

Athletic Resources

PCPS, in partnership with the American Sport Education Program (ASEP), offers high school coaches the opportunity to take the ASEP online courses Coaching Principles, Sport First Aid, and Coaching [Sport] Technical and Tactical Skills to meet the Florida Department of Education Athletic Coaching Certification and Endorsement. Certification is earned by successfully completing the three required online courses and passing each course exam with a score of 80 percent or better. Visit the ASEP Website

If you would like to leave our website and visit outside resources, please follow the links above. These third-party resources are listed for only information purpose and no endorsements are implied.

Athletic Directors