Academic Eligibility PHS Students
Pembroke High School Academic Eligibility
Eligibility determinations are based on the published date of the report card and/or progress report. In order for a student to participate in PHS athletics he/she must:
- Carry a minimum of 16 credits for the year
- Have passing grades in all courses
Eligbility determinations for the fall athletic season are based on the final grades on the report card for the previous academic year (June). All freshmen entering in the fall semester will be considered eligible, as 8th grade report cards do not determine high school eligibility. Eligibility for winter and spring athletics is determined by the first, second and third term (quarter) report cards.
Academic Probation
A student who is failing one course (please see MIAA Guidelines below if the student is not passing at least four (4) courses) in which they are enrolled at the time report cards are distributed (quarterly) will be placed on Academic Probation. Only report cards will be used to place students on Academic Probation: progress reports will not be used to place students on probation; however, students may be removed from probation if they are passing all of their courses on the subsequent progress report.
For the purpose of Pembroke High School policy, incomplete grades are not considered failing grades and are therefore not used in eligibility determinations; this is not the case under the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association regulations (MIAA – please see below). As defined in this handbook, all work resulting in the issuance of an incomplete grade must be completed within fifteen (15) school days. A new grade will be issued within two (2) weeks of the date that the completed work is given to the teacher. For any coursework not completed during the allotted time period, the grade will become zero (0).The building principal will determine the process and timelines for the completion of incomplete course grades. During the Academic Probation period, the student will be allowed to tryout and practice with their respective team, but they will not be allowed to compete in games/contests, including ‘exhibition’ games and scrimmages.
A student who is placed on Academic Probation will be removed from probation and be allowed to fully participate in athletics if they receive passing grades in all of their courses on the progress report following the report card that initially placed them on Academic Probation.
For example, if a student receives a failing grade in any one of their courses on their first quarter report card, but is passing all of their courses on the progress report that is issued between the first and second quarter report card periods, they will be taken off Academic Probation and allowed to fully participate in athletics.
A student who is placed on Academic Probation will become ineligible if they are failing any one of their courses on the report card that is issued after their initial placement on Academic Probation.
For example, if a student is placed on Academic Probation at the end of the first quarter due to a failing grade in any one of their courses on their report card, and they then receive one failing grade in ANY one of their courses on the second quarter report card, the student will become ineligible to participate in athletics.
In order to become eligible for athletic participation, the student must be passing all courses on the next progress report. In the example above, the student would need to be passing all courses at the progress report issued between the end of the second quarter and the start of the third quarter. If the student meets this requirement, they will once again be eligible for full athletic participation.
Medical Eligibility
According to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), athletes must have a current physical on file with the Pembroke Athletic Department. This requirement is defined as a documented physical examination issued by a duly registered physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner that clears the athlete for participation in athletics. The physical must have been completed within the last 13 months from the date of participation, not just from the start of a particular season.
For example, if a student has a physical that expires on October 1st (when it becomes 13 months old), and they are a member of a fall sports team, they will be immediately ineligible on October 2st, regardless of the fact that they have been on the team since the start of the fall season.
While the Pembroke Athletic Department will make every effort to provide timely reminders to parents about their athlete’s physical expiration date, it is the responsibility of the athlete and his/her family to provide the department with a current physical. Student/athletes are encouraged to have their annual physical during the summer months.
Age Eligibility – M.I.A.A. Rule
In order to participate in high school sports, a student’s 19th birthday cannot fall before September 1st of the current school year. For freshman competition, a student’s 16th birthday cannot fall before September 1st