Article 2: THE PRINCIPAL

Section 1. MEMBERSHIP

A. The Principal of each school of the RIIL must be a member in good standing of the RIASP at the time of filing the Declaration of Intent to compete on April 1st. The Declaration of Intent to compete of any school whose Principal is not a member of the RIASP will not be accepted and hence; no schedule will be given that school for the following year of competition in the RIIL.

B. Member schools must enter all school sponsored sports teams in the RIIL in all school sponsored sports that are offered by the RIIL.

C. All member schools must participate in the RIIL online Ref-Pay Program.

D. Athletes in your district should have a pre-participation athletic physical within your school district stated guidelines.

E. Benefits of Membership:

1) Allowed to participate in sports offered by the RIIL and use NFHS rules.

2) Allowed to participate on PCOA approved standing committees.

3) Allowed to apply and become a member of the Principals’ Committee on Athletics.

4) Allowed to participate in alignment and sport related surveys.

5) Allowed to recommend by-law and sport related rule changes

F. Terms and Conditions of Membership:

1) Must file application for Full Membership

2) Must be a member of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals (RIASP)

3) Must Pledge Acceptance to all RIIL Rules and Regulations

4) Must file a Declaration of Intent indicating those sports you will be participating in that are offered by the RIIL, and those you will participate in not offered by the RIIL by April 1st.

Section 2. PLEDGE OF ACCEPTANCE OF RULES

A. Each Principal, at the time of filing the Declaration of Intent to Compete, must pledge, in writing, that s/he accepts the Rules and Regulations of the RIIL and pledges his/her school and its participants to said Rules and Regulations.

B. New Principals of schools who wish to continue voluntary membership or who wish to voluntarily join the RIIL must, within 30 calendar days of assuming office, join the RIASP and sign a pledge acceptance of the Rules and Regulations of the RIIL.

C. The member school has a responsibility to educate student-athletes, coaches, and other appropriate persons on Rhode Island Interscholastic League Rules and Regulation that could affect them. Further, the member school should monitor its compliance with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Rules and Regulations.

D. Restitution Rule – Any member school (or school board acting on behalf of a member school) which institutes an unsuccessful court suit challenging a rule, rules or decision of the League, either prior to or after having first exhausted the internal appeal procedures of the League, shall be assessed the full costs resulting from such litigation, including, but not limited to, court costs, counsel and actual expenses incurred by the League. Any member school that does not make full payment of such costs within sixty days of the assessment shall be prohibited from playoff participation in all sports. The restriction shall continue until the full amount plus interest at the statutory rate is paid.

E. Mandatory Meeting (beginning in fall 2010) – RIIL member school principal(s) must attend one (1) mandatory meeting held annually in the fall. A fifty ($50.00) fine will be assessed for not attending.

F. Emergency Action Plans: An Emergency Action Plan with clearly defined written and practice protocols should be developed and in place at every high school. When possible, an athletic trainer should be present at all practices and games.

G. Rationale: An effective emergency action plan (EAP) should be in place as a prompt and appropriate response to any emergency situation that can save a life. The EAP should be resigned and practiced to address all teams (freshman, junior varsity and varsity) and all practice and game sites. An athletic trainer is a key component in any strategy to minimize injury risk and optimize safety for all participants.

Section 3. RESPONSIBILITIES FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS

A. Each Principal is responsible to the Committee in all matters pertaining to interscholastic sports, including the eligibility of students. S/he may delegate authority only to regular members of his/her staff, but this does not relieve the Principal of ultimate responsibility. No interscholastic games may be scheduled or performed without the approval of the Principal.

B. Proof of and maintenance of eligibility (See Article 3) is the exclusive and continuing obligation of the member Principal.

1) In investigating any complaint, or in the review of any request, or in the conduct of any hearing, the burden is specifically placed on the member Principal to make certain that the individual student(s) involved be notified and given an explanation of the rules, of the hearing procedure, and of their right and opportunity to attend all hearings.

2) Proof of eligibility is the affirmative burden of the member Principal. The Principal has the obligation to come forward with all evidence and testimony necessary for the establishment or maintenance of eligibility.

3) Notice of the Committee's decision will be given in writing to the Principal, who will in turn forward copies to the individual(s) involved. At that time, the Principal will explain the decision along with the rights and obligations as set forth in the Rules and Regulations.

4) The obligation of notification, presentation, and explanation as set forth in this article apply to all eligibility issues and apply equally to dealings with the Executive Director as well as the Committee.

5) Schools are responsible for the health, welfare and safety of all athletes’ home, away and tournament games.

C. The Principal or his/her authorized representative shall accompany the school team to all athletic contests. The authorized representative may be either a faculty member or administrator, but in no case a student.

1) Playoff Finals Attendance:  If a school is involved in a Rhode Island Interscholastic League playoff “Final(s)”, the Principal and or his/her designee must be present. The Principal and or designee must introduce themselves to the game supervisor(s) and game officials prior to the game(s). The Principal and/or designee will be responsible for monitoring the schools’ students and teams.

D. The home team is to be held responsible for conditions involving spectators and shall always have present an authorized representative of the school to take this responsibility.

1) The home team should provide an adult game supervisor at all home events. In particular, an adult game supervisor must be present at ice hockey, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, baseball, softball, football, soccer, volleyball and wrestling contests. The supervisor shall not be a student nor a coach involved with the game. The supervisor shall identify himself or herself to the game officials thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of the game. The supervisor shall be responsible for game administration and crowd control. They should notify police, and rink representatives to seek appropriate assistance. In the event of a problem, he/she must notify the RIIL office the next day and submit a written report detailing the incident(s).

2) NOTE: Due to the fact that hockey games are played off-campus, and the availability of school personnel to supervise is limited, the Committee recommends that schools assign supervision to games that involve rival teams or to games which may present fan issues.

3) Schools, through assemblies, bulletins, or other means by which they are accustomed to influence student opinion, should strive to bring about good sportsmanship on the part of the spectators. Principals should impress upon coaches the responsibility and influence that their remarks, actions, and attitude have on their players and the spectators. There should be a sharp line between enthusiastic partisanship and riotous conduct. Unusual noisemakers, unorthodox cheers, and all such disturbing influences should be discouraged on the part of school directors. (See Article 12 – Sportsmanship).

4) Where necessary, police protection should be present, and no hesitation exercised in ejecting from any school game any spectator, or group of spectators, whose conduct cannot be controlled by a warning, and whose further presence is prejudicial to the interest and/or outcome of the game.

5) The Committee guarantees cooperation (to all Principals of the high schools of our State) in the arrest and prosecution of any spectator(s) who commit any assault or crime at any of the games which come under the jurisdiction of the RIIL.

E. Other Responsibilities

1. Waivers of Rules, see Article 1, Section 16.

2. Foreign Exchange Students, see Article 3, Section 7.

3. Individual Athletic Competition in the Absence of a Team, see Article 3, Section 8.

4. Boarding Students, see Article 3, Section 9.

5. Tuition Students, see Article 3, Section 10.

6. Recruitment of Student Athletes, see Article 3, Section 11.

7. Game Cancellation, see Article 4, Section 1.

8. Game Postponement Unusual Circumstances, see Article 4, Section 2.

9. Definition of Penalties, see Article 6, Section 3.

10. Representation at Meetings, see Article 6, Section 12.

11. Non-League Games see Article 7, Section 4.

12. Notification of Postponement, see Article 9, Section 5.

13. Official Fees - see Article 9, Section 6.

14. Coaches Certification, see Article 13