Middle schoolers get unsportsmanlike conduct forms by mistake

Posted Sep 13, 2010 by Sherri Ackerman

Updated Sep 21, 2010 at 08:53 AM

Athletic Eligibility form for Coleman middle-schoolers

A Coleman Middle School parent recently questioned signing a district eligibility form for her child to play sports.

The form requires the signature of students and their parents and offered a warning for any student ejected or disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct: You (ultimately, your parent) agree to pay a fine between $50 to $250 - the amount levied against schools that are members of the Florida High School Athletics Association.

But none of Hillsborough’s public middle schools are members of the FHSAA.

Turns out one of the high school forms got mixed up in Coleman’s athletic information packets, Principal Michael Hoskinson said. He notified parents with a voice mail last Friday, he said.

Hillsborough’s Athletic Director Lanness Robinson concurred.

“We don’t fine our middle schools,” he said.

But students are required to have a clean disciplinary record the week before a game, Robinson said.

According to the form, they also must carry a 2.0 GPA based on an unweighted 4.0 scale from the previous nine weeks grading period, complete a weekly progress report from an assigned teacher, b e a “bona fide’’ student at the school, and be a player younger than 15 years and 9 months of age before Sept. 1.

Each athelete must also have insurance provided through the school board insurance program in order to participate in extramural sports that include volleyball, soccer, track, basketball and football.

If you signed a form that says you’ll be responsible for a fine, “throw it out,’’ Hoskinson said.