Attendance Policy

Sparta Ski Team Attendance Policy:

To build team unity, ensure safety, and develop competitive racers, attendance is mandatory for all:

• Team meetings
• Dry-land training sessions
• On-snow mountain practices
• Race day events

Our team succeeds when everyone shows up ready to work. Missing practices or races hurts both your own development and the team’s performance.

From time to time, schedules may change due to weather or race calendar adjustments. Attendance expectations remain unchanged.

Fall Sport Overlap

During the first two weeks of the season, athletes may complete their fall sport or activity obligations.
This must be communicated to the Head Coach, and a plan must be made for safe transition and minimum dry-land participation.

Excused Absences from Training

Excused absences are limited to the following situations:

• INJURY: Physical injury that prevents participation.
  → Doctor, school nurse, or athletic trainer note required.
• SICKNESS: Absent from school due to illness.
  → If leaving school early, verification from the school nurse or doctor’s note is required. Notify the coach via email, text, or phone.
• FAMILY EMERGENCY: Absent from school. Must notify the coach via email, text, or phone.
• SCHOOL FUNCTION: Limit of two absences or late arrivals for co-curricular activities (concerts, field trips, Debate, DECA, Model UN, Robotics, etc.).
  → Must notify the coach one week in advance.
  (Note: This applies only to practices, not race events.)

Failure to notify the coach may result in an absence being considered unexcused.

Unexcused Absences

Any absence that does not meet the excused criteria is considered unexcused.
This includes vacations, personal trips, or suspensions.

Consequences for Unexcused Absences

Absence Before a Race

• Excused Absence: Racer will start at the end of their category (last Varsity or JV seed).
  
• Unexcused Absence: May be restricted from racing in the upcoming race or demoted one level (Varsity → JV, JV → X).
  
• Attendance Rate: A minimum 75% attendance rate is required to remain race-eligible.

Absence on Race Day

Excused Absence:
Follow the same criteria as “Excused Absence from Training.” Notify the coach at least one week in advance if possible.

Unexcused Absence:

• Varsity racer → moved to JV.
• JV racer → moved to X or last JV position.
• Additional consequences may be assigned at the Head Coach’s discretion.

School Function Conflicts:
Choosing a school event over a race will result in placement at the end of your next race order.

Communication

It is the athlete’s responsibility (not the parent’s) to notify the Head Coach of any absence at least 3 hours in advance via text, email, or phone call.

NJISRA Minimum Practice Requirements

To be eligible to race in NJISRA events, athletes must complete:

• 6 dry-land practices with their high school coach/team.
• 3 on-snow practices with their high school coach/team.
• 1 race-type specific training day (Slalom or Giant Slalom) before participating in that discipline’s race.

School Attendance Requirement

As per the Sparta High School Student Handbook, athletes must be present during the school day to participate in team practice or race that same day.