Academic and Behavioral Eligibility Requirements

Why We Have Academic Eligibility

At James Madison STEAM Academy, we believe athletics are an extension of the educational experience, helping students develop responsibility, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership while maintaining a commitment to academic success.

Our academic eligibility process encourages accountability and provides early support for students who may be struggling. Through collaboration between coaches, teachers, parents, and student-athletes, we work together to help students improve academically while remaining successful in their athletic programs. Eligibility is intended to motivate, support, and reinforce the importance of balancing academics with extracurricular participation.

An eligibility roster will be printed every Monday before 8 am by the Athletic Director. Athletes must maintain passing academic standards with A’s, B’s, and C’s. D’s will count as 1 point and F’s will count as 2 points. Athletes with 4 points or above may not participate in athletic competitions that week.
Eligibility runs from Monday through the following Sunday.
An FYI eligibility list will be generated on Wednesday each week. Athletes with one F and/or 1-2 D’s are also placed on this list as well as ineligible students. Please review this list with your athletes EVERY Wednesday and encourage ACTION!
Students with D’s or F’s should be encouraged to communicate with their teachers about how to improve their grades.
Student-athletes will collect daily progress reports from all teachers and submit them to coaches.
Coaches need to communicate regularly with students, teachers, and parents to assist in supporting struggling athletes that have low academic performance.
Help students and parents find solutions/resources as needed.
The coach is responsible for informing the student athlete and their parents that their grades are not acceptable to participate in competition for the week.
Coaches will not allow ineligible athletes to play/participate in competitions.

Why We Have Behavioral Expectations

At James Madison STEAM Academy, we believe athletics provide an opportunity for students to build character, responsibility, and respect both on and off the field. Student-athletes are expected to represent themselves, their team, and our school with integrity throughout the school day.

Our behavior expectations promote accountability while encouraging students to make positive choices. When concerns arise, coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work together to support student growth. Athletic participation is a privilege, and students are expected to demonstrate the behavior and sportsmanship that reflect the values of JMSA.

Student-athletes will collect daily behavior progress reports from all teachers and submit them to coaches; team consequence for minor negative behavior determined by coach.
1st Referral of a player - team consequence determined by coach.
2nd Referral of same player/Suspension - team consequence + loss of eligibility for next game + planning meeting with AD, staff to create a contract, team apology.
3rd Referral/2nd Suspension/breach of contract could lead to removal from team.
Habitual or overt disciplinary problems may result in loss of athletic or activity privileges.
Any student receiving an out of school suspension (OSS) is ineligible to compete in the following competition after the suspension.
Any student receiving TWO OSS in a school year is ineligible to compete for half the season of the current sport. THREE suspensions will result in loss of athletic opportunities for the school year.

See athletic eligibility here: https://madison.greeleyschools.org/families/behavior-athletic-eligibility