Franklin County Middle School Athletics

Franklin County Middle School offers students diverse opportunities to participate in extracurricular athletics throughout their middle school career. The following information is designed to provide students and parents with general information about our athletic program. More specific information can be obtained from the athletic director and individual coaches, and parents are encouraged to call the school at any time to obtain more information or to ask questions.

Sponsored Activities and Participation by Grade

Sport	Season	6^th Grade	7^th Grade	8^th Grade
Football	Fall		P	P
Girls’ Softball	Fall	P	P	P
Cheerleading	Football – Fall Basketball - Winter		P	P
Auxiliary	Fall (Football) Winter (Basketball)	P	P	P
Cross Country (Girls/Boys)	Fall	P	P	P
Basketball (Girls/Boys)	Winter		P	P
Golf (Girls/Boys)	Spring	P	P	P
Tennis (Girls/Boys)	Spring	P	P	P
Track (Girls/Boys)	Spring	P	P	P
Soccer (Girls/Boys)	Spring	P	P	P
Baseball	Spring		P	P

Franklin County Middle School is a member of the Northeast Georgia Interscholastic Athletic Association (NEGIAA) of middle schools and will follow all rules and regulations of our region that govern athletic competition. The NEGIAA also includes the following area middle schools: Madison County, Jefferson, Elbert County, Stephens County, and Hart County. Our region generally follows the guidelines imposed by the Georgia High School Athletic Association (GHSA) for individual sports, although there are middle school-specific exceptions. Grade-level participation is determined by the region association.

Student Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible to participate in athletics at Franklin County Middle School, students must have passed 5 out 7 classes in the previous semester. Upcoming 6^th grade students are exempted from academic eligibility requirements for the fall semester of the 6^th grade year.

Students who participate in spring try-outs for up-coming fall sports must be academically eligible to try-out, based on the previous fall semester grades. However, those students making a team must remain eligible after the spring semester to participate the next fall.

Franklin County Middle School uses the RAC program (Respect, Achieve, Cooperate) as the school-wide discipline program. Student athletes must maintain 80 RAC points on a weekly basis to participate in game events. Student athletes who are ineligible on a given week can attend practice, but must sit out one game in the following week.

Parent Consent to Participate

Student athletes and parents agree to follow all rules and procedures set forth by the Franklin County School Board, the middle school, the regional association (NEGIAA), and individual coaches/sponsors for each activity. Students and parents must complete a consent form prior to a student’s participation.

Proof of Insurance

Each middle school student participating in athletics at FCMS must provide current proof of insurance (company name and policy number) before they will be allowed to try-out. Information and applications for student insurance policies covering student activities at school and at athletic events are available. For more information, please see the main office. It is the responsibility of the student and parent to take care of this before the season begins.

Physicals

Each student is required to have a current pre-participation physical to participate in athletics (including for tryouts). This form must be completed by your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. Physicals are valid for one year from the date of issue. Students and parents are encouraged to check the date of their most recent physical, because physicals that expire during the middle of a season must be renewed in order for students to complete the season.

Participation in Multiple Sports

It is the philosophy of Franklin County Middle School that students have the opportunity to participate in as many different activities as possible. However, at times student participation in multiple sports may be limited due to conflicts in team practice and game schedules. Students may participate in multiple sports that have the same or overlapping seasons only if both coaches/sponsors of the different sports agree and can work out schedule conflicts. The final decision will rest with the individual coaches/sponsors. Students and parents should ask coaches about this before trying out for multiple sports.

Parent Volunteers

Franklin County Middle School encourages parent participation and involvement with extracurricular and athletic programs and activities, and there are many opportunities for parents to become involved. However, due to liability concerns, it is the policy of FCMS that we do not use parent volunteer coaches. Parents may not be responsible for supervision of student athletes, transportation of student athletes other than their own child, and parents may not stand on the sidelines or enter the competition area during games and events. Lay/community coaches are contracted for some sports, but this is arranged through the office of the athletic director, and these individuals must first complete rigorous training requirements (coaching clinics, first aid training, background checks) mandated by the Georgia High School Athletic Association as well as the school system, at their own expense.

Parent help is arranged through individual coaches. We appreciate your help with concessions stand duties, fund-raising, and participation in the Franklin County Athletic Boosters Club. The Boosters Club is jointly organized through the middle school and the high school, and the middle school athletic program benefits greatly from the assistance provided by the Booster Club. Please see coaches for more information on how you can become involved in the Athletic Boosters Club.