Attendance Policy

Attendance Policy starting August 10, 2026  (Mandatory Practices begin August 10)

Parents must notify Coach Smith via email prior to any absence

Group One Excused—Does not need to be made up:  

This is a comprehensive list.  Items not on this list are Group Two or Three unless agreed to in advance by Coach Smith.

1.       Absent from school all day due to illness.

2.      Special one day holy Church Function (Confirmation Service)

3.      Observance of a single day Holy Day or Sabbath.

4.      School one day non-athletic Performance (Concert or Competition)

5.      Wedding or funeral in the immediate family. 

6.       Doctor appointment directly related to a cross country injury. If you aren’t running, you are still expected at practices and meets unless your rehab will be an extended recovery (3+ weeks)

Group Two Excused— But need to be made up.
Note: Group two absences before Labor Day will result in the loss of one meet per 3 days of absence.  

Each group two absence after Labor Day is made up at 6 AM morning practice. Failure to attend initial and consecutive weight sessions will result in the loss of one meet per weight room absence.  The meet that is missed will be Coach Smith’s choice, usually Larry Steeb and/or Gabriel Richard.
1.  Absent from school partial day due to illness.  If you miss any part of a school day, you are ineligible to participate in that day's meet or practice unless the absence is prearranged with the athletic director.
2.  FAMILY Vacations/ Amusement Park trips (Please try to avoid these after Aug 10).
3.  School project/make up test (Approved at COACH’S discretion).  Plan ahead and avoid these  absences. 

4.  One time Secretary of State appointment.
5.  Court Hearings
6.  School Discipline
7.  Doctor or Dentist appt. not directly related to an XC injury.

Group Three Unexcused—Need to be made up:
Athletes with two group 3 absences are NOT eligible for any varsity award or the Lion Hearted award. Upon the 3rd Group Three absence, the athlete will be asked to leave the team and to return next year. No refunds or awards will be given.  Each Group Three absence results in the loss of a meet.  Coach Smith determines which meet, usually Larry Steeb and/or Gabriel Richard.  Group Three absences are made up at 6 AM morning practice after Labor Day.  Failure to attend initial and  consecutive weight sessions from group 3 absences will result in removal from the team.
1.Employment absences
2.Driver’s Education classes
3.Vacations/Amusement Park trips except with his own family
4.Any absence where Coach Smith is not notified same day by a parent e-mail of an eligible Group One or Group Two absence.
5.Any Meet Day or HARD  Day absence after Labor Day except those in Group One.
6.Unexcused absence from any part of school day
7.Any Group II absence not made up within one week becomes a Group III absence.
8.Chronic Tardiness (5 tardies becomes 1 unexcused absence)
9.Missed bus to a meet (not eligible to run that meet)
10.Any absence where an athlete went home ill after school and missed practice. This can be converted to group II at Coach Smith’s discretion if a parent contacts Coach Smith the same day and verifies the extreme and sudden illness.

11. The athlete will be ineligible to run the next meet or receive a varsity award due to any Group Two absence not made up within the week or a second Group Three absence. Group two absences NOT made up become group three absences.

12. The athlete is off of the team with the 3rd group three unexcused absence. No refunds will be issued or awards given.

*Group two and three make ups are accomplished through attendance at morning weights. (6 AM SLHS Mondays & Fridays). Although a make up is required for both group II & III absences, this make up does not turn a group III absence into a group I or II absence. Make ups must begin immediately and continue without interruption until the number of absences has been reached.

*The athlete can have a maximum of 7 absences of any kind during the season  but multi day illnesses  or  funeral  proceedings do  not  count against  the 7.
*Being absent from a meet after Labor Day counts as 2 absences.

*Any Group Two or Three absence that includes a  missed MEET disqualifies an athlete from the captainship or varsity award that season.
*After 7 absences, the athlete will be asked to turn in his uniform and return the following year. No refunds or awards will be given.

*Extended absences of two days or more EXCUSED BY A DOCTOR  will not be counted against the 7 day total. Note:  Athletes with minor injuries must attend practices and meets to support the team.  A doctor’s note that excuses an athlete from exertion does not excuse that athlete from attendance at practice or meets unless the note explicitly states that attendance as a spectator or helper would endanger the athlete, his teammates, or other spectators. 

*Injured athletes are expected to attend practices and meets unless the injury will remove the athlete from activity for an extended period of time. This needs to be discussed with Coach Smith in advance of the absence. Extended period of time is defined as three weeks or more.

Vacations After August 10, 2026       (A vacation is defined as 3 or more days missed by choice)

1.  Family vacations during Mandatory Practice Time are STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.
2.  If a MEET is missed as part of the absence, that athlete is disqualified from the captainship or varsity award that year.   If the athlete misses practices but ATTENDS EVERY MEET, he can still earn the varsity award and retain captainship IF the vacation occurred before the start of the school year and he returns in time to attend EVERY meet.  While he will not be allowed to run the first meet back, he will be expected to help with team needs (splits, photographing, results, etc) and run a workout before the meet begins.               

2. The absent athlete is not eligible to run meets until an equal number of practices have been attended after the athlete returns from vacation. 

3. The athlete must make up each missed practice with a morning workout after Labor Day. The MORNING WORKOUT sessions occur after the absence occurs and begin once school starts. Morning Workouts occur on Mondays and Friday mornings at 6 AM.

4.  Short trips (max 2 days) due to immediate family weddings and funerals are exempt from the vacation policy if 2 day (funeral) or 14 day (wedding) advance notification is given to Coach Smith by parent.
5.   First year athletes are encouraged to also avoid vacations after August 10. However, some leniency will be shown to first year athletes

6. Remember, an athlete is only allowed 7 absences of any kind within the season.  He will be dismissed upon the 8th absence.  Missed meets count for 2 absences each.

Speedball eligibility:  The athlete maintains 50% attendance at summer practices  The athlete will not be eligible for speedball until 50% attendance is reestablished.

Camp eligibility:  The athlete maintains 50% attendance at summer practices.  The athlete must also meet mileage requirements via miles submitted weekly. 

 *Miles Submitted between May 25 &- Aug 1.    Juniors and Seniors 150    Sophomores 125    Freshmen 100

Dual Sport Athletes  Participating in two sports during the same season is not ideal.  Coach Smith rarely approves such arrangements.  In limited circumstances, it is possible with agreement from both coaches. 

If both sports are In-Season SLHS sports, both coaches must agree to the terms of the shared participation.

If the non SLXC sport is not a SLHS fall sport, SLXC is the primary sport.  Hockey is not a SLHS fall sport.

1.  The athlete must designate a primary sport and a secondary sport.

2. The athlete must participate in all practices and contests for the Primary Sport unless agreed upon by both coaches.  He must attend practices for the Secondary Sport if and all contests for the Secondary Sport if they do not conflict with the Primary Sport.  This can be modified by  agreement of both coaches.

3. The athlete will be held accountable for the secondary sport attendance policy specifically including weekend contests for days that the primary sport does not have contests.  Being a member of a secondary team does not absolve you of attendance responsibilities for that secondary sport.

4. If the other sport is a non-SLHS In-Season sport, the In-Season SLHS sport takes precedence for  all practices and contests unless agreed upon by the In-Season SLHS coach.

5. If an athlete does Winter Warriors & a SLHS in-season sport, the SLHS in-season sport takes precedence.

SLHS Boys Sports by Season:

Fall                          

Cross Country

Soccer

Football

Tennis

Winter

Wrestling

Basketball

Hockey

Bowling

Spring

Track

Golf

Baseball

Lacrosse