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My professional perspective as a school counselor is that every student can succeed with the proper guidance and support that is diversified specifically for each student. School counselors design and implement school counseling programs that improve and aid student outcomes. School Counselors lead, collaborate and advocate to promote equity and access for all students by collaborating the school counseling program to the school’s mission. The audience of my guide is designed to inform parents and students. It is important for both parents and students to understand the legal and ethical components of athletic activities and risk management. I chose the topic of athletic activities and risk management because as a current middle school athletics coach, this is something that I must always be up to date on when it comes to my athletes. I feel that as a current coach and an aspiring school counselor, I am able to use my experience in helping coaches, parents and students when issues arise in an athletic program.

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After interviewing on the topic of athletic activities and risk management, the most common theme that I noticed consistently be brought up was the simple fact that one must know the laws in order not to break them. This is the best way to protect everyone who may be involved as especially the coaches. Athletic activities and risk management is important in the field of education because it is required that students participate in some form of physical education and school districts are required to teach physical education. Our district requires two years of PE in order to move on from middle to high school.

·      The best practices to stay up to date on laws is continuing education and trainings and staying up to date with TEA.

·      Many parents are quick to blame the school and teachers for anything that happens so always staying steps ahead is better in the long run. Being knowledgeable of district policies is always a must.

·      Teaching laws to everyone on campus such as 504, no child left behind, in this topic UIL laws for coaches.

An emerging issue that educators should watch to see how it plays out and impacts work is transgender students wanting to play sports. While I have not personally experienced this nor anyone else, I work with in our school and surrounding districts, this is something that is on the rise as gender neutral topics are becoming more and more popular and accepted. I personally have students who are female but choose to be a “they/them”. So it is hard to run class when I have a class that is labeled “Girls PE”, but I have students who do not think they are girls or are either gender.

I interviewed my assistant principal, Peter Quinn at Oak Run Middle School.

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UIL Statement Regarding 2017 Wrestling State Tournament statement stating that to compete in the wrestling state tournament all students are subject to UIL rules and state law. That means that gender will be determined based on a student’s birth certificate for the purpose of UIL participation and competition (UIL, 2017).

https://www.uiltexas.org/press-releases/detail/uil-statement-regarding-2017-wrestling-state-tournament

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·      The state of Texas transgender laws in sports keeps students from competing in high school sports of their desired gender. The law requires that student athletes play on sports teams that correspond to the sex listed on their birth certificate and that certificate must be issued near the time of birth (Waller, 2022). In this story, the school cannot allow a student who is transgender wanting to participate in track because the school must stay in compliance with the law.

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/18/texas-transgender-sports-law/

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·      Texas transgender sports law goes into effect January 18. The law requires transgender student athletes to play on sports teams based on the sex assigned at or near their birth. Governor Abbott’s law does include an exception for girls who want to play a sport that doesn’t have a girls’ team, like football (KVUE, 2022).

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https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/texas-transgender-sports-law-in-effect/269-bc105d16-aa33-48eb-9126-9d52790d16b7

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Title IX protects students from being discriminated from participating in extracurricular activities receiving federal financial assistance (Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (2018)

·      Illegal to discriminate on bases of sex

·      Excluded from participation

·      Opportunity for females and males to play equal amount of sports

Title IX (Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (2018)

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/tix_dis.html#:~:text=Title%20IX%20states%3A,activity%20receiving%20Federal%20financial%20assistance.

Education Amendments Act of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§1681 - 1688 (2018)

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Original Sources of Law

Section 1478 Seventh and Eight Grade Athletic Plan (a) (6) that coaches administer the program so that there will be a minimum loss of school time, proper but minimal publicity, competent officiating, limited awards, and the program kept in its proper perspective (UIL, 2022).

·      Coaches must utilize class time while maintaining proper amount of athletics

·      The athletic program must maintain limited publicity

·      Coaches must follow UIL laws

https://www.uiltexas.org/files/constitution/uil-ccr-section-1478.pdf

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Section 1207: Rules, Violations and Penalties

(a)   Rule Violations

(2) Schools shall develop policies for preventing any spectator who commits an offense under section 22.01 C 2 of the Texas Penal Code (assault of a sports participant) from attending future events in activities sanctioned by the league (UIL, 2022).

·      This policy requires the removal of a participant if they are harmful to others

·      The length of suspension from future events is determined by the school

https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/constitution/athletics/eligibility

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Subchapter C: Athletics (1205-1210)

(a)   Sunday Prohibition. A UIL member school shall not participate in any athletic contest or conduct any practice or teach any plays, formations, or skills on Sunday (UIL, 2022).

·      Coaches meetings are allowed as long as athletes are not involved.

·      Any athlete involved in showing of films or meetings for purpose of instruction on Sundays are in violation.

https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/constitution/athletics/eligibility

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every student must earn a PE credit in order to proceed to the next grade level. The TEC §28.002(l) requires students enrolled in grades 6-8 to participate in physical activity for at least 30 minutes for at least four semesters

https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=2&ch=103&rl=1003

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A.    Responsibility to Students

A.1. Supporting Student Development

f. Respect students’ and families’ values, beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identification/expression and cultural background and exercise great care to avoid imposing personal beliefs or values in one’s religion, culture, or ethnicity. (ASCA, 2016).

As a school counselor, the possibility of a student who wants to play a sport as a different gender might arise. The law is that a student who claims to be transgender cannot participate in actual games unless their gender is that of their birth certificate and was issued around the time of birth. Now that student is able to practice but cannot participate in an actual game.

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/f041cbd0-7004-47a5-ba01-3a5d657c6743/Ethical-Standards.pdf

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Slide 12 Personal Connection to the Legal and Ethical Standards

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Slide 12 Personal Connection to the Legal and Ethical Standards

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My personal connection to legal and ethical standards after reviewing the laws of this topic and my own educational journey has opened my eyes more to the fact that there are many aspects that teachers, coaches, and administration must abide by. Students often think that choices and decisions made by their educator are unreasonable or not fair, but the reality is that all educators are trying to do is abide by all laws. I feel that from a school counselor perspective, I understand a student’s frustration if this instance were to happen that because of their own views. From a parent’s perspective, I would want my child to be able to do whatever they feel they are capable of within reason. For this instance, if my child wanted to be transgender and participate in a sport, I would want everyone involved to help make this happen within reason. From a coaches perspective, I understand why I would not be able to let a student who is transgender participate based off of UIL and state laws. I feel that having viewpoints from all perspectives have paved my way not only for my education goals but as a school counselor.

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Slide 13 Bulleted list of Recommendations/ Best Practices for Compliance

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Slide 13 Bulleted list of Recommendations/ Best Practices for Compliance

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·      All coaches and athletes must abide by UIL and state laws.

·      Students may only participate in activities that are the same gender.

·      Students who are transgender may not participate in UIL activities unless it is the gender that is on their birth certificate and that certificate is issued near the date of birth.

·      Title IX protects students from discrimination based on sex from federally funded activities.

·      No activities or contests may be allowed on Sunday, the only exception is coaches meetings without athletes.

·      School counselors must support students to avoid imposing personal beliefs or values per ethics code.