UAH Athletics

Team Rules

Each coach will provide their team student-athletes with a copy of their sport specific rules and student-athletes must sign and date them as affirmation that they agree to abide by the team rules or have consequences. Charger team rules support the need for proper behavior, nutrition, and a tobacco free environment.

 

Training Rules

The following shall serve as general training rules for student-athletes. More specific training rules may be in effect for individual teams:

1. A student-athlete is prohibited from using NCAA banned substances, except those prescribed by a physician and approved through UAH training;

2. The use of alcohol and tobacco in any form by a student-athlete is prohibited while representing UAH;

3. A student-athlete should strive for eight hours of sleep each night, eat balanced meals at regular hours, and take proper care of his/her physical and mental health;

4. A student-athlete must report all injuries, no matter how insignificant they appear, to the coach and trainer immediately when they occur.

 

Grievance Procedures

Resolution of a student-athlete’s grievance(s) shall begin with the Athletic Department staff member whose decision is being requested for appeal. If the problem cannot be resolved at this level, the matter may be pursued through an appropriate athletics administrative chain. For appeals other than those concerning athletics grants-in-aid, the beginning of this chain consists of the staff member(s) (i.e. head coach) involved and then the Director of Athletics. If the student athlete wishes to appeal the decision after the Director of Athletics level, then the appeal can be taken to the Faculty Athletic Representative. 

Appeals involving athletics grants-in-aid begin with the coach, followed by the Director of Athletics, and the Financial Aid Scholarship Committee (see financial aid section).

Appeals involving one-time transfer requests begin with the coach, followed by the Director of Athletics, and then the Faculty Athletic Representative and a committee he/she organizes for the appeals. The committee will be made up of persons outside the athletic department.

At each level of appeal above the initial level, the student-athlete shall provide to the appropriate official:

1.  A written statement of grievance, setting forth the nature of the grievance, the pertinent facts, and the remedial action desired;

2.  Any other pertinent material shall also be presented. No appeal will be addressed without this written statement.

The student shall receive a written response from the appropriate official(s) within two (2) weeks of the official’s receipt of the grievance statement. The response shall be one of the following:

1. A decision in favor of the student;

2. A decision supporting the action being appealed which is not in favor of the student-athlete.

3. A statement of compromise agreed to in a discussion with the student-athlete and the staff member(s) involved and signed by them;

4. A recommendation to the challenged staff member’s immediate supervisor, with a copy to the student-athlete; or

5. An explanation for delaying the decision for an additional two (2) weeks, followed by a response as in (1-5) above by the end of that period.

If, at any level, a student-athlete does not receive a response in the manner stated above, he or she may immediately submit his or her grievance to the official(s) to respond and will, therefore, not preclude a student-athlete decides that he or she does not wish a written response, the student-athlete shall so indicate in the statement of grievance to the official(s) at that level.

Appeals that do not involve financial aid shall be made in writing before 75 calendar days have elapsed from the date of meeting with the Director of Athletics or 75 calendar days elapsed after the end of the academic term in which the grievance request began, whichever is chronologically first. (Updated 1-27-15)

 

Student-Athlete Dress and Behavior:

Each student-athlete is a representative of UAH and is expected to conduct him/herself as a gentleman/lady at all times. Behavior on and off the playing surface reflects on the University and each team. Each student-athlete should comply with the following:

1. Display proper conduct when seated on the bench or on the sidelines. In case of a disturbance which results in a discontinuation of play, report to the bench area immediately.

2. Keep all language clean and appropriate on the playing surface, in the locker room, and in public; 

3. Adhere to travel arrangements, meal times and curfews established for each contest, home and away;

4. Take pride in his/her personal appearance;

5. Remain with the team at all times on road trips except under circumstances approved by the head coach.

6. Participate in pre-game, half-time, and post-game ceremonies when requested to do so by the head coach;

7. Keep all personal music that can be heard publicly clean of foul language on the field of play, the locker rooms, athletic facilities, and in public.

Violation of any of the above rules regarding training and general behavior may, depending on the circumstances, will result in the application of sanctions, up to and including, dismissal from the athletics program and loss of athletics financial aid.

 

Hazing

The Athletics Department fully subscribes to and endorses the University’s Policy on Hazing as published on The University of Alabama in Huntsville Student Handbook under Article III. The UAH Student Handbook can be found at https://www.uah.edu/images/administrative/dos/student-support-programs/uah_student_handbook_2015-2018.pdf

7.2.8 Hazing

 a. Hazing, defined as an act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or which destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, a group or organization. The express or implied consent of the victim will not be a defense. Apathy or acquiescence in the presence of hazing are not neutral acts; they are violations of this rule.

 b. Prohibited behavior include, but are not limited to, forced drinking of alcohol or water, paddling, creation of fatigue, physical shocks, degrading or humiliating games, acts of servitude, physical harassment, branding, public stunts, and forced tattoos. 

Hazing is defined as: any action taken, requirement or coercive expectation imposed, or situation created by a student organization, its members, or persons associated with it, with respect to prospective, trial, or new member’s or pledges which is, as to the latter, onerous, hazardous, insulting, humiliating, or abusive; which could reasonably be expected to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, pain, or injury; or which violates and law or University regulation. 

The following types of activities which, if done under any circumstances as to fall within the definition of hazing as stated above, would be prohibited: being forced to ingest certain substances including food, alcohol, or drugs; branding, sleep deprivation; nudity; abnormal dressing; verbal harassment; or any activities not allowing students sufficient hours to study. 

The University of Alabama in Huntsville Athletics Department repeats its support of the University’s position on hazing. In no circumstances does UAH Athletics condone the practices of hazing for any student-athlete activity. The elements of hazing, being a determinative factor of an individual marking or participating as part of a team, is never tolerated. 

 

1.    Appearance- Student-athletes are highly visible representatives of the University. As a result, student-athletes must be concerned with their appearance in public settings, particularly when traveling with their teams. Appropriate clothing and grooming are expected on these occasions. Their appearance on campus and in the classroom is equally important. Each team may have their own prescribed dress codes for travel and/or practice.
 

2.   Personal Conduct- Student-athletes are expected to conduct themselves, both on and off campus, in a manner that brings credit to the University and their teams. Student-athletes must be concerned with any behavior which might embarrass themselves, their teams, and/or the University. 

Student-athletes must be equally concerned with the following areas of student misconduct:

a.             Lying and/or fraud

b.             Academic dishonesty

c.              Gambling

d.             Hazing

e.             Drug and alcohol abuse

f.               No use of tobacco and/or tobacco products at practices and games

g.             No sports wagering of any kind on any collegiate or professional sport team that the NCAA sponsors in a championship.

h.             Abuse of property

i.               Disturbing the peace

j.               Stealing, or being an accessory to theft

k.              Forgery, alteration, or misuse of documents or records

l.               Unauthorized entry to or use of University or private property

m.           Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other University activities.

n.             Physical abuse, threats of violence, or conduct that threatens the health or safety of another individual

o.             Sexual harassment/sexual assault

p.             Sale of athletics equipment issued by the athletics department or provided by commercial sponsors, to others outside buyers

q.             Conduct investigated through the UAH Title IX office and deemed a violation of Title IX.

 

3.   Academic Dishonesty- Cheating and plagiarism are regarded as very serious forms of

     academic dishonesty. Any use of unauthorized assistance on exams, papers, homework

     assignments, or other course work constitutes cheating. Knowingly providing assistance

     during exams or allowing other students to copy one’s work is also a serious form of

     academic dishonesty.        

Plagiarism consists of submitting written work that has been developed wholly or partially by someone else. Submitting written work in which the ideas of others have been duplicated or even paraphrased without proper reference to the author is also a form of plagiarism. Also considered plagiarism is the acquisition of term papers or other assignments from another source and the subsequent presentation of these materials as the student’s own work. In addition, students may not use papers in more than one course without the permission of both instructors. This includes work copied from the internet in written language or computer language form. 

Student-athletes who are guilty of any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to disciplinary action set forth by the instructor, the University, the athletics department and/or team.