Exclusions and Limitations

The GCSU Athletic Department’s secondary medical insurance policy does not apply to the situations indicated below. This list is not all inclusive. 

1.Injuries/illnesses that are not the direct result of GCSU-sanctioned athletics participation during the  dates of the primary competitive season and designated off-seasons as approved by the Director of  Athletics according to NCAA regulations. 

2. Hospital room and board charges in excess of the semi private room rate unless   hospitalized in an intensive care unit.

3. Any injury which occurs, or is directly related to, body jewelry of any kind worn (seen or unseen) during an athletic event. Generally, NCAA rules and regulations prohibit the wearing of jewelry during athletic participation.

4. Any injury which is caused by unsportsmanlike conduct or other behavior outside of the Peach Belt Code of Conduct (i.e.—fights, throwing equipment, punching a wall, etc). The athletic training staff will care for these injuries and provide medical referral as necessary, but all financial responsibility for the charges incurred will be with the athlete and not with the Athletic Department.

5. Injuries/illnesses  that  are  a  result  of  intramural,  and  recreational  activities  (non‐intercollegiate activities), as well as training/conditioning activities that occur  outside of the primary competitive  season and designated off‐season periods. 

6. Injuries/illnesses  that  are  recurrences  of  old  injuries/illnesses  which  were  sustained  before  participation in the GCSU  intercollegiate sports program. 

7. Any  tests  and/or  consultations  needed  to  gain  approval  for  participation  in  the  intercollegiate  athletic program. 

8. Any medication, over-the-counter or prescription that is not administered during a medical procedure or surgery.

9. Any fee or charge incurred as a consequence of a missed medical appointment.

10. No coverage by the Athletic Department’s secondary insurance policy will extend to any student-athlete who has not been cleared for athletic participation by a physician (MD or DO) prior to the beginning of any formal competition, practice, or workout/conditioning session.

The GCSU Athletics Department does not assume financial responsibility for injuries and/or illnesses that do not occur during the student-athlete’s primary competitive in-season and designated off-seasons as approved by the Director of Athletics according to NCAA regulations.  Medical bills associated with such conditions will be the sole responsibility of the student-athlete and/or his/her parent(s)/guardian(s). 

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  Athletes participating in outdoor activity will attempt to be aware of the most recent forecast.
  
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  Should conditions exist for a possible thunderstorm or other weather event, the following chain of command will monitor the weather conditions and make determinations during the event:
  
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    Certified Athletic Trainer on site
    
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    Athletic Administrator on site
    
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    Head Coach
    

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  During contests, staff athletic trainer on hand will coordinate the emergency plan.
  
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  If an emergency arises during practice, EMS will summoned by sports medicine personnel or coach by dialing 911
  
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  Once EMS arrives, they will take over the scene, with assistance from the athletic training staff and/or coaching staff
  
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  Staff athletic trainer will notify parents, if they are not in attendance.
  
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  Staff athletic trainer will notify appropriate medical personnel if needed.
  
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  Staff athletic trainer will notify Athletics Director of situation.
  

Preparticipation screenings, or physicals, are required of all student-athlete participants, including walk-ons, try-out students, cheerleaders, and dance team members. The examination is limited and designed to identify conditions or infirmities that would limit or prevent a student from participating in athletic activities. This exam is NOT intended to be comprehensive and may not detect some types of latent or hidden medical conditions. All athletes should receive periodic comprehensive medical examinations.

Students may only try out on one (1) day for no more than two (2) hours. The athlete must also have a current physical on file with the GCSU Athletic Training Room prior to the tryout or will not be covered by the Athletic Department’s insurance policy in the event of an injury. (NCAA Rule 13.11.2 and 17.02.13) The physical exam must have been completed by a physician and must have occurred within the previous twelve (6) months.

All athletes must have the following documentation on file with the athletic training staff before they are allowed to participate: 

a. Insurance Information Form including a current copy of the student’s insurance card

b. Medical History Form (if not included in physical)

b. Medical Release/Assumption of Risk/Consent to Treat Form  

c. Emergency Contact Information

The team physician has the final responsibility to determine when a student‐athlete is removed or withheld from participation due to an injury, an illness, or pregnancy.  The NCAA-recognized team physician will be the final authority regarding a student-athlete’s availability for participation. In the absence of the team physician, the athletic training staff will have the unchallengeable authority to make these decisions as allowed by the NCAA.

 

GC Athletics Student-Athlete Drug Testing Policy
Purpose of the Program

The GCSU Athletic Department Student-Athlete Drug Testing Policy addresses the non-medical use of prescription drugs, use of illegal drugs, and the use of dietary supplements which are detrimental to the physical and mental well being of its students. A mandatory program of drug testing has been instituted to protect the student-athletes’ health and safety. The policy may be amended from time to time and student-athletes will be given notice of any critical changes. The purpose of the policy is to prevent drug use and abuse in athletics and, where detected, to eliminate it through medical treatment, counseling, and/or discipline. Student-athletes will be informed of drug testing procedures and consequences of positive test results at the beginning of each academic year. A consent form will be signed by each candidate for testing and on file with the Compliance Director at the beginning of each academic year.

At least three times each semester (Fall and Spring semesters), the GCSU Athletics Department will screen for drugs/supplements banned or restricted by the NCAA. Testing during the summer may at times be mandated by the NCAA. All testing will be coordinated through the Athletic Training Staff. A list of restricted/banned classes of medications can be found on the NCAA website (www.ncaa.org) as well as posted in the Athletic Training Room. Student-athletes will be randomly selected for testing. Student-athletes may also be selected for testing based on reasonable suspicion (based on any of the following characteristics: sudden negative change in behavior or academic performance, sudden mood swings, apparent physiological signs or drug abuse, past history of treatment for drug abuse or positive drug testing, etc.). Testing will be conducted through urinalysis of selected student-athletes. Test samples may be assessed on campus by the Athletic Training staff following procedures outlined by the manufacturer of the test or sent to an outside laboratory facility for assessment. All test samples assessed by the Athletic Training staff to indicate a positive drug screen will be sent to an outside laboratory facility for confirmation following procedures set by the lab.

Candidates for selection will include all members of teams that compete for Peach Belt Conference championships. Testing may include student-athletes as well as other student personnel (managers, statisticians, athletic training students, etc.). The Head Athletic Trainer will schedule a time for the student athlete to complete his/her test that does not conflict with a scheduled class or competition, and notify the student-athlete of this time. Athletes must comply with the testing schedule at the specified time.

Results of all tests are confidential and will only be shared with the Head Athletic Trainer, the Assistant Athletic Trainer, the Team Physician, the Head Coach, and the Director of Athletics. Results may be shared with the parents/guardians of the student-athlete at the discretion of the Director of Athletics. Any attempt to alter the test results by the use of adulterants or other masking agents will be considered a positive test. Failure to appear for testing at the specified time will be treated as a positive test.

The consequences of positive tests are as follows:
First Positive Test:

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  The student-athlete will meet with the Athletic Director and Head Athletic Trainer to discuss the test results.
  
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  The student-athlete may appeal the results and request to be retested at their own expense within 24 hours of notification of a positive result.
  
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  The student-athlete is required to submit to counseling, and will be retested on each subsequent drug screening date for one calendar year.
  
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  Disciplinary sanctions may be assigned by the Director of Athletics in several forms, and may include any or all of the following: required counseling appointments, community service, suspension from team competitions, or any other reasonable assignment deemed necessary at the time. Failure to accept or comply with these assignments will be viewed as forfeiture of the student-athlete’s position on the team. Any additional disciplinary actions assigned by the Head Coach must be approved by the Director of Athletics. Any fees or charges associated with the assigned sanctions or disciplinary actions will be the responsibility of the student-athlete and not the GCSU Athletic Department.
  

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  The student-athlete’s Head Coach will be informed of the positive test results.
  
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  The student-athlete will meet with the Athletic Director and Head Athletic Trainer to discuss the test results.
  
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  A second positive test result (assessed no less than 30 days from the initial positive test) at any time in a career will result in immediate dismissal from all intercollegiate athletic participation including all practices, competitions, workout or conditioning sessions, and team meetings.
  

In the event of a positive test, the student-athlete’s medical records on file in the Athletic Training Room will be reviewed to determine if the positive test is a result of medication appropriately prescribed by a physician. It is the responsibility of the student-athlete to provide documentation to the Head Athletic Trainer from the prescribing physician authorizing the use of the medication. If the medication was prescribed by a physician for the student-athlete, yet a positive test resulted because the medication was not taken in the proper form or dosage, the medical exemption will not be granted.

Any athlete who voluntarily reports a drug abuse problem prior to notification of testing will not have his/her eligibility affected by team or departmental sanctions. Notification may be made to a member of Athletics administration or the Athletic Training Staff. An exemption will be honored for no more than 30 days and may only be declared once in an athletic career. Athletes who self-report this type of problem are seen as seeking treatment options for the problem and are expected to adhere to counseling requirements, further testing, and parental notification just as any other student-athlete with a positive drug test. The advantage to this exemption is that it prevents any positive drug test administered during this time to count against his/her eligibility. This exemption only applies to the GCSU drug testing program and will not be considered during NCAA mandated or administered testing.

The Athletics Department discourages any use of tobacco, illegal drugs, or abuse of alcohol. The use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs at GC athletics events and activities associated with them is prohibited by the Athletics Department. The athletics director must approve any or all exceptions in writing.

The Athletics Department will conduct random drug screening of student athletes in order to identify those who use or abuse any banned substances. The athletics director may add any student athlete who is identified for reasonable cause to the random screening list.

Georgia College Athletics will not tolerate illegal or otherwise irresponsible use of alcohol. This includes drinking while under the legal age, and purchasing alcohol for use by a minor. Alcoholism is a progressive disorder with serious consequences.

A student athlete who consumes alcohol will be held accountable for an alcohol related incident in which he/she is involved. In such cases, the student is subject to university, athletic department, or team disciplinary action whether or not there are legal implications.

If a student athlete is involved in an alcohol related incident with legal implications under state and federal laws, he or she will have the same consequences as a positive drug test. If a student athlete is involved in an alcohol related incident with NO legal consequences, the head coach, athletics director, and head athletic trainer will determine if the circumstances warrant counseling intervention and/or any additional sanctions in addition to any university sanctions thru Student Affairs.

Tobacco use often results in physical dependency in the form of nicotine addiction. The negative effects of tobacco abuse are well documented in the high incidence of oral, lung, and other forms of cancer.

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  GCSU student-athletes and coaches/staff are the only people allowed in the weight room. No “friends” or roommates who are not covered under GCSU Athletic Department insurance are allowed.
  
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  A coach, staff member or trainer must be present in the weight room AT ALL TIMES while student-athletes are using the weight room.
  
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  No food or drink allowed in the weight room.
  
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  Shirts and shoes must be worn at all times.
  
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  Wipe off perspiration from benches etc. after use.
  
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  All weights must be racked properly after use. This means that all free weights must be taken off the bars and replaced on storage “trees”. Please put weights of the same size on each storage arm (i.e. do not put 45 lbs. and 10 lbs. weights in the same place.) Place all dumbbells on the rack.
  

I, the undersigned Georgia College Student-Athlete, have been informed that the 2011-12 Student-Athlete Handbook is located on the GC athletic website at www.GCbobcats.com

I understand it is my responsibility to read this document in its entirety and if I have any questions I can bring them to the attention of my coach or athletic administrator.
By signing this form, I understand and agree to abide by the rules and regulations set forth in the student-athlete handbook.
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