Athletic Eligibility: Can You Participate?

Can you play? Students of Joliet Central must remain eligible to participate in any sport or activities, which means being a student-athlete by earning a D or higher in all classes. Athletic Eligibility is an important part of being a student-athlete, it requires balancing sports with grades. Students must be responsible in and out of the field. This responsibility, if not taken seriously, can lead to missing many valuable games and memories within the season. Every Friday, eligibility is checked, and if not eligible, students are NOT allowed to participate in events for a week. In addition if not eligible for three weeks straight, tryouts next year will NOT be attendable. Coach Villanea stated, “ Being an athlete means being a student-athlete, remaining on track with both sports, but schoolwork as well”. Eligibility affects teams very much, however, it can be confronted by extra-curricular help such as tutoring. Many Steelmen have made the decision to choose tutoring, and it oftentimes helps greatly in restoring athletes’ eligibility. Athletic eligibility does not only apply to students here at Central but also to those in Joliet West, and even middle schools. It’s part of one’s relationship with school, remaining on top of one’s assignments to be able to participate in any sort of extracurricular activities. Students must push on with being a student-athlete by being responsible and remaining on top of their assignments throughout their years in high school. Lacking in doing so will result in exclusion of events, however, all of this can be prevented by getting tutoring.