Bolles and the FHSAA
Bolles has always been fortunate to have a large number of highly motivated student-athletes and outstanding coaches. In recent years the participation rate at the upper school level in interscholastic sports has consistently been above 90%. Participation by hard working students, coupled with the tireless support of parents and the commitment of all the coaches, has resulted in an extremely successful overall athletic program which continues to grow.
As evidence of the success of the athletic program, Bolles has been recognized for twenty-five consecutive years by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association and for ten years by the Florida High School Athletic Association as having the best overall athletic program for a school its size in the state of Florida. In order to earn such a distinction over the years, it is obvious that the School has built an outstanding athletic program that offers numerous and diverse opportunities to students. Bolles has won seventy-five State Championships spread out over twelve different sports.
Twenty-five Varsity level sports offerings over three sport seasons are available for students. Nine sports are offered in the fall, five in the winter, and eleven in the spring. There are fourteen sports in which boys can participate, while there are eleven for girls. There are Junior Varsity opportunities in seventeen areas and there are sixteen non-cut sports. At least one non-cut sport occurs during each sport season. Bolles remains committed to offering as wide a range of athletic opportunities as possible to its students. To that end, the number of offerings within the Athletic Department continues to grow. A boys’ volleyball team is the most recent addition to the long list of athletic offerings at the School.
Finally, we sincerely believe that athletic opportunities are a powerful and influential teaching tool. Indeed, the lessons learned through participation in athletics enhance the overall educational experience and will serve our students well throughout their adult lives.
Bolles and the Florida High School Athletic Association
Bolles is proud of its tradition of continued excellence in athletics. This success is due to hard work from coaches, parents, and students. Their dedication and drive translates to excellence in their respective sports.
The international reputation that Bolles has made for itself and its athletic program is due to this hard work and dedication. As a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association, Bolles expects all students, coaches, and parents to follow the rules and guidelines set forth by the organization and adhere to them.
Because of our winning tradition, Bolles is often questioned about recruitment of student athletes. Bolles does not recruit athletes and does not offer any athletic scholarships. Financial aid is available for students solely based on demonstrated financial need. Bolles follows the spirit and the letter of the rules stated in sections 7.6 and 11.4 of the FHSAA Handbook and annually reviews these guidelines with coaches, parents, and staff:
7.6.1 Recruitment of students or attempted recruitment of students for athletic purposes, regardless of their residence, is a gross violation of the spirit and philosophy of these Bylaws and is expressly forbidden. Recruiting is the use of undue influence and/or special inducement by anyone associated with a school in an attempt to encourage a prospective student to attend or remain at that school for the purpose of participating in interscholastic athletics. A member school is responsible for any such action committed by any person associated with the school, including the principal, assistant principals, the athletic director, coaches, teachers, any other staff members or employees, students, parents or any 2003-04 FHSAA Handbook 19 organization, such as booster clubs, having connection to the school. A member school also is responsible for any violation associated with the school. The Board of Directors shall establish and maintain a policy which defines undue influence and special inducement; lists examples of such actions which shall be considered to be violations of this article; establishes the penalties for such violations; and regulates academic recruitment programs and financial aid programs conducted and administered by member schools. See Policy 35, “Policy on Recruiting,” that has been established by the Board of Directors, on page 108. The “2003-04 Certification of Compliance with FHSAA Policy on Recruiting” is Form GA3 in the 2003-04 FHSAA Forms Book, as well as on the forms page of the FHSAA web site at http://www.fhsaa.org.
11.4.12 Participation by a student in non-school athletics (i.e. AAU, American Legion, club settings, etc.) on a team that is affiliated with any school other than the school which the student attends, or attended the prior year, followed by enrollment by that student in the affiliated school shall be considered prima facie evidence of recruiting by the school to which that student enrolled, or that the student enrolled in that school in whole or in part for athletic reasons. Unless this prima facie evidence of recruiting or that the student enrolled in the new school in whole or in part for athletic reasons is disproved by the school and student to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, the student shall be ineligible to represent that school in interscholastic athletic competition for a period of 365 consecutive days from the date of his/her enrollment in that school. A team affiliated with the school is one that is organized by and/or coached by any member of the coaching staff at, or any other person affiliated with, that school; and/or on which the majority of the members of the team (participants in practice and/or competition) are students who attend that school.
All Bolles employees and booster club members are informed annually of these rules and expected to adhere to them. Employees sign a statement affirming their knowledge and understanding of these regulations and acknowledge that their violation subjects one to penalties including termination of employment. Violations and apparent violations of these policies should be reported to the Director of Athletics.