Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA c. 224 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 224

EXTRACURRICULAR ATHLETICS

§6751.__Guidelines for secondary school sports

1.__Guidelines.__A school administrative unit shall establish guidelines that allow a student athlete in a public secondary school to:

A.__Participate in any sport, year round;

B.__Be coached year round by that student's high school coach, other school coaches and volunteer coaches;

C.__Use public school sports facilities and equipment, year round, as scheduling permits, with priority given to sports teams currently in their regular season; and

D.__Participate in clinics, training and competitions outside the school system, with or without the assistance of school coaches.

2.__Limitations. A school administrative unit may not require a student to participate in any of the activities described in subsection 1 in order to play a sport during the regular school season for that sport.

SUMMARY

This bill requires all school administrative units to allow student athletes and coaches to participate in sports-related activities at any time throughout the year. It also prohibits school administrative units from requiring student athletes to participate in sports outside the regular season in order to participate during the regular season.