The first two installments of the Michael L. Buckner Law Firm High-School Sports Best Practices Alert discussed administrative/institutional control at the high-school level. The first entry described processes and procedures that can be implemented by a secondary school to demonstrate control over its interscholastic athletic program. The second entry discussed examples of lack of administrative or institutional control. This issue will begin our second two-part series focusing on how your school can create a basic, yet effective, compliance program. The first entry will discuss the four key elements in a compliance program. The April issue will discuss the essential components every compliance program should have.
 

The Michael L. Buckner Law Firm recomends high-schools adopt the NCAA C.O.D.E. principle, which suggests every athletics compliance program should contain four key elements: Communication, Organization; Documentation; and Evaluation.

The first element, communication, calls for your school to demonstrate its commitment to rules compliance through oral and written communications with various campus entities.

The second element, organization, calls for senior-level administrators at your school to assume leadership roles in establishing your school's commitment to rules-compliance and compliance initiatives. This element also calls for all staff members assuming responsibility for understanding your state athletic association's rules and regulations, as well as, your school having clearly defined compliance policies and procedures.
 

The third element, documentation, calls for the documentation of rules-compliance policies and procedures. These procedures should include clearly defined responsibilities among staff members. Important deadlines and commonly used athletic department forms. Documentation also includes record-keeping and document storage.
 

The final element, evaluation, calls for your school to continue regular oversight over your compliance program. Periodic review of your rules compliance program should be conducted on a regular basis both internally and also externally thought the use of an outside firm.  Internal audits should be conducted no less than every three years while external audits should be performed at least every four years.
 

Contact Justin P. Sievert (954-941-1844; jsievert@michaelbucknerlaw.com) for recommendations on enhancing your school's interscholastic athletic compliance program. 

The Michael L. Buckner Law Firm provides an analysis of bylaws, alleged rules-violations, compliance issues and cases involving secondary schools and student-athletes on the firm's blog under the "High-School" category. The Michael L. Buckner Law Firm blog is located at: 

http://michaelbucknerlaw.wordpress.com/ or

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