Athletes receive an assist with academic studies

Playing sports is a privilege in high school and requires athletes to maintain academic studies in order to remain on the team.

At Oregon High School, an ASSIST program was created to intervene to ensure all athletes are able to have solid academics.

To try and prevent athletes from becoming ineligible the ASSIST program steps in when the student athlete is receiving one D or one F.

"An athlete has one day of assist for a D and two days for an F," said program coordinator Mike Boyer. "The students are sent to me and I make contact with the teachers for extra help."

"What determines if an athlete is ineligible?" asked school board member Barry Barton Jan. 17.

According to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), an athlete is ineligible for sports if they are receiving two failing grades.

"Each school can set a level, but the IHSA has guidelines," said OHS principal P.J. Caposey. "We use the same as the rest of the Big Northern Conference."

At the start of the year, 50 F's were reported through the program.

Boyer said the number has dropped but some students continue to need extra help with classes.

Athletes are encourage to participate in ASSIST.

"Our athletes are penalized if they do not attend the program," said Boyer. "We have hovered around 80 percent attendance."

The first time an athlete misses ASSIST, a warning with a notice is sent to the coach.

A second miss results in a one game suspension from the team or one-half of a football game.

A third miss results in the athlete being ineligible for sports for one week.

"Some athletes may miss one ASSIST, but not many have missed the second or third," said Boyer.

In the fall 37 percent of athletes were in the ASSIST program.  In winter sports only 22 percent of athletes have served one day of ASSIST.

"The numbers are higher then I thought," said school board president Ed Smith. "The ASSIST program seems like the right idea.  We need to get students excited about learning."

"We want to strive for higher then a D average for our students, but this helps keep all our athletes eligible," said Boyer.