Physical Education

This elective course is designed for students interested in athletic training, physical therapy, or related medical fields. Students study and apply key components of sports medicine, including injury prevention, sports psychology, nutrition, and legal considerations. The course covers injury recognition, initial evaluation, and immediate care, as well as First Aid, CPR, and AED training. Additional topics include skin conditions, bloodborne pathogens, thermal injuries, and medical considerations for adolescent athletes.

This elective course is for students continuing in the student athletic trainer program. It emphasizes hands-on skill development in key areas of sports medicine and requires participation outside of class, including working with athletes and athletic teams. Students must be approved by the Licensed Athletic Trainer supervising the program. Sports Medicine II complements students’ exercise, wellness, or science coursework and prepares them for college-level healthcare programs.

This course teaches students the rules, communication, decision-making, and conflict management skills needed to officiate team sports. Students learn officiating mechanics based on UIL specifications, building a foundation for lifelong officiating.

Through field experiences and simulated scenarios, students apply rules and techniques in real-world settings. The course also emphasizes fitness, personal fitness planning, time management, adherence to the Sports Officials Code of Ethics, and understanding legal responsibilities. (Team Sports Officiating is not offered at all campuses.)

Northside ISD participates in Category I Off-Campus Physical Education (OCPE). Off-Campus Physical Education students must meet qualifying criteria, participate, and compete in a sport. Students must train at least 15 hours per week and compete in national to Olympic level competitions throughout the year. Please see the Off-Campus PE Guidelines for additional information. Failure to meet these requirements will result in removal from the program. 

The OCPE Program is a partnership between Northside Independent School District and approved off-campus agencies to provide activities such as dance, gymnastics, martial arts, swimming, equestrian, etc. Students will receive a numerical grade at the end of each grading period.  

Student applications for Off-Campus PE will not be approved if the activity is available as part of the NISD curriculum or athletics at their grade level.  Activities approved at the middle school level may or may not be allowed in high school. All sports/activities require individual, one-to-one, directly supervised instruction. No team sports, including team sports private lessons, will be approved (i.e. basketball, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, volleyball, etc.) Only sports that allow for individual scoring and individual advancement will be approved.

The Physical Education Department supervises the OCPE program standards to ensure that each student receives an exceptional off-campus physical education experience. Considerations for agency approval include district staff travel times to visit agencies during instruction. Areas for consideration include the Northside ISD vicinity to include areas near Loop 410, North Loop 1604, and within the I-10 West corridor to Boerne.  

Note: As determined by Texas Education Code, the requirements are different for high school students vs. middle school students. For students in grades 9-12, TEC allows participation in a Category I program to substitute for the state physical education graduation requirement. NISD extends the above requirements and guidelines to students in grades 6-8.

Incoming 6th grade students are eligible for the Off-Campus P.E. Program during the spring semester. Please contact your campus counseling department for further information.

To be considered for the Off Campus Physical Education program at Northside, please review the following:

1. Complete the Online Application
   • Students must submit their own completed application by the deadline. School staff or agencies cannot submit on their behalf.
2. Registration Windows
   • Incoming 6th Grade Students (Spring Semester Eligibility): October 1 – December 1
   • 7th–12th Grade Students:
     • First Friday in June – First Friday in August (Fall & Spring registration)
     • October 1 – December 1 (Spring Semester registration)
3. Participation Requirements
   • Students must train under professional supervision for a minimum of 15 hours per week.
   • The agency must submit the student’s training schedule to the district through the agency portal.
   • Approved students must be off-campus during 1st or 8th period.
4. Agency Requirements
   • Agencies not on the NISD Approved Agency list must submit the OCPE online application by May 15 each year to allow time for processing and training.
   • Agency approval and certification are required for the student’s application to be considered.
5. Approval Process
   • OCPE approval is valid for the current school year only. A new application must be submitted for the following school year.
   • The NISD P.E. Department will review the application, verify the training schedule meets the 15-hour weekly requirement, and notify the campus head counselor and principal for final approval.
   • Students and parents/guardians should communicate with the campus counselor regarding the student’s schedule once approved.

The OCPE Program is a partnership between the Northside Independent School District and approved off-campus agencies. Students may not be enrolled in OCPE and any other general physical education class or physical education substitution at the same time.

NISD only participates in Category I of the TEA OCPE program.

Category I - Olympic/National Level - Participation and/or competition includes a minimum of 15 hours per week of highly intensive, professional, supervised training. The training facility, instructors, and the program’s activities must be certified by the superintendent to be of exceptional quality. Students qualifying and participating at this level may be dismissed from school one hour per day. Students dismissed may not miss any class other than physical education. PLEASE NOTE: Students who leave for instruction during the school day cannot participate in UIL activities in the same sport.

2025-2026 Agency List

To be placed on the NISD OCPE Approved Agency List, an agency must:

1. Complete the Online Application
   • Submit the Off-Campus PE Agency application through the online portal.
   • Provide proof of insurance.
2. Meet Requirements and Deadlines
   • Applications must fulfill all requirements and be submitted March 1st - May 1st each year to allow time for processing and training.
3. District Certification
   • If the agency is certified by the district as high-quality, it will be added to the published NISD Approved Agency List.

1. Documentation and Deadlines
   1. All documentation must be completed and submitted by the required deadlines.
   2. Parents/guardians and students are encouraged to begin the process 2–3 weeks prior to the deadline to ensure all documentation and scheduling requirements are met.
   3. Incomplete information will result in denial of the student application.
2. Agency Participation
   1. Students may participate with only one agency at a time.
   2. Credit cannot be issued for summer activities.
   3. Students must participate 15 hours per week at the approved agency from the first week of the semester through the end of the semester, or they must transfer into a general Physical Education class at their home campus.
3. OCPE Attendance Policy
   1. Excused Absences:
      1. Illness or injury exceeding 3 days must be verified by a doctor’s note.
      2. Absences for sanctioned UIL school functions are excused.
      3. For absences less than 3 days, a parent/guardian note is sufficient.
      4. Category I OCPE students may be excused for state or national-level competitions (maximum of 5 days per school year) with proper documentation.
   2. Unexcused Absences:
      1. Illness or injury exceeding 3 days without a doctor’s note.
      2. Attendance at non-UIL or outside-school activities without a parent note.
      3. Choosing not to attend a scheduled OCPE class.
   3. Injury/Illness Protocol:
      1. Students must continue attending agency classes if injured. Alternative activities and lessons will be provided, but students must still meet the minimum weekly hours.
      2. If an injury lasts beyond 1 week, a doctor’s note must specify what the student can/cannot do and when they can resume full participation.
      3. The Agency Coordinator must contact the OCPE Specialist for further assistance if an injury or illness extends beyond 1 week.