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NDCL STUDENT- ATHLETE ELIGIBILITY

To be a member of an interscholastic sports team, a student athlete, manager, or trainer must meet the following requirements:

• The rules of the OHSAA pertaining to eligibility must be strictly adhered to.
  
  
• The student athlete must have a current physical form on file in the athletic office.
  
  
• The student athlete will abide by all rules established by the Athletic Department and individual teams.
  
  
• The student athlete will maintain a standard of conduct that will reflect favorably on him/herself, family, school, and community.
  
  
• The student athlete must be in school by 11:00 am the day of an athletic event or practice. Excused absences must be accompanied by a doctor’s note or pre-arranged absence form.
  
  
• Eligibility at the beginning of a new school year is determined by the fourth quarter academic record of the previous school year. Student-athletes should note that report card grades, which determine eligibility, will be as follows:
  • First Quarter: Fourth quarter grades of preceding year
  • Second Quarter: First quarter grades
  • Third Quarter: Second quarter grades
  • Fourth Quarter: Third quarter grades
  
  The Athletic Directors and the Administration (Principal and/or Assistant Principal) will be responsible for indicating to coaches and student-athletes eligibility for interscholastic competition.
  
  Academic eligibility at NDCL is two-pronged. Student athletes must be eligible under both of the following standards: (a)OHSAA standards; and, (b) NDCL In-House standards.
  
  (a) OHSAA standards: All student athletes must pass five one-credit courses or the equivalent in the immediately preceding grading period.
  
  (b) NDCL In-House standards: three times during each quarter (two Academic Progress Review dates and the quarter report card), the Administration will report to the Athletic Directors any student athletes who have received two (2) or more D's or F's. Any student athlete receiving two or more D's or F's will be academically ineligible to participate for seven (7) days following receipt of the report. The Athletic Directors will notify student athletes and coaches of this ineligibility. Students can be re-evaluated in seven days. At that time, if a student athlete has improved to 75% or better, his/her athletic eligibility will be restored. Re-evaluation forms are the responsibility of the the student athlete. Student athletes who are declared ineligible may practice with their teams with approval of the coach, but may not dress for games, meets, or matches. It is the coach's discretion whether the non-uniformed athlete may sit on the bench during the game. Eligibility for the first quarter will be determined by the fourth quarter GPA only.

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An Important Bulletin from the OHSAA Concerning Your Eligibility

2003-2004 Eligibility Bulletin

A Message To Student-Athletes

Participating in your school’s interscholastic athletics program will provide some of your most memorable and enjoyable moments ever. Your state association, the Ohio High School Athletic Association, has standards that must be met in order to be eligible to compete.

The essential eligibility requirements in this brochure are only a summary of some of the regulations affecting student eligibility. Most requirements are found in the OHSAA Handbook, which can be found in the offices of your principal and athletic administrator. Your school district also has the authority to establish additional academic standards and codes of student or athletic conduct.

Any questions you have concerning the OHSAA standards or your athletic eligibility should be reviewed with your school principal or athletic administrator. You should also meet with these administrators every time before you change your course schedule or drop a course.

The eligibility standards of the OHSAA have been adopted by the member schools and were accepted by your school when it became an OHSAA member.

You are urged, as a student-athlete, to study these standards carefully since you are responsible for compliance with these standards. We want you to enjoy your school years!

Sincerely,
Clair Muscaro
Commissioner,
Ohio High School Athletic Association

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High school students (grades 9-12) must be currently enrolled in a member school and have received passing grades in a minimum of five (5) one credit courses, or the equivalent, in the immediately preceding grading period.

Seventh- and eighth-grade students must be currently enrolled in a member school and have received passing grades in 75 percent of subjects in which enrolled.

• You may not use summer school grades for failing grades received or lack of courses taken in the final grading period.
• Your semester and yearly grades have no effect on eligibility.
• Those taking post-secondary school courses must comply with OHSAA scholarship regulations.

2. RESIDENCE

You may attend any public or non-public high school in which you are accepted when you enter a high school from a 7th-8th grade school.

Eligibility at that school is then established by:

1. Participating in a contest (scrimmage, preview or regular season game) prior to the first day of school, or
2. Attending the first day of school at any member school.

• If there is a change of custody, you must live in the same school district as your legal guardian.
• If your parent or legal guardian live outside of Ohio, you are ineligible unless one of the exceptions to the regulation is met. There are four (4) exceptions to this regulation. You and your parents should arrange a meeting with your principal or athletic administrator to review these exceptions.
• If additional questions remain on the regulations on residence, school principals or athletic administrators should contact the OHSAA.

3. TRANSFER STUDENTS

Once eligibility has been established at a member school, those who transfer to a different school will be ineligible for athletics for one year from the date of enrollment in the new school.

• There are seven (7) exceptions to this regulation. To see if you qualify for an exception, you and your parents should arrange a meeting with your principal or athletic administrator and review The OHSAA Transfer Bylaw brochure prior to transferring schools.
• If additional questions remain on the regulations on transfers, school principals or athletic administrators should contact the OHSAA.

4. SEMESTERS OF ENROLLMENT

After establishing ninth-grade eligibility, you are permitted eight (8) semesters of athletic eligibility.

• The semesters are taken in order of attendance once ninth-grade eligibility has been established.
• Semesters are counted toward eligibility whether you participate in interscholastic athletics or not.
• Those with a disability may qualify for an exception to this regulation and should arrange a meeting with the principal or athletic administrator to review the exception.

5. AGE LIMITATIONS

High school students (grades 9-12) who turn 19 years of age prior to August 1, 2003, are ineligible for interscholastic athletics.

Seventh- and eighth-grade students who turn 15 years of age prior to August 1, 2003, are ineligible for 7th-8th grade athletics but are eligible to participate in high school athletics.

• Those with a disability may qualify for an exception to this regulation and should arrange a meeting with the principal or athletic administrator to review the exception.

6. AWARDS

You may receive awards as a result of athletic participation in interscholastic athletics from any source. However, the value cannot be more than $100 per award.

7. AMATEUR STATUS

You will lose your amateur status and forfeit your eligibility if you:

• Compete for money or other monetary compensation.
• Receive any award, equipment or prize of monetary value greater than $100 per item.
• Capitalize on your athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of monetary value.
• Sign a professional playing contract in the sport in which you had participated.
• Sign with a professional agent (Ohio law).
• Fail to return equipment or uniforms issued by a school or non-school team or organization when the season for that sport is over.

8. FALSE INFORMATION

If you compete under a name other than your own or provide a false address, you immediately become ineligible.

9. OPEN GYMS/FACILITIES

School officials may designate open gyms or facilities and the sports to be played. You may participate in open gyms or facilities provided:

• No one is limited from participating.
• No one is required to attend.
• No school officials invite selected students or determine the teams.
• No timing or written scoring is kept.
• No coaching or instruction is provided.
• No one is restricted from observing.

Violating these rules may result in you being declared ineligible for a maximum of one (1) year.

10. INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS

You may attend camps, clinics and workshops that involve team play any time between June 1 and July 31.

• Team play means there is more than one player opposing one player.

There is no limit on the number of students from the same school team that may participate on the same non-school team from June 1 to July 31.

You may receive instruction from a coach from a school team only:

1. During the season of the sport, or
2. For 10 days only from June 1 to July 31.

You may receive individual skill instruction from a non-school coach at any time during the year in individual or group lessons.

Members of a school football team may play in non-contact football contests and attend non-contact team football camps at any time between June 1 and July 31. Remember, however, that the 10-day regulation for instruction from school coaches is in effect.

11. PARTICIPATION ON NON-SCHOOL TEAMS

You may not try out, practice or participate in a contest with a non-school team while a member of a school team in the same sport.

• In individual sports, however, you may practice and try out for a non-school team but may not compete in a contest.

Those in team sports may try out, practice and compete on non-school teams before and after the school season provided:

1. The number of students from the same school on the roster of the non-school team is limited to five (5) students in the sports of soccer and field hockey; four (4) students in the sports of baseball and softball; three (3) students in the sports of volleyball and ice hockey, and two (2) students in the sport of basketball. School football team members are prohibited to compete on non-school teams except from June 1 to July 31.

2. You have no contact with school coaches while on a non-school team (other than the 10 days permitted between June 1 and July 31).

• Violating these rules during the school season may result in you being declared ineligible for the remainder of the school season.
• Violating these rules outside the school season may result in you being declared ineligible for the next season.
• Violating these rules by a senior may result in that student being declared ineligible for the remainder of the school year.

12. RECRUITING

You will be declared ineligible if you are recruited by a person or group of persons to change schools. This may also affect the eligibility of the school team.

13. USE OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO & ILLEGAL DRUGS

You are prohibited from using any form of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs at the playing site of an interscholastic contest. The penalty is disqualification from that contest, and you will likely face additional school and/or legal penalties.

14. STEROIDS OR OTHER PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS

If you use anabolic steroids or other performance enhancing drugs, you are ineligible for interscholastic competition until medical evidence indicates that your system is free of these items.

15. PHYSICAL EXAM FORMS

Each year you must submit a physical examination form signed by a medical examiner, your parents or guardian and yourself before you begin practice for a school sport. Procedures will be reviewed by school officials. Physicial examinations are valid for one year from the date of the exam.

16. STUDENT CONDUCT AND EJECTION POLICIES

You are expected to accept seriously the responsibility and privilege of representing your school and community while participating in interscholastic athletics. As a student-athlete, you are expected to:

• Treat opponents, coaches and officials with respect.
• Display no behavior that could incite fans or other participants in the contest or which is intended to embarrass, ridicule or demean others under any circumstances including on the basis of race, religion, gender or national origin.
• Remember that winning isn’t everything. Having fun, improving your skills, making friends and doing your best are also important.

The OHSAA has established a policy for students ejected for unsporting behavior. If you are ejected, you:

• Will be ineligible for all contests for the remainder of that day.
• Will be ineligible for all contests at all levels in that sport until two regular season/tournament contests are played at the same level as the ejection (one contest in football).

If you are ejected a second time in a season, you are subject to additional, stiffer penalties, including suspension from play for the remainder of the season in that sport.

The complete OHSAA ejection policy for unsporting behavior can be found in the OHSAA Handbook.

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» See NDCL Rules of Conduct