Student and Eligibility Information

ELIGIBILITY SEMINAR

The GHSA is pleased to offer the following eligibility presentations which detail GHSA eligibility rules and forms processing. This seminar will be especially helpful for school adminitrators and athletic department personel that are responsible for processing GHSA eligibility forms.

Session 1 - Academic Eligibility Regulations

Running Time - 25:53

Session 2 - Transfer Eligibility Rules

Running Time - 30:02

Session 3 - Processing Eligibility Forms

Running Time - 33:42

ELIGIBILITY FORMS

Eligibility Report Instructions
Form A
Form B
Form C
Hardship Application
Hardship Application - Response From Sending School
Foreign Exchange Programs – Approved List

ELIGIBILITY RULES

The following eligibility information has been extracted from the current GHSA Constitution and By-Laws. Please refer to the Constitution and By-Laws for additional information.

_(2011-2012)

BY-LAWS

The Georgia High School Association recognizes that local boards and/or governing bodies may place more stringent requirements as they deem appropriate. The Association encourages all boards of education and/or governing bodies to extend the same rules and regulations to all extra-curricular activities under their jurisdiction.

These rules establish the provisions governing student eligibility to participate in interscholastic activities.

A. The word "student" used in these By-Laws refers either to a boy or girl participant in interscholastic athletics, cheerleading, or literary activities. Therefore, according to correct grammatical usage, since the antecedent "student" can involve persons of both sexes, the masculine pronouns he, his, or him used throughout said By-Laws will refer to either male or female participants.

B. The word "principal" used in these By-Laws refers either to a male or female head of a secondary school. Therefore, according to correct grammatical usage, since the antecedent "principal" can involve or refer to persons of either or both sexes the masculine pronouns, he, him, or his, will refer to a male or female head of a secondary school.

C. The abbreviations GHSA used throughout these By-Laws refers to the Georgia High School Association.

BY-LAW 1.00 - STUDENT

1.10 - CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY

1.11 Students gain eligibility to practice or compete for the school in which they are enrolled after they have been certified by the principal of that school, after the eligibility forms have been processed by the GHSA office, and after the students have met the standards of:

(a) academic requirements

(b) age

(d) residence in the school's service area

(e) transfer rules

Note: Students establishing eligibility as entering 9th graders are automatically eligible for the first semester.

1.12 The certification of eligibility shall be submitted initially in each sport or activity no later than the date set by the GHSA for the first practice in that sport or activity.

(a) This due date does not consider the date of the first contest scheduled.

(b) EXCEPTION: Literary, One-Act Play and Riflery certification is due twenty (20) days prior to the first scheduled contest.

1.13 If a student ruled ineligible by the GHSA, competes interscholastically due to the terms of a court restraining order or injunction against his/her school and/or the GHSA, and then has the court order vacated, stayed, reversed, or ruled unjustified; the Executive Director shall take one or more of the following actions against the school involved in the interest of restitution and fairness to the competing school(s):

(a) Require that individual and/or team records and performances achieved during participation by the ineligible student be vacated or stricken.

(b) Require that team victories be forfeited to the opponent(s).

(c) Require that team awards earned by the school or individual awards earned by the ineligible student be returned to the GHSA.

1.20 - ENROLLMENT AND TEAM MEMBERSHIP

1.21 To be eligible to participate and/or try-out for a sport or activity, a student must be enrolled full time in grades 9-12 inclusive at the school seeking eligibility for that student.

(a) Enrollment is defined as follows:

(1) Fall Semester: when the student participates in a practice or contest before classes begin, or the student attends classes.

(2) Spring Semester: when the student attends classes.

(3) A student may be enrolled in only one (1) high school at a time.

(b) The student must be in regular attendance.

NOTE: If an eligible student transfers from a school that uses a block-schedule format to a school using

a traditional format (or vice versa) and that student cannot get a full schedule of classes with equivalent credit, the school may petition the Executive Director for a waiver of this rule for the semester the transfer occurs.

(d) All or part of the course load of a student may be taken online through a virtual school as long as the student's grades are being kept at the school in which the student is enrolled. Grades from virtual school courses must be on file at the school by the first day of the new semester in order for the student to be eligible.

1.22 Students enrolled in grade 9 in a middle or junior high school which is a feeder school to the high school may participate in interscholastic activities for the parent school.

1.23 All-male schools may enlist female students from other schools to be on sideline cheerleading squads as long as the following conditions are met:

(a) Each cheerleader must be eligible at the school at which she is enrolled, and must have a signed release from an administrator at that school.

(b) Each cheerleader must have a GHSA Pre-participation Physical Evaluation Form on file at the school where she will be cheering as well as at the school at which she is enrolled.

(c) Each cheerleader must have insurance coverage comparable to all other participants in GHSA activities.

(d) Supervision must be provided by the all-male school for all practices and games.

1.30 - AGE

To be eligible to participate in interscholastic activities, a student must not have reached his 19th birthday prior to May 1st, preceding his year of participation.

1.40 - LIMITS OF PARTICIPATION

1.41 Students must have a certificate of an annual physical examination on file at the school prior to participating in any athletic try-outs, practices or games that indicate the students are physically approved for participation.

(a) Physical examinations will be good for twelve (12) months from the date of the exam. EXCEPTION: Any physical examination taken on or after April 1 in the preceding year will be accepted for the entire next GHSA school year.

(b) The physical exam must be conducted by a licensed medical physician, doctor of Osteopathic medicine, nurse practitioner or a physician's assistant.

(c) The exam must be signed by an M.D., D.O., or by a Physician's Assistant, or an Advance Practice Nurse who has been delegated that task by an M.D., or D.O.

(d) The GHSA requires that member schools use the latest edition of the preparticipation physical evaluation form approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics, et. al., found on the GHSA web site.

1.42 A student has eight (8) consecutive semesters or four (4) consecutive years of eligibility from the date of entry into the ninth grade to be eligible for interscholastic competition.

(a) A student is not considered to have entered the 9th grade when a 9th grade course is taken if:

(1) the student is regularly enrolled in a member's feeder school in a grade below the ninth, AND

(2) the course is taken as an advanced course, AND

(3) the principal of the school attended by the student certifies to the GHSA that the subject and course(s) meet the criteria set forth above.

(b) Credits earned toward high school graduation which are taken below the ninth grade may be used when considering high school eligibility.

1.43 Sub-varsity competitors must meet all eligibility requirements with the exception of the migratory rule.

1.44 Students in grade 9 and higher may participate on both the varsity and one (1) sub-varsity team in the same sport with the following limitations:

(a) Football _ a player may not participate in interscholastic competitions more than six (6) quarters per week. The week starts with the varsity game. Violations of this participation rule will result in a mandatory fine and an automatic forfeiture of the game in which the student exceeded the limit. Additional penalties may be imposed by the Executive Director in extreme circumstances.

(b) Basketball _ a player may not participate in interscholastic competition more than five (5) quarters per calendar day.

(d) All other sports - the combination of games, playdays, or weigh-ins (varsity and sub-varsity) in which the student participates may not be greater than the limit allotted to the varsity in that sport.

1.45 Eighth grade students may participate on a sub-varsity team of a high school provided they attend a feeder school of that high school.

(a) Students in grade 8 are never eligible for a varsity event in any activity.

(b) Eighth grade students who play on a high school team must meet all middle school requirements as put forth by the State Department of Education.

(c) An eighth grade student who is declared ineligible at a middle school or retained for academic reasons, is considered to be ineligible for participation on a sub-varsity high school team.

(d) Eighth grade students participating on a sub-varsity team may only participate in 60% of the number of games allotted to the varsity team in that sport.

(e) Students below the eighth grade are not eligible to participate on any high school team.

(f) Students enrolled in grade 8 in a middle school or junior high school which is a feeder school to the member high school may participate in Spring football practice. These students must be pre-enrolled at that member high school, and once pre-enrolled, the student has established eligibility at that high school.

(g) Students enrolled in grade 8 in a middle school or junior high school which is a feeder school to the member high school may try out for cheerleader at the high school. Eighth grade students at a non-feeder school that has no system high school may participate in cheerleader tryouts at the member high school serving the student's area of residence. Such a student must be pre-enrolled at that member high school, and once pre-enrolled, the student has established eligibility at that high school.

1.46 The number of contests, starting and ending dates, and the number of practice days allowed for each sport or activity can be found listed in a calendar at the front of this publication.

1.47 Girls may participate on boys' teams when there is no girls' team offered in that sport by the school. Boys are not allowed to play on girls' teams even when there is no corresponding boys' sport. NOTE: Cheerleading is a co-ed sport.

1.48 Advisory Notice - Pregnant Students: In response to the increasing number of pregnant students attending member schools, and the continued participation of these students in GHSA activities, the following advisory notice is being offered:

(a) During the first 18 weeks of pregnancy, students, with written consent from a physician, may be allowed to participate in athletic activities except those activities in which a fall or other rapid deceleration is likely to occur.

(b) Pregnant students should not be allowed to participate in any athletic activities after the 18th week of pregnancy.

1.49 Schools having students participate in athletic activities with artificial limbs must certify that the artificial limb is no more dangerous to participants than a natural limb.

(a) A permission form must be filed with the GHSA office.

(b) The form may be found in the Miscellaneous section on the GHSA web site.

1.50 - SCHOLASTIC STANDING / SCHOLARSHIP

1.51 To be eligible to participate, practice, and/or try out in interscholastic activities, a student must be academically eligible. A student is required to pass classes that carry at least 2.5 Carnegie Units counting toward graduation the semester immediately preceding participation.

Exception 1: First semester ninth grade students.

Exception 2: A cheerleader who is academically ineligible for the spring semester may try out if she is passing ALL classes at the time of the tryout. The window of opportunity to try out under these conditions is available only during the ten (10) days set aside for tryouts that the school chooses.

(a) Passing in all GHSA member schools is a grade of seventy (70).

(b) Students participating in junior varsity or "B" team competition must meet all scholastic requirements.

(c) If an eligible student transfers from a school that uses a block-schedule format to a school using a traditional format (or vice versa) and that student cannot get a full schedule of classes with equivalent credit in the semester of the transfer, the school may petition the Executive Director for a waiver of this rule for the first semester after the transfer occurs.

(d) For schools offering courses with yearlong grading, eligibility must be computed for each semester.

(1) At the end of the first semester, the school must determine that the student has a grade of 70% or higher in classes carrying at least 2.5 Carnegie Units.

(2) The second semester grade will be the grade given for the entire course and shall include the end- of-course test grade.

(3) Remediation programs designed to bring the student's first semester grade up to 70% or higher may be used (in accordance with GHSA guidelines) if the school allows such programs for all students.

1.52 Students gain or lose eligibility on the first day of the subsequent semester. The first day of the Fall semester shall be interpreted as the first date of practice for the first sport.

(a) Exception: Students who successfully complete summer school to maintain eligibility become eligible the last day of summer school.

(1) Summer school is an extension of the previous semester and courses may be:

a. remedial in nature where a previously-taken course is repeated in its entirety with a new grade

being given.

b. enrichment in nature where a new course is taken that results in new credit being earned.

(2) A maximum of two (2) Carnegie unit credits earned in summer school may be counted for eligibility purposes. NOTE: Additional credits may be earned in credit recovery programs or make-up programs.

(3) Summer school credits earned in non-accredited home study programs or non-accredited private schools may not be used to gain eligibility. Accreditation recognized under the rule shall be from the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC) or a regional accreditation agency (such as SACS) or the Georgia Private School Accreditation Council (GAPSAC).

(4) An independent study course taken in summer school must be regionally accredited and accepted by the school system for graduation credit.

(b) Courses completed after the beginning of a new semester may not be used to gain eligibility for that semester. Example: night school classes, correspondence courses, etc.

1.53 Students must accumulate Carnegie units towards graduation according to the following criteria:

(a) First-year students (entering 9th grade) are eligible academically. Second semester first-year students must have passed courses carrying at least 2.5 Carnegie units the previous semester in order to participate.

(b) Second-year students must have accumulated five (5) total Carnegie units in the first year, AND passed courses carrying at least 2.5 Carnegie units in the previous semester.

(c) Third-year students must have accumulated eleven (11) Carnegie units in the first and second years, AND passed courses carrying at least 2.5 Carnegie units in the previous semester.

(d) Fourth-year students must have accumulated seventeen (17) Carnegie units in the first three years, AND passed courses carrying at least 2.5 Carnegie units in the previous semester.

(e) Students may accumulate the required Carnegie units for participation during the school year and eligibility will be reinstated at the beginning of the next semester.

ADVISORY NOTICE: CURRICULAR INNOVATIONS

A. BLOCK FOUR PROGRAMS:

1. The student takes four courses that are worth one (1) Carnegie unit each and the classes meet twice the number of hours per week as in the standard curricular programs.

2. To be eligible, a student must earn at least 2.5 Carnegie units.

3. Carnegie unit requirements are the same in all curricular programs.

B. BLOCK EIGHT PROGRAMS:

1. The student takes eight courses at some time during the term, and each course is worth one-half Carnegie unit.

2. To be eligible, a student must earn at least 2.5 Carnegie units during the term.

3. Carnegie unit requirements are the same in all curricular programs.

C. HYBRID SCHEDULING:

1. Definition: A student takes a combination of courses scheduled as block courses, yearlong courses and/or traditional courses.

2. To be eligible, a student must be enrolled in a combination of courses that carry at least 2.5 Carnegie units.

3. To be eligible, a student must have passed a combination of courses the previous semester that carries at least 2.5 Carnegie units.

1.54 A Dual Enrollment program is defined as a program in which a fulltime student at a GHSA member high school takes one or more courses from a state public or private postsecondary institution and receives credit at the high school (toward graduation) and at the postsecondary institution.

(a) Dual enrolled students shall take courses that are approved by the Georgia Department of Education.

(b) Courses may be taken in a variety of formats (including distance learning and virtual courses) as long

as the courses are approved.

(1) 1-2 semester hours equates to .5 unit

(2) 3-5 semester hours equates to 1 unit

(d) Postsecondary quarter hour credit shall be converted to high school unit credit as follows:

(1) 1-3 quarter hours equates to .5 unit

(2) 4-8 quarter hours equates to 1 unit

1.55 Students involved in approved Dual Enrollment programs shall be eligible to participate in GHSA activities provided that academic eligibility is maintained.

(a) Courses taken each semester at the high school and/or postsecondary institution must total at least 2.5 units.

(b) Courses passed the previous semester at the high school and/or postsecondary institution must total at least 2.5 units

(c) Students will gain or lose eligibility on the first day of each semester at the high school and a college calendar that differs from the high school calendar may cause problems.

(d) Students who withdraw or are dropped from a Dual Enrollment program and are returned to the high school only, may encounter eligibility problems.

(e) Students involved in Joint Enrollment programs, Early College programs, or Gateway to College programs may not be eligible at their respective high schools.

(f) A student who participates on an intercollegiate athletic team may not participate in any GHSA activity.

1.56 Loss of Eligibility: Students assigned to an alternative school or on out-of-school suspension for disciplinary reasons, or adjudicated to YDC, lose their eligibility. Suspension is considered to have ended when the student is physically readmitted to the classroom.

1.57 Failure to Meet Academic Standards: When a school administrator believes that the student has failed to meet the academic eligibility requirements due to conditions that were beyond the control of the school, the student, and/or his parents, and such that none of them could have been expected reasonably to comply with the rule, he may request that the student's case be put on the agenda of the Hardship Committee.

(a) Ignorance of the rule(s) on the part of any individual is not sufficient cause to set aside the rule(s).

(b) Schools must supply all the materials requested on the Hardship Application Form on the GHSA web site.

1.58 Credit Recovery/Make-up Work: Students who have academic deficiencies at the end of a semester may make up those deficiencies in programs that are available to any student in the school.

(a) Credit recovery programs are short-term programs that involve a course that has been completed and a grade given. The student is given the opportunity to work on areas of deficiency.

(b) Make-up programs occur when a course has not been completed and an "Incomplete" grade has been given. The student is given the opportunity to work on areas of deficiency.

(c) Credit recovery and make-up work must be completed within fourteen (14) school days after the start of the next semester. The student is ineligible until such time as the work is completed and the required passing grade has been recorded. Exception: If the end-of-course test is not offered within 14 days of the beginning of the next semester, the student may be granted a reasonable extension by the GHSA.

(d) The GHSA Executive Director shall be authorized to approve credit recovery or make-up work completed later than fourteen days after the start of the next semester if he finds that the:

(1) timeframe was not met due to circumstances outside the control of the student, his parent(s), and the school, AND

(2) work was completed as soon as reasonably possible, AND

(3) allowance for such a delay is offered on the same basis to all students in the school.

(e) Credit recovery programs operated during the summer or in intersessions shall be completed within fourteen days of the beginning of the new semester. Students using those credits to gain eligibility are ineligible until the course is completed successfully. Credit recovery is used for remedial work only, and no new credit courses may be applied under this provision.

(f) Students using credit recovery or make-up programs must have their eligibility submitted to the GHSA office on a "Form C."

1.59 Students with disabilities:

(a) A student with disabilities who is enrolled in a special education program which is not physically located at the parent school (example: psycho-education center, regional occupation center, community-based instruction class, etc.) shall be eligible to participate, practice, and/or try out in interscholastic activities at the parent school if IEP (Individual Education Program) requirements are met.

(b) Schools with students having to meet only IEP requirements for course credit must establish an accounting process for the number of courses passed each semester, and for the awarding of Carnegie units. Requirements for the date of entry into the ninth grade and for age apply to students with IEPs without variation.

(c) Competitive interscholastic activities administered through local special education programs shall follow Georgia Department of Education guidelines and procedures for special education, and are exempt from GHSA requirements.

1.60 - SCHOOL SERVICE AREAS / TRANSFER / MIGRANT STUDENTS / MIGRATORY WAIVER

1.61 School service areas for member public schools are those attendance boundaries established by local boards of education from which a school normally draws its students. The school service area for a member private school is the county in which the private school is located. The school service area for a startup or converted charter school will be the same as the school from which the charter school draws its students.

1.62 A transfer student who has established eligibility at a former school in grades 9-12 shall be immediately eligible at the new school if:

(a) The student moved simultaneously with the entire parental unit or persons he/she resided with at the former school, and the student and parent(s) or persons residing with the student live in the service area of the new school This is known as a "bona fide move."

(1) The student may choose the public or private school serving that area.

(2) It must be apparent that the parent(s) or the persons residing with the student and the student have relinquished the residence in the former service area and have occupied a residence in the new service area.

(3) Relinquishment of the former residence may be met by one of the following procedures: selling the residence; having the residence listed with a real estate agent for sale at a fair market value; having a contract with a buyer; having a lease agreement at a fair market value; or abandoning the house and shutting off unnecessary utilities. When a family claims multiple residences, the residence for which they apply for a homestead exemption will be declared the primary residence.

(4) The bona fide move is validated when the student's family maintains the new residence for at least one calendar year. A return to the previous residence within that year renders the student to be a migrant student. All hardship appeal processes are available.

(b) The student was enrolled in a private school or a magnet school and has a bona fide move from one public school service area to another public school service area. A student in this situation may attend either the public school or a private school serving his area of residence.

(c) The student was enrolled in a non-member private school in Georgia or was boarded at a school out of state and, without a bona fide move, transferred to a GHSA-member school that serves his area of residence as long as:

(1) The student was enrolled at the high school serving his/her area of residence in grades 9-12 before attending the non-member school, OR

(2) The student has not yet established eligibility at grades 9-12 at a member school serving his area of residence, OR

(3) the student has previously established his attendance at a school other than the school serving his area of residence, and chooses to return to that school, AND

(4) it is the initial move of the student from a non-member school to a member school serving his area of residence.

(d) The student transfers from a non-member home school and the receiving school grants credit so that the student has accumulated sufficient Carnegie units. At the time such credit is given, the student must also have passed a minimum of five (5) courses the previous semester. The student becomes eligible when credit is awarded officially.

(e) The student is involved in a foreign exchange program that is approved and published on the "Advisory List of International Educational Travel and Exchange Programs" published by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET). This list is found on the GHSA web site.

(1) The student shall be considered eligible for a maximum period of one calendar year.

(2) The student shall not be a graduate of a secondary school in his home country.

(3) The student must maintain eligibility requirements at the member school.

(4) The foreign exchange program must assign students to schools by a method that insures that no student, school, or other interested party may influence the assignment for athletic purposes.

(f) If one of his/her parents or the custodial parent is a certified teacher or administrator teaching at the receiving school. This opportunity is available one time only at any given school.

(g) The student has one of the following family-related situations that produces a waiver of the bona fide move rule:

(1) There is a Superior Court or Juvenile Court awarded change of permanent custody and the student

moves to the residence of the parent receiving custody.

(a) The student must attend the member school serving that area of residence.

(b) A copy of the court order must accompany the eligibility forms.

(2) There is a Superior Court or Juvenile Court final order awarding permanent joint custody to the parents and the student moves to a residence of his or her parent outside the service area of the previous school.

(a) This waiver may be made one time during a calendar year.

(b) A copy of the court order must accompany the eligibility forms.

(3) There is a death of a custodial parent and the student moves to live with the other natural parent in a new school service area.

NOTE: A copy of the death certificate shall be submitted with the eligibility papers.

(4) There is a military transfer of one or both custodial parents that creates a change of residence that is not a bona fide move. NOTE: A copy of the deployment order shall be submitted with the eligibility form.

(h) Students who are U.S. citizens returning from a foreign country shall be eligible as long as they meet all other requirements of eligibility.

(i) Students who are transferred from one school attendance area to another school attendance area by a mandate of the local board of education maintain their eligibility.

(j) Married students setting up a household (domicile) shall be eligible in the school of their residence provided they meet all other requirements of eligibility.

(k) Students at the Atlanta School for the Deaf will be eligible at the school serving their area of residence provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.

(l) The migratory rule (See 1.63) will be waived one time for students entering the following boarding schools:

Ben Franklin Academy Rabun Gap School Riverside Military Academy

Tallulah Falls School

Exception: Students from foreign countries not on an approved foreign exchange program are not eligible.

(m) Students entering a school as an "unaccompanied youth" under the conditions of the McKinney-Vento Act must go through the hardship appeal process to become eligible.

1.63 A "migrant student" is a student who transfers into a GHSA school without a bona fide move or without one of the exceptions listed in by-law 1.62. The student may practice or compete at the sub-varsity level, but may not compete at the varsity level for one calendar year from the date of his entry into the new school.

1.64 A student who is not eligible because of GHSA rules at the former school, and then transfers to a new school, cannot regain eligibility by the transfer. Ineligible students cannot gain eligibility by being adjudicated to YDC and subsequently returning to their resident school with earned credit.

1.65 Students whose transfers from member school to member school have been approved by the GHSA office after the end of regular season play or during post-season play are not eligible for participation in GHSA sponsored tournaments and/or playoffs in that particular sport for the school year of transfer.

1.66 A student who is not eligible at one school because of suspension or expulsion and then transfers to a member school cannot regain eligibility by such a transfer, for the length of the suspension or one calendar year, whichever is less.

1.67 A permissive transfer is defined as an allowance by a local board of education for students and/or their parents to choose a school to attend without regard to the location of residence.

(a) A student transferring from member school to member school on a permissive transfer is considered a migrant student.

(b) A student transferring to or from a school housing a system-wide, singular academic or vocation program or a magnet program on a permissive transfer is considered a migrant student.

(1) The offering of an individual course or series of courses by one school in a system does not provide inherent justification to grant GHSA eligibility.

(2) Special options offered by a school system that allow students to attend a school outside their area of residence do not provide inherent justification to grant GHSA eligibility.

(3) Any such permissive transfer issue may be brought before the GHSA Hardship Committee.

(c) Students transferring under the provisions of "No Child Left Behind" and the failure to make "Adequate Yearly Progress" must be processed through the normal Hardship Appeal procedures. Such students must demonstrate that they have been materially affected by the issue(s) that caused the former school to be placed on the "Need to Improve" list.

(d) When a military base is located in two school districts, a student moving onto the base for the first time may choose to attend either school district, and that district will place the student appropriately. Any transfer after the initial move will be subject to standard eligibility regulations.

1.68 Hardship Applications may be filed to attempt to establish eligibility in the following situations:

(a) A student who changes schools because of a temporary custody transfer from a parent to a guardian, or from one guardian to another (See Article IV, Section 5, in the GHSA Constitution).

(b) A student whose transfer is based upon his being emancipated, homeless, a child from a broken home, a ward of the DFACS, or a ward of a Court (See Article IV, Section 5, in the GHSA Constitution).

(c) In order for a hardship appeal based on a financial hardship to be approved, the new school must provide proof that the family attempted to address the financial problem at the previous school, and that the need-based financial aid was non-existent or insufficient to resolve the problem. Increases in tuition or other costs at a private school do not create an automatic reason to grant the appeal, because such fee increases are considered foreseeable and not unavoidable. Documentation of the financial problem is required.

1.69 When a new school opens, student eligibility shall be determined as follows:

(a) When a school district mandates an attendance area for a new school for all grades enrolled at the new school, all students living within the mandated attendance area in those grades are immediately eligible. All students living outside the mandated attendance area who desire to attend the new school are considered migrant students and are ineligible for one year. Hardship appeals may be filed if conditions warrant.

(b) When a school district mandates some students to attend the new school, allows some students to stay at their present school, and permits some students to transfer to the new school, the school shall set a deadline for students living in the attendance area of the new school to decide whether they will move to the new school, or stay at the present school. The decisions exercised at the deadline date are binding. Subsequent changes render the student to be a migrant student with the one-year period of ineligibility. Students who are granted permissive transfers to enroll at the new school from other schools within the system are considered to be migrant students. Hardship appeals may be filed if conditions warrant.

1.70 - RECRUITING/UNDUE INFLUENCE

1.71 Recruiting and Undue Influence is defined as the use of influence by any person connected directly or indirectly with a GHSA school to induce a student of any age to transfer from one school to another, or to enter the ninth grade at a member school for athletic or literary competition purposes, whether or not the school presently attended by the student is a member of the GHSA.

(a) The use of undue influence to secure OR retain a student for competitive purposes is prohibited, and shall lead to penalties being assessed against either school. NOTE: This violation may cause the student to forfeit eligibility for one year from the date of enrollment.

(b) Evidence of undue influence includes, but is not limited to:

(1) personal contact initiated by coaches, boosters, or other school personnel in an attempt to persuade transfer

(2) gifts of money, jobs, supplies or clothing

(3) free transportation

(4) free admission to contests

(5) an invitation to attend practices and/or games

(6) a social event (other than an official schoolwide Open House program) specifically geared for prospective athletes

(7) free tuition beyond the allowable standards found in by-law 1.82

(8) a coach asking a prospective student for contact information

(c) Complaints or reports of violations of this rule will be investigated and handled on a case-by-case basis. If coaches are found to be in violation of the recruiting rule, a copy of the investigation will be forwarded to the Professional Standards Commission of the Department of Education.

(d) A school will be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate it could not reasonably be expected to be responsible for the actions of a booster who is found to have violated the recruiting/undue influence rules.

1.72 A student athlete transferring from one member school to another shall be ruled ineligible for one year because of "undue influence" if it is proven that:

(a) The coach of the receiving school coached an out-of-school team on which the athlete played prior to the transfer; OR

(b) The coach at the receiving school acted as a private athletic instructor for the transferring athlete, regardless of whether the coach was paid for his services and/or expertise; OR

(c) The player who played for a coach at a former GHSA school followed that coach when he/she moved to another GHSA school. (This is not applicable to dependent children of the coach.)

(d) The situations cited in this by-law are considered to be violations even if a bona fide move has occurred, and the hardship appeal procedures are available for the demonstration that undue influence has not occurred.

1.73 A booster shall be considered to be an extension of the school and must abide by all rules applied to coaches and other school personnel. The following persons or groups may be considered boosters: members of the school's Booster Club; alumni; parents; guardians; or relatives of a student or former student; financial donors; or donors of time and effort.

1.80 - FINANCIAL AID

1.81 Any student who receives financial aid or non-GHSA approved gifts from any source and in any form (scholarships, tuition remission, cash, gifts, etc.) arising out of or received in connection with their participation in any sport or literary event shall be ruled ineligible. This prohibition shall not apply to awards under By-Law #1.90 or to other items approved by the GHSA.

(a) If tuition is charged, it must be paid by a parent, legal guardian, or other family member with the exception of payments coming from need-based financial aid.

(b) It is not legal for donated funds to be designated for a specific student that are given by non-family members, businesses, churches or other organizations, except for programs specified by state law.

(c) Schools may not employ students to work off their tution costs.

(d) The GHSA Executive Director will determine whether the financial aid or gift arose out of or in connection with participation in any sport or literary event.

(e) If a school allows a student who has received such financial aid or gifts to participate in competition, the Executive Director shall assess an appropriate penalty.

1.82 Financial aid in the form of free or reduced tuition or other aid must be need-based aid as determined by a national student aid service or financial aid based on institutional policies for academic performance (classroom record and/or test scores) that is administered by persons not in the athletic department.

1.83 Member schools who award financial aid shall issue a statement to the Executive Director signed by the principal or headmaster of the school giving the following information:

(a) number of students enrolled in the school

(b) number of students receiving financial aid

(c) names of students (or a listing of student identification numbers) receiving financial aid who are involved in GHSA activities

(d) certification that the percentage of students who participate in activities and who receive financial aid is the same percentage as the number of students receiving financial aid who do not participate in activities (plus or minus 5%)

1.90 - AMATEUR STATUS/AWARDS

1.91 A student who represents a school in interscholastic athletic competition shall be an amateur in that activity.

(a) An amateur athlete is one who engages in athletic competition solely for the physical, mental, social, and pleasure benefits derived therefrom.

(b) Accepting nominal, standard fees or salary for instructing, supervising, or officiating in an organized youth sports program or recreation, playground or camp activity, shall not jeopardize an athlete's amateur status.

1.92 An athlete forfeits amateur status in a sport by:

(a) competing for money or other monetary compensations except for reasonable allowances for travel, meals, and lodging. NOTE: Accepting expense allowances authorized by the United States Olympic Committee for Olympic Development Programs is acceptable for GHSA students.

(b) receiving any award or prize of monetary value which has not been approved by the GHSA.

(d) signing a professional playing contract in any sport, or hiring an agent to manage his/her athletic career.

1.93 Only awards approved by the GHSA may be accepted by a high school student-athlete as a result of participation in school or non-school competition in a sport recognized by the GHSA.

1.94 Symbolic awards (i.e. non-cash) presented for winning or placing in GHSA competitions are limited to $250 per year, per student in the aggregrate, paid by the local school. These are the only GHSA-approved awards for interscholastic competition. Beyond this, a student may receive one (1) school sweater or jacket presented by the school during his high school career.

1.95 Athletes competing in golf or tennis events are limited to awards as specified in the United States Golf Association Rules of Golf, and the United States Tennis Association Handbook of Tennis Rules and Regulations, which includes (but not limited to) the following:

(a) No cash awards may be accepted.

(b) Merchandise awards in tennis may be accepted up to a retail value of $250.00.

INTERPRETATIONS, 1.00 SECTION

BY-LAW 1.10 - CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY

n SITUATION: A student athlete and his parents move from the service area of School A to School B, and meet all eligibility requirements. When may he participate in interscholastic activities at School B?

INTERPRETATION: The student is eligible as soon as he is enrolled at School B and certified as being eligible by the GHSA. Academic eligibility must be certified before the student may try out or practice.

BY-LAW 1.20 - ENROLLMENT AND TEAM MEMBERSHIP

8TH GRADE PARTICIPATION

n SITUATION: May eighth-grade students participate on sub-varsity teams at a member school?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. Eighth-grade students in a feeder school for a member school may participate on one sub-varsity team, but never on a varsity team.

n SITUATION: An eighth-grade student desires to try out in the Spring for the cheerleading team at a member school. Is this legal if the school the student is attending is a feeder school for the member school?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. Also, an eighth grade student in a private school that does not offer classes at the ninth grade level and above may try out for cheerleading at the public or private school serving that student's area of residence. Such a tryout must be preceded by a pre-enrollment at that GHSA school. The tryout establishes the student's eligibility at that school. NOTE: This procedure also applies to participation in spring football practice.

TRYOUT REQUIREMENTS

n SITUATION: A tenth-grade student who is on a cheerleading team at a member school anticipates moving to another part of the state over the Summer. May the student try out for the new school before the move is made?

INTERPRETATION: No. A student may not practice or try out at a member school until that student is properly enrolled at the new school. A student may be enrolled in only one school at a time.

BY-LAW 1.30 - AGE

n SITUATION: A student becomes 19 years of age on April 30, prior to his fourth year in high school. May the student participate in the fourth year?

INTERPRETATION: No. May 1 is the cut-off date.

BY-LAW 1.40 - LIMITS OF PARTICIPATION

EIGHT SEMESTER RULE

n SITUATION: A student entered a member school eight (8) semesters ago. He was injured and missed one-half of the first semester of his senior year (7th semester). During the first six semesters, he has accumulated

seventeen (17) units, and in the 8th semester he passed five courses and gained an additional 2.5 units. Is he eligible to participate the following Fall in his 9th semester?

INTERPRETATION: No. There are no provisions to allow for a student to participate beyond eight (8) semesters. His case could be presented to the GHSA Executive Committee for a request to waive the eight semester rule (By-Law #1.42) by Hardship application.

NON-SCHOOL PARTICIPATION

n SITUATION: A student is a member of a high school soccer team and a club soccer team whose seasons run concurrently. Is this permissible?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. There is no state regulation prohibiting "dual participation" on the part of a student. The high school coach may not be involved in the non-school program, however. A local school may impose a rule prohibiting dual participation.

GIRLS ON BOYS TEAMS

n SITUATION: A girl wants to be on the high school wrestling team made up of boys. If she meets eligibility requirements, may she do so?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. Girls may participate on boys teams when there is no girls team in that sport at that school.

n SITUATION: A female student desires to try out for the boys' baseball team. May she do this?

INTERPRETATION: Yes, she is allowed to try out since there is no girls' baseball team.

n SITUATION: A male student desires to play on a girls volleyball team. Is this legal?

INTERPRETATION: No. The Federal Title IX legislation and the Georgia Equity in Sports Act both specify that the traditionally represented gender in athletics (males) may not play on teams designed for the traditionally under-represented gender (females).

SUB-VARSITY AND VARSITY PARTICIPATION

n SITUATION: A junior varsity basketball player participates in a JV game on Tuesday afternoon. May he also participate in the varsity game that night?

INTERPRETATION: Yes, but the student may not participate in more than five (5) quarters that day.

n SITUATION: A junior varsity football player plays in a JV game on Thursday. May he also play in the varsity game on Friday?

INTERPRETATION: Yes, but the student may not participate in more than six (6) quarters in a calendar week. The week begins with the day of the varsity game.

n QUESTION: In sports other than football, basketball, and soccer, what are the restrictions on students participating on both sub-varsity and varsity teams?

ANSWER: The total number of regular-season games and tournaments a student participates in on a sub-varsity team and the varsity team may not exceed the number of games and tournaments allotted to the varsity team in that sport. Example: A sport allows 18 varsity games plus two tournaments. A student could legally play in 10 JV games, 8 varsity games, 1 JV tournament, and 1 varsity tournament.

n SITUATION: At an invitational cheerleading tournament, a AAAAA school enters its varsity team in the competition for its classification, and enters its JV team in the competition for varsity teams of smaller schools? Is this legal?

RULING: No. Varsity teams must compete against varsity teams and non-varsity against non-varsity teams in all GHSA activities. The eligibility standards are different in the two levels of competition, and it is possible

to manipulate the limits on competition by allowing this to occur. New schools and schools just beginning a sport may petition the Executive Director for a waiver of this rule.

BY-LAW 1.50 - SCHOLASTIC STANDING/SCHOLARSHIP

DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS

n SITUATION: During the first semester of his senior year, a student is enrolled for three traditional courses (subjects) leading toward graduation at a member school, and one course for 5 hours of credit at a local college that will be accepted by his home school for graduation credit. If the student passes all the courses for which he is enrolled and has accumulated the proper number of Carnegie units, is he eligible to participate in golf during the second semester?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. If the student is enrolled in a dual enrollment program, the student must be enrolled for at least 2.5 Carnegie units and must pass courses giving at least 2.5 Carnegie units.

ADVANCE PLACEMENT

n SITUATION: May a student take a college or junior college class and receive credit for this work which may be counted toward scholastic eligibility?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. Such a class may be counted toward academic eligibility, provided that the student's high school accepts the credit and counts it toward graduation. The student still must pass a minimum of 2.5 Carnegie units at the end of the semester.

ELIGIBILITY ENDS

n SITUATION: A student who is eligible at the beginning of basketball season only passes four (4) traditional classes (carrying 2 Carnegie units) in the first semester which ends on December 17th. Is this student eligible to play in a basketball tournament December 20-23?

INTERPRETATION: The student loses eligibility on the first day of the second semester. If the tournament is played before the start of the new semester, he is eligible to play by GHSA standards.

ELIGIBILITY BEGINS

n SITUATION: A student who is academically ineligible for the second semester passes all courses that semester and has accumulated the proper number of units. May this student participate in practices that occur before the beginning of classes in the Fall?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. The student becomes eligible on the first day of the fall semester. The beginning of the first semester is interpreted as the first day of the first sport, or the first day of classes _ whichever comes first.

n SITUATION: A student passes four (4) courses the last semester of the eighth grade. Is this student eligible the first semester of the ninth-grade year?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. Every student entering the ninth grade for the first time begins with a "clean slate."

SUMMER SCHOOL RULES

n SITUATION: A student needs a science course for graduation purposes that is not taught during Summer School. The student and principal agree on an independent study course monitored by a coach. May this course be used for eligibility purposes?

INTERPRETATION: Yes, as long as the course is regionally accredited and accepted by the school district for graduation credit.

n SITUATION: How many units may a student earn in Summer School for the purpose of gaining academic eligibility for the Fall?

INTERPRETATION: A maximum of two (2) Carnegie units of credit earned in Summer School may be counted for eligibility purposes.

ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL RULES

n SITUATION: A student is assigned to attend an alternative school for the remainder of the semester for disciplinary reasons. May the student participate on the football team during the time he will be attending the alternative school?

INTERPRETATION: No. Students assigned to an alternative school for reasons of misconduct or who are in out-of-school suspension may not participate until they have returned physically to the regular classroom. The school may appeal to the Executive Director if a school holiday prevents the student from physically returning to the classroom at the end of the penalty.

OUT-OF-STATE RULES

n SITUATION: A student transfers to a member school from another state where scholastic eligibility rules are less restrictive than Georgia. The student is academically eligible by the standards of the state from which he transfers, but lacks sufficient credits to be eligible by GHSA standards. As a transfer student, is he eligible academically?

INTERPRETATION: No.

ANNUAL GRADING

n SITUATION: Since GHSA eligibility rules are written to apply to schools with semester grading, do schools that have yearlong classes with one grade given at the end of the year have to monitor eligibility for the first half of the year?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. Schools must determine that each student-athlete has a grade of 70% or higher in courses carrying at least 2.5 Carnegie units at the end of the first semester. Any student not meeting that standard is academically ineligible.

MULTI-UNIT COURSES

n SITUATION: A student is enrolled for four (4) regular courses (carrying .5 Carnegie units each), and one vocational course that carries the equivalent of two (2) Carnegie units. If the student fails the vocational course, is the student eligible the next semester?

INTERPRETATION: No. Since the vocational course carries the equivalent of two (2) Carnegie units and since the student passed courses totaling only 2 Carnegie units, he would not be eligible for the next semester.

MAKE-UP WORK

n SITUATION: A student taking five (5) subjects that carry .5 Carnegie units each receives an "Incomplete" in one of those courses. When the student returns to class on the first day of the next semester, is he eligible to practice or play?

INTERPRETATION: No. If the school allows make-up work for all students and the student makes up the "Incomplete" to a passing grade within fourteen (14) days of the beginning of the new semester, the student could become eligible. The student is not eligible while the work is being made up.

TRYOUT ELIGIBILITY

n SITUATION: Cheerleader tryouts for the following year are to be held in the Spring (second semester). A student who earned only two (2) Carnegie units during the first semester would like to try out. Is this permissible?

INTERPRETATION: If the student is passing ALL courses at the time of the tryout, the student may participate.

ACCUMULATING UNITS

n SITUATION: A 9th grade student passed courses totaling two Carnegie units in the first semester and is ineligible

for second semester. The student passed five courses in the second semester, giving him an accumulation of 4.5 Carnegie units for the year. Is the student eligible at the beginning of the second year?

INTERPRETATION: No. The student must have accumulated at least five (5) Carnegie units during the first year in order to be eligible in the second year.

n SITUATION: At the beginning of the 11th-grade year (third year of eligibility), a student has only accumulated 8 Carnegie units and is declared ineligible for the first semester. If the student passes all six (6) courses, and accumulates 3 units during the first semester, is the student eligible at the beginning of the second semester?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. Since the student has accumulated 11 Carnegie units at the beginning of the second semester of the third year of eligibility, he is eligible. A student may gain the units during the school year, and becomes eligible the first day of the next semester.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES

n SITUATION: A student is enrolled for three (3) Advanced Placement courses and two regular classes in the first semester, and all courses carry .5 Carnegie units. If the student fails one of the AP courses, is he eligible to participate second semester?

INTERPRETATION: No. There are no allowances made for course difficulty in the rule requiring the accumulation of 2.5 Carnegie units the previous semester.

BLOCK-FOUR PROGRAMS

n SITUATION: A member school has adopted the Block-Four Program in which students take four (4) courses each semester and receive 1 Carnegie unit for each course passed. How many units does a student have to accumulate each semester in order to be eligible?

INTERPRETATION: The students will have to accumulate at least 2.5 Carnegie units each semester in order to be eligible.

n SITUATION: A school is on the Block-Four Program and, additionally, requires a student to take a Physical Education course that earns .5 Carnegie unit. A student passes two (2) courses in the Block-Four setup plus the PE class. Is the student eligible?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. The two block courses provide a total of 2 units and the P.E. course provides a total of .5 units. This meets the GHSA requirement of at least 2.5 Carnegie units.

n SITUATION: A student in a Block-Four setting only passes one class in the Spring Semester. The student passes three (3) classes carrying .5 Carnegie units each in Summer School. Is the student eligible for Fall participation?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. The one block course provides 1 Carnegie unit and the three summer school courses provide 1.5 units, meeting the GHSA requirement of at least 2.5 Carnegie units.

BLOCK-EIGHT PROGRAMS

n SITUATION: A member school has adopted the Block-Eight Program in which students take eight courses over the semester and each one passed accumulates one-half Carnegie unit. How many courses do students at this school have to pass in order to be eligible for interscholastic activities?

INTERPRETATION: The students will have to earn at least 2.5 Carnegie units each semester to be eligible. The unit requirements remain the same as with any system of courses.

HYBRID SCHEDULING

n SITUATION: A student is taking two yearlong courses, two Block 4 courses and one traditional course during the semester. If the student failed one of the Block 4 courses, is he academically eligible for the next semester?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. The two yearlong courses and the one traditional course carry 1.5 Carnegie Units, and the Block 4 course he passed carried one (1) unit. This gives the student the 2.5 units he needs to be eligible.

BY-LAW 1.60 - SCHOOL SERVICE AREAS/TRANSFER STUDENTS/

MIGRANT STUDENTS/MIGRATORY RULE WAIVERS

SCHOOL SERVICE AREAS

n QUESTION: What is a public school's service area?

ANSWER: A school service area is the geographic boundary established by local boards of education that determine the public school a student must attend. NOTE: The service area is also referred to in this book as the "attendance area" and "area of residence."

n QUESTION: What is the service area designation for private schools?

ANSWER: The service area for a private school is the county in which the campus is physically located. This restriction only affects students who transfer into the school after beginning their high school careers at other schools.

n SITUATION: A 10th grade student moves to a county that has four school service areas (A, B, C, and D), and a city school system (service area E). The student and his parents reside in the service area of School "A," but the student decides to enter School "E." Is the student eligible in the new school?

INTERPRETATION: No. When a student and his parents move to a new service area, the student established eligibility at the school that serves his area of residence. When the student and his parents "elected" to attend a school outside his area of residence, the student became a migrant student.

FIRST-TIME ENROLLMENT

n SITUATION: A county has a school for students living in the county, and a separate school for students living in the city. The local boards of education allow students to choose whichever school they wish to attend (with or without tuition payments). A student and his parents live in the city, and the student is enrolled for the first time in ninth grade at the county school. Will he be able to participate in interscholastic activities?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. On a first-time entrance into the ninth grade, a student may enroll in the school of his choice if the local board of education gives approval. Once that choice is made, any other transfers must be accompanied by a corresponding move by the student and his parents. If the student transferred back to the school that serves his area of residence, the student would be ineligible for varsity competition for one year.

BONA FIDE MOVE DEFINED

n QUESTION: What is meant by the term "bona fide move?"

ANSWER: A "bona fide move" is defined as the actual physical relocation of all immediate family members residing in the previous residence, with the intent to reside indefinitely, and to relinquish the previous residence.

THE TRANSFER RULE

n SITUATION: A student attends School "A" while living in that school's attendance area. He and his parents move into the service area of public School "B," and the student enrolls in School "B." Is the student eligible to participate in interscholastic activities?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. This is a classic example of a bona fide move.

n SITUATION: A student and his parents reside in the service area for a county school. The student enters the ninth grade at a non-member private school. At the end of the ninth-grade year, the student wishes to transfer from the non-member school to the high school that serves his area of residence. Will the student be eligible at the member school?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. A student may transfer from a non-member school to a member school serving his area of residence one time in his high school career as long as all other eligibility criteria are met.

n SITUATION: A student begins ninth grade at the school that serves his area of residence. With one month to go in the school year, the student transfers to a non-member private school. At the beginning of the tenth-grade

year, the student enrolls at a member school that does not serve his area of residence. Is this student immediately eligible at the new school?

INTERPRETATION: No. The student is now a migrant student because he transferred to a school without living in that service area. If the student had transferred back to the member school at which he began the ninth-grade, he would have been eligible.

n SITUATION: A student who attended ninth and tenth grade in a non-member home school enrolls at the public school that serves his area of residence. That school specifies that students from home schools must be tested in order for the course work to be accepted. May this student participate in athletics before the testing is done?

INTERPRETATION: No, because eligibility cannot be determined until the course work is accepted.

CHOICE OF PUBLIC OR PRIVATE MEMBER SCHOOLS

n SITUATION: A tenth-grade student and his parents reside in the service area of School "A" and attends that school. The parents and the student have a bona fide move into the service area of public School "B" and private School "C." Does the student have a choice about which school he may attend and remain eligible?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. When a student (attending any member school) moves into a new service area, he may choose to attend the public school that serves his new area of residence, or a private school that has been assigned his new area of residence.

n SITUATION: A tenth-grade student at member private School "C" resides in the service area of public School "A," and then moves into the service area of public School "B," which is still in the service area of School "C." Does the student have a choice in attending public School "B" or selecting a new private school that includes the service area of School "B" in its service area?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. When a student (attending any member school) moves into a new service area, he may choose to attend the public school that serves his new area of residence, or any private school that has been assigned his new area of residence.

n SITUATION: A twelfth-grade student has been at a member school since entering the ninth-grade. When his parents move into the service area of another school, the student wants to stay at his original school. May he remain at the school and retain his eligibility?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. Once a student has established eligibility at a school, he retains eligibility at that school as long as he is allowed by the local board of education to attend that school, and as long as he meets academic requirements.

n SITUATION: A school system grants a permissive transfer for a student to leave the school that serves his area of residence to go to a school that offers a course he cannot get at his home school. Is this a mandated transfer, and is the student eligible at the new school?

RULING: This is a permissive transfer and does not carry GHSA eligibility. The receiving school would have to file for a hardship in order for this student to have any chance of being eligible immediately.

n SITUATION: A student begins ninth grade at a magnet school, and (a) does not make grades high enough to stay in the magnet program and returns to his home school, or (b) decides to return to a regular study program at the school that serves his area of residence. Is the student eligible?

RULING: In both cases, the student is not eligible. Decisions to enter into or exit from a magnet school involve personal choices and/or permissive transfers, and do not carry GHSA eligibility. The inability of the student to meet the achievement standard was under the control of the student.

n SITUATION: A school district opens a new school and (a) mandates a service area for students going to the new school, or (b) gives students options about where they may attend. How does this affect eligibility for athletes?

RULING: In (a), students mandated to attend the new school are immediately eligible. In (b), the system should set up a deadline date for students to make their choices. Students may either stay or move to the mandated

school and have eligibility if the deadline is met. Any decisions made after the deadline renders the student to be a migrant student.

MIGRANT STUDENT RULE

n SITUATION: A student enrolls in School "A," is certified eligible, and participates in athletic contests. Then it is discovered that the student's parents do not live in the service area of School "A." After the school forfeits all contests it won when the student played, what is the status of this student's eligibility if:

(a) the student remains in School "A," and the parents do not move into the service area of School "A?"

(b) The student remains in School "A," and the parents move into the service area of School "A?"

INTERPRETATION:

(a) The student is ineligible for a period of one (1) year from the date of entry to School "A."

(b) The student becomes eligible on the date the parents move into the service area of School "A."

n SITUATION: A student who has been living with his mother in another state moves in with his grandparents and enters a member school. The grandparents go to a Probate Court and get a Letter of Temporary Guardianship. Will this student be eligible for interscholastic activities?

INTERPRETATION: No. This student is considered a migrant student. The student may practice and may play in sub-varsity contests if academic requirements are met, but he will be ineligible for varsity competition for one calendar year. Guardianship is not recognized for eligibility purposes.

n SITUATION: A school system has a policy that the children of teachers may attend the school where the parent teaches regardless of where the family lives. The high school hired a teacher, who has a tenth-grade student, and the family lives outside the service area of that school. If the student attends the school where the parent teaches, will he be immediately eligible?

INTERPRETATION: Yes, as long as the parent is a certified teacher or administrator at the receiving school.

n SITUATION: A ninth-grade student transfers from one member school to another member school without a bona fide move. May he participate on the JV basketball team if he has met all academic requirements?

INTERPRETATION: Yes. The student is a migrant student and migrant students may practice and may play on a sub-varsity team during the year that he is ineligible for varsity competition.

SUSPENDED OR EXPELLED STUDENT

n SITUATION: A student is expelled from a member private school for behavioral problems. The student and his parents move to a different service area and the student enrolls in a member public school. Is the student eligible to participate in interscholastic activities?

INTERPRETATION: No. The student will not be eligible until the time frame of the suspension at the first school is complete or one calendar year _ whichever is shorter.

UNFINISHED HOME

n SITUATION: A family has purchased a new home in a school district other than the one where the student has been attending school. However, the new home will not be available for occupancy until six weeks after the start of the semester. In the meantime, the new local board of education allows the student to begin attendance in anticipation of the family move when the home is available. When will the student be eligible at the new school?

INTERPRETATION: The student will be eligible immediately upon the date the family physically occupies the residence in the new district.

n SITUATION: A family has purchased a new home in a school district other than the one where the student has been attending school. However, the new home will not be available for occupancy until six weeks after the start of the semester. The parents desire the student to begin and complete the semester at the original school, before transferring to the new school. How will this affect the student's eligibility?

INTERPRETATION: The GHSA By-Laws permit students to complete the current semester in a given district if their parents move from that district after school has commenced. Therefore, the student in this case may remain in his original district for the remainder of the semester and be eligible in respect to residence. If the student continues to attend school in that district in the succeeding semesters, he will continue eligibility. If he begins the next semester and then decides to transfer to the school in his area of residence, he would be ineligible for varsity competition for one (1) year.

RECRUITING/UNDUE INFLUENCE

n SITUATION: A member school schedules a social event for any eighth grade student and his/her family to showcase the school's athletic program and facilities. Is this legal?

INTERPRETATION: No, that would be a violation of the recruiting/undue influence rules.

n QUESTION: Is it possible for a member school to be held responsible if someone in that school's community initiates a contact for a student to transfer for athletic purposes?

ANSWER: If the individual making the contact meets the definition of a "booster" as found in By-law 1.73, the member school may be held accountable.

AMATEUR STATUS AND AWARDS

n SITUATION: A team wins the state championship and school and community people put on a banquet honoring this accomplishment. The athletes and their parents are provided the meal at no expense, and the following awards are given:

(a) a gift certificate for a dinner at a local restaurant to be used by the individual player at his convenience

(b) a jacket, sweater, and/or shoes in school colors with lettering that proclaims the state championship

Is this legal?

INTERPRETATION: The free meal at the banquet is not a violation, nor is the plaque that was given. All other items must fit under the $250 per student, per year allowance. NOTE: A school may provide one jacket to each athlete who letters in the student's high school career.

n SITUATION: A school wins the state championship and desires for the players to have a commemorative award. May the school buy rings for the players?

INTERPRETATION: Yes, symbolic awards (i.e., non-cash) presented for winning or placing in GHSA competitions are limited to $250.00 per year, per student in the aggregate, paid for by the local school.

n SITUATION: A student who wins a non-GHSA tennis tournament is offered (a) a cash prize of $100.00, or (b) a merchandise certificate worth $250.00 in tennis equipment and/or apparel. How will these awards affect the student's amateur status?

RULING: The GHSA follows the rules of the United States Tennis Association. USTA rules forbid the acceptance of money but do allows the acceptance of merchandise not to exceed $250.00.

n SITUATION: A student wins her flight in a non-GHSA golf tournament and is offered (a) a cash prize of $150.00, or (b) a set of irons valued at $600.00. How will these awards affect the student's amateur status?

RULING: The GHSA follows the rules of the United States Golf Association. USGA rules forbid the acceptance of money, but do allow the acceptance of merchandise not to exceed $750.00.

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