How to Protect your Athletice Eligibility

Your years in school will be highlighted by your participation on one of your school's athletic teams. These will become some of the most enjoyable years of your young life. During this time, your state association, the Ohio High School Athletic Association, has standards that you must meet in order to be eligible to compete. In addition, there may be other school standards which apply. Information contained in this article will acquaint you with the bylaws and regulations all students must follow in order to protect athletic eligibility. Any questions you have concerning these standards or with your athletic eligibility should he reviewed with your school principal or athletic administrator.
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.
Knowing and following all these standards will enable you to protect your athletic eligibility. Also, it is important for you to know that you must meet all the standards in order to be eligible.
You are urged as a student athlete to study these standards carefully. We want you to enjoy your school years.

• SCHOLARSHIP Do not change your course schedule or drop a course without first consulting with your school principal or athletic administrator to determine whether it will affect your eligibility.
  Eligibility for each grading period is determined by grades received the preceding grading period. Semester and yearly grades have no effect on eligibility.
  Grades 9-12: To be eligible, you must be currently enrolled in school and have received passing grades in a minimum of four one credit courses, or the equivalent, in the immediately preceding grading period. Semester and yearly grades have no effect on eligibility.
  Grades 7-8: To be eligible, you must be currently enrolled in school and have received passing grades in the immediately preceding grading period in 75% of subjects in which enrolled. (This also applies to beginning ninth grade students).
  For eligibility purposes, summer school grades may not be substitute for failing grades received the final grading period of the regular school year or for lack of enough subjects taken the preceding grading period.
  
  
• RESIDENCE
  A student is eligible at the school located in the school district where the parent or legal guardian resides.
• CHANGING SCHOOLS
  If you change schools and your parents do not move to your new school district you will be ineligible for one year unless you meet one of the exceptions to the transfer bylaws. One exception is the Board of Education release which may be approved one time in your school career, grades 7-12.
  Always check with your school principal before you change schools to determine whether it will affect your eligibility.
  
  
• SEMESTERS OF ELIGIBILITY
  When you enroll in grade 9 the first time, you have eight (8) semesters of athletic eligibility taken in order of attendance whether you participate or do not participate.
  
  
• AGE LIMITATIONS
  Grades 9-12: If you are nineteen (19) years of age prior to August 1, 1995, you are ineligible for the 1995-96 school year.

• Grades 7-8:
  If you are fifteen (15) years of age prior to August 1, 1995, you are ineligible for the 1995-96 school year in grades seven and eight.
  If you attain fifteen (15) years of age prior to August 1, 1995, you are eligible to participate in athletics in grades 9-12. Consult your principal for procedures to follow:
  
  
• AWARDS
  You may receive an award or merchandise as a result of your participation in school or non-school competition from any source, provided the value does not exceed $50.00 per award.
  
  
• COMPETING UNDER A NAME OTHER THAN YOUR OWN OR FALSIFYING YOUR ADDRESS
  If you compete under a name other than your own or falsify your address, you immediately become ineligible.
  
  
• NON-INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION
  Your interscholastic athletic eligibility may be affected by your participation in non-interscholastic competition. Examples of non-interscholastic competition include but are not limited to: AAU, Sunday School, Church, Intramural, YMCA, High-Y, Shop, F.F.A., Club or City Recreation teams, All-Star contests or ANY non-interscholastic competition. Non-interscholastic team play is permitted only between May 15 and September 5, 1995. You are advised to consult with your school principal or athletic administrator prior to any such participation.
  
  
• RECRUITING ATHLETES
  You will be ineligible if you are recruited by a person or group of persons to change schools. It may also affect the eligibility of the school athletic teams.