Page 102 - 2021-22 By-Laws

Rule 19 - Eligibility and Transfer

competition;
(4.) they support the educational philosophy that athletics is a privilege which must not
be permitted to assume a dominant position in a student’s or school’s program;
(5.) they keep the focus of educators and students on the fact that students attend school
to receive an education first and participate in athletics second;
(6.) they maintain the fundamental principle that a high school student should live at home
with his/her parents or legally-appointed Guardian (if the parents are deceased) and
attend school in the school District in which the parents or Guardians live;
(7.) they reinforce the view that the family is a strong and viable unit in our society, and
as such, is the best place for students to live while attending high school;
(8.) they serve as a deterrent to students who would transfer schools for athletic reasons
and to individuals who would seek to recruit student athletes to attend a particular
school for the purpose of building athletic strength;
(9.) they serve as a deterrent to students running away from or avoiding an athletic conflict
or discipline that has been imposed;
(10.) they protect school programs from losing students who have established an identity
as an athlete and, as such, are contributors to the overall school program and image.
DEFINITIONS:
Transfer For Primarily Athletic Reasons – A Transfer For Primarily Athletic Reasons includes,
but is not limited to:
a. a transfer to obtain the athletic advantage of a superior, or inferior, athletic team, a superior
athletic facility or a superior coach or coaching staff;
b. a transfer to obtain relief from a conflict with the philosophy or action of an administrator,
teacher or coach relative to athletics;
c. a transfer seeking a team consistent with the student’s athletic abilities;
d. a transfer to obtain a means to nullify punitive action taken by the previous school.
Bona fide change of residence – Determination of what constitutes a ‘Bona Fide’ change
of residence depends upon the facts in each case, however, to be considered, the following
facts must exist:
a. the original residence must be abandoned as a residence; that is, sold, rented or disposed
of, or in the process of being disposed of as a residence and must not be used as a
residence by any member of the student’s immediate family; and
b. the student’s entire immediate family must make the change and take with them the
household goods and furniture appropriate to the circumstances. For eligibility purposes,
a single family unit may not maintain Two (2) or more residences.
c. the change of residence must be genuine, without fraud or deceit, and with permanent
intent.
Limited Eligibility – A student who is declared to have Limited Eligibility shall be eligible to
participate immediately in all interschool athletics, provided, however, during the first Three-
hundred Sixty-five (365) days from the date of last participation at a previous school, such
student may not participate in interschool athletics as a member of a Varsity athletic team.
RULES:
19-1 Initial Promotion Eligibility
When a student is promoted from grade 8, such student may enter grade 9, and have full
eligibility, in a school of such student’s choice provided:
a. such student Enrolls on or before the 15th initial school day at such School; and
b. rule C–20 - Undue Influence has not been violated.
In the event a student attends a junior high or middle school which includes grade 9, full
eligibility shall be at the parent high school in grade 10.
19-2 Continued Eligibility
Once a student obtains full athletic eligibility in a School, such student retains full athletic
eligibility in that School even though such student’s parent(s)/Guardian(s) or the student
moves to another District or Territory, however, such full athletic eligibility is forfeited in such
School in the event:
a. the student Enrolls at and attends another School for Fifteen (15) or more school days; or
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