Page 70 - 2021-22 By-Laws

Rule 15 - Participation

is an endowed talent which students should use for the pleasure and satisfaction that they
may derive from athletic competition. By the promulgation and enforcement of these rules the
IHSAA strives to eliminate these abuses.
15-1 During Authorized Contest Season (Individual and Team Sports, Camps, Clinics)
15-1.1 Individual Sports (Cross Country, Golf, Gymnastics, Swimming, Tennis, Track,
Wrestling)
a. Participation by a student in any organized non-school sports competition during the
Authorized Contest Season, or at any time prior to the conclusion of the student’s
participation in the IHSAA Tournament Series, in that sport shall cause such students
to become ineligible for their School team in that sport for a period not to exceed Three-
hundred Sixty-five (365) days as determined by the Commissioner, unless an outstanding
student-athlete waiver for said competition is approved by the coach, principal and the
IHSAA office and is on file in the principal’s office. A maximum of Two (2) waivers may be
granted during a Contest Season.
b. Student-athletes may receive a Lesson [Note: one-on-one instruction; See Definitions] so
long as:
(1.) it is not mandated, scheduled or paid for by the School;
(2.) no School practices or competitions are missed; and
(3.) no member of the School’s coaching staff who provides a Lesson is compensated
for the Lesson beyond the compensation the coach earns from the School.
c. An outstanding student-athlete may participate as an individual during the Authorized
Season of a sport, without loss of interschool eligibility, provided the following criteria are
met:
(1.) a completed waiver application form signed by the student, parent, coach and principal
or his/her designee, shall be fi led with the School and the electronic waiver process
shall be completed and submitted to the Commissioner for approval, prior to the event;
(2.) arrangements to complete academic lessons, assignments, test(s), etc. is made in
advance;
(3.) student may not miss an Association sponsored tournament series or School Contest
for which he/she is eligible. (It is the philosophy of this Association that students owe
loyalty to their school and team.); and
(4.) student and parent agrees to not accept, directly or indirectly, any awards, gifts, trips,
merchandise, etc. which would violate IHSAA rule 5 (Amateurism) or rule 6 (Awards,
Prizes, Gifts).
d. Participation of students in an organized athletic competition with or against athletes not
belonging to their School counts as One (1) of Contests for that season for that student.
An organized “scrimmage” or practice with or against athletes not belonging to their School
counts as One (1) of Contests for that season for that student. The following situations are
not considered a violation of this rule:
(1.) When a School does not have a team, individual students may practice with another
member School’s team under the supervision of the other member School’s coach
provided a written agreement, signed by both principals, is on fi le in the IHSAA offi ce.

Students may only compete in Contests representing the School they are attending;
(2.) Student-athletes may practice in the same facility with athletes from other schools so
long as they are doing their own workout under the direct supervision and instruction
of their own coach; or
(3.) A student-athlete may work out on their own in the presence of other athletes so long
as the other athletes have not yet reached the ninth grade.
e. Students who participate in an interschool Contest when ineligible other than in scholarship,
too many events or similar oversights, become ineligible only in that sport for a time period
not to exceed Three-hundred Sixty-five (365) days to be determined by the Commissioner
or his designee. When facts are purposely withheld or misrepresented, students become
ineligible in all sports for the remainder of their semester and all of their next semester in
School unless the School takes appropriate action as determined by the Commissioner.
f. Students may not participate in try-outs or demonstrations of athletic ability as a prospective
college student-athlete.
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