Page 59 - 2023-24 By-Laws

Rule 9 - Contests

Mixed Gender Participation and Teams
Q. 9-6 Can a member School use a mixed (boys and girls) team in the IHSAA Tournament
Series when a separate Tournament Series is offered for males and females in that
sport?
A. In Individual Sports, a student with the Birth Gender of female cannot play on the
boys’ team in the IHSAA Tournament Series in that sport, and a student with the
Birth Gender of male cannot play on the girls’ team in the IHSAA Tournament Series
in that sport. In Team Sports, a student with the Birth Gender of female cannot
play on a boys’ team, however, if there is no girls’ team in that Team Sport at that
School, the student with the Birth Gender of female can play on the boys’ team in
that sport in the IHSAA Tournament Series; conversely, in Team Sports a student
with the Birth Gender of male can never play on a girls’ team. The foregoing may
be different if the student obtains a waiver under the IHSAA Gender Policy. (rule
9-10)
Q. 9-7 If a student with the Birth Gender of female participates on a boys’ team in baseball,
football or wrestling during the Contest Season, may that student also participate
in the boys’ team during the IHSAA Tournament Series in that sport?
A. Yes. If a student with the Birth Gender of female wants to participate on the boys’
team in baseball, football or wrestling, that student may participate on the boys’
team during the Contest Season and during IHSAA Tournament Series in those
sports. (rule 9-10)
Q. 9-8 A member School sponsors both a boys’ golf team and a girls’ golf team. Can a
student with the Birth Gender of female try out for the boys’ team rather than play
on the girls’ team?
A. No, whenever a School offers both a boys’ interschool program and a girls’ interschool
program in a sport, a student with the Birth Gender of female is required to participate
only on the team designed for girls. (rule 9-10) The foregoing may be different if
the student obtains a waiver under the IHSAA Gender Policy.
Q. 9-9 A School has a girls’ soccer team but cannot find competition against other girls’
soccer teams within a reasonable travel distance. May the girls’ soccer team play
Contests against boys’ soccer teams from other Schools?
A. No, girls’ teams and boys’ teams may not compete against each other. (rule 9-8)
Q. 9-10 Can a student with the Birth Gender of male play on a team designed for girls?
A. No. Other than through a waiver under the IHSAA Gender Policy, a student with
the Birth Gender of male is not be eligible for participation as an individual or team
member in any Season Contest or in the in any IHSAA Tournament Series designed
for girls. (rule 9-9)
Sunday Participation
Q. 9-11 Can Schools hold or sanction Contests, Practices or Camps/Clinics on Sunday?
A. No, all Member Schools and all Member School students are prohibited from
participation in Contests, Practices, Clinics/Clinics or team get-together on Sunday.
(rule 9-13)
Q. 9-12 Can a member of a Member School Coaching Staff in a sport give lessons on
Sunday during the authorized Practice Season or during the Contest Season, to a
student who is on a School team in that sport?
A. No, a member of a Member School Coaching Staff in a sport may not give lessons
to any member of the School team on Sunday. For example, a tennis coach on
the School’s coaching staff, who also provides individual or group tennis lessons
at the local tennis facility, may not give lessons on Sunday to any member of the
tennis team during the authorized Practice Season or during the authorized Contest
Season. (rule 9-13)
Q. 9-13 May a member of a Member School Coaching Staff have contact with a team
member on Sunday, during the authorized Practice Season or Contest Season?
A. Yes, students and coaches may have contact on Sunday, BUT the contact may in
no way relate to coaching activities or related to athletic participation. (rule 9-13)
Q. 9-14 May a member of a School team in an Individual Sport, during the authorized Practice
Season or Contest Season, participate in a School Practice on Sunday?
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