Page 140 - 2025-26 By-Laws

Rule 53 - Cross Country

The maximum number of season cross-country Contests in which any team or student may
participate, excluding the IHSAA Tournament Series, shall be Fourteen (14). See rule 50 for
Practice and Contest Seasons.
Q & A
Cross Country - Generally
Q. 53-1 May students participate in independent “road races”?
A. (a) During track season – yes, provided they do not violate their amateur status.
(b) During cross country season – No. See rule 50 for fi rst authorized Contest.
Q. 53-2 May students run in road races in which cash or merchandise prizes are
off ered?
A. Yes, provided the students do not accept cash or merchandise as prizes. (rule
5-2)
Q. 53-3 May the School enter a student in the IHSAA Tournament if the School does
not off er a cross country team and has only one student who wishes to run.
May the School enter the student in the sectional?
A. Yes, the student will simply be restricted to competing in the meet as an
individual and may not accumulate any team score for the School.
RULE 54 – FLAG FOOTBALL
See rule 9 which applies to all sports.
54-1
The National Federation Flag Football rules shall govern except as so modifi ed by the
Committee.
54-2
All regular season fl ag football games shall be limited to the period beginning with Friday of
IHSAA calendar week 7 for varsity teams (for junior varsity and freshmen teams, beginning
Thursday of IHSAA calendar week 7), and continuing until the start of the fl ag football
tournament series. (See rule 50, Note 2.) The season ends for these Schools when they
are eliminated or when they become state champions of their Class.
NOTE: It is assumed that any Member School which participates in an interschool fl ag
football game under the above rule before the opening day of school does so with the
approval of their Board of School Trustees through their Superintendent of Schools.
54-3
The maximum number of season fl ag football games in which any team may participate,
excluding the IHSAA Tournament Series, shall be Eight (8). See rule 50 for Practice and
Contest Seasons.
54-3.1 Maximum Season Halves
Interschool fl ag football participation by a player shall be limited to a maximum of:
a. Sixteen (16) Varsity season halves, limited to Four (4) Varsity halves per week; or,
b. Twenty-Four (24) season halves limited to Six (6) halves during a week with no more than
Two (2) Varsity halves included. No player can participate in more than Four (4) SubVarsity
halves per week. It shall not count as a Varsity half if a player participates only in a try
following a touchdown.
54-3.2
No player may participate in more than Four (4) halves in one day. A record of the halves
played by individual players shall be kept on fi le in the principal’s offi ce at all times for

information in certifying eligibility of players.
54-3.3
All teams below Varsity level shall be limited to Two (2) overtimes.
54-4
All organized fl ag football Practices by players or teams shall be limited to the period
beginning Monday of IHSAA calendar week 5 and terminating on the date the team is
eliminated from the Flag Football Tournament Series.
54-5
All Member School pre-season fl ag football Practices held prior to the fi rst authorized
Contest date shall be held on the regular Practice/play fl ag football facility under the direct
supervision of the Member Schools coach/es.
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