Page 34 - 2025-26 By-Laws

Rule 1 - Rule Coverage

participants, data of non-scholastic participation, data of the geographic participation,
letters of support from coaches organizations and other associations or organizations
involved in the sport;
(3.) Suggested IHSAA sport-specific rules (e.g. playing and practice seasons) for this
Sport are submitted; and
(4.) Twenty-five (25) letters of commitment are submitted from member Schools that
either currently sponsor or intend to sponsor a program in the Sport, which include
the following supporting materials: a current/proposed budget with specific line items
for a program in the Sport, a roster size and number of full-time and part-time coaches
for a program in the Sport, a description of practice and competition facilities needed
for a program in the Sport, a listing of local and regional competition opportunities for
a program in the Sport, a timeline to varsity status for the Sport, and a description of
the current relationship with any Sport governing bodies.
c. Provided such requirements have been satisfied, the Board at the next Annual Meeting
may, by majority vote, recognize the Sport as an Emerging Sport.
d. After a Sport has been designated an Emerging Sport, it will be listed in the IHSAA General
Eligibility Rules and any School sponsoring a program in that Sport, defined as having
provided the supporting materials outlined in rule 1-4(b)(4), shall register its coaches with
the IHSAA. The IHSAA will offer limited administrative services to Schools sponsoring
a program in that Emerging Sport, such as free rule books, free rules meetings in the
Emerging Sport and free participation in the Catastrophic Medical program for the students
participating in the Emerging Sport. Participation in the Emerging Sport and all Contests in
the Emerging Sport are subject to all the IHSAA rules and policies, including the General
Eligibility Rules.
e. If, after Five (5) years from the date of designation as an Emerging Sport, the sport
has not met the criteria to move forward to recognized sport status, the sport shall be
subject to an annual review by the Board of Directors to determine whether it should
continue to hold Emerging Sport status. If an Emerging Sport loses its designation
as an Emerging Sport, a new request must be submitted to the Board of Directors in
accordance with the process outlined in section (a). The new request shall be subject to
all requirements and procedures set forth in this Emerging Sports Process as if it were
an initial application.
f. The following sports are currently Emerging Sports: Girls Flag Football, Girls Lacrosse.
1-5 Mutual Agreement to Violate rules Prohibited
Mutual agreements to violate the rules of this Association shall result in Suspension of all
Schools involved.
Q & A
Rule Coverage – Generally
Q. 1-1 May a member School support a grade school team in the same school system
out of its athletic funds?
A. Yes, while the IHSAA rules do not prohibit it, state and school rules may limit
such activity.
Q. 1-2 Do seniors have any rights and privileges as athletes under the IHSAA rules
which not granted to other students?
A. No, the IHSAA rules do not address a student’s class or grade level.
Q. 1-3 Is a student who misses classes on the day the basketball team plays a Contest
eligible to participate in that game?
A. The IHSAA rules do not address this matter. The member School’s policy would
determine eligibility.

RULE 2 – CLASSIFICATION OF SCHOOLS
2-1 Classification Criteria
Schools may be classified in Team Sports up to a maximum of Four (4) Classes, except
football, according to the following criteria:
a. If Fifty percent (50%) of the member Schools sponsored a team and entered the IHSAA
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