Page 67 - 2025-26 By-Laws

Rule 12 - Enrollment

of the Schools scheduled to participate is Suspended or terminated?
A. When the IHSAA Membership of one of the Schools scheduled to participate in
a Season Contest is Suspended or terminated, the terms of the standard IHSAA
Member School Athletic Contest Contract (the agreement all Schools must use
for Season Contests) permits the other School to terminate the Contract and
also allows the other School to claim a termination fee from the School losing its
Membership. Also, under the terms of the standard Officiating Contract for Athletic
Contests (the officiating agreement which must be used for Season Contests),
the obligation to the Official of the School sponsoring a Season Contest ends if
the Season Contest is cancelled under these circumstances.
Q. 11-2 Can a member School cancel the standard IHSAA Member School Athletic
Contest Contract (the agreement all Schools must use for Season Contests) or
the standard Officiating Contract for Athletic Contests (the agreement which must
be used for Season Contests) without paying a termination fee?
A. Yes. The IHSAA Member School Athletic Contest Contract states that a School
cancelling a Season Contest with another School need not pay a termination
fee if the cancellation is because of circumstances outside the School’s control
or if the two School agree that a termination fee is not needed; otherwise there
is a termination fee and the cancelling School’s standing in the IHSAA may be
in jeopardy. (rule 9-16) Under the terms of the Officiating Contract for Athletic
Contests form, there is no provision which obligates a School which cancels a
Contract with an Official to pay a termination fee.
Q. 11-3 Can an Official cancel the standard Officiating Contract for Athletic Contests (the
agreement which must be used for Season Contests) without penalty?
A. Yes. An Official can cancel the Officiating Contract for Athletic Contests without
a penalty if the School hiring the Official and the Official agree that no termination
fee is needed, however, under the terms of the Officiating Contract for Athletic
Contests, an Official who fails to substantially fulfill Official’s obligations under the
Contract (such as by cancelling the Official’s appearance at a Contest), shall pay
a penalty to the School hiring the Official an amount equal to the pay the Official
would have earned under the Officiating Contract, not later than Ten (10) days
after the date of the Contest.
RULE 12 – ENROLLMENT
PHILOSOPHY
The following are the goals of the IHSAA for the enrollment rule.
a. The enrollment rule provides uniform standards for all Schools to follow in maintaining
a fundamentally fair and equitable framework for athletic competition in an educational
setting.
b. The enrollment rule supports the educational philosophy that athletics is a privilege which
must not be permitted to assume a dominant position in a School’s program.
c. The enrollment rule keeps the focus of educators and student on the fact that students
attend School to receive an education first, and participate in athletics second.
d. The enrollment rule promotes and encourages students to progress through high school
toward graduation and a diploma.
e. The enrollment rule discourages the practice of red-shirting.
f. The enrollment rule discourages any and all decisions which subordinate academic
decisions to athletic decisions.
g. The enrollment rule creates interschool athletic opportunities for younger students.
h. The enrollment rule promotes competitive equality among member Schools.
i. The enrollment rule promotes the health and safety of student athletes.
12-1 Eligibility at School of Enrollment; Attendance During First 15 Days
a. A student is eligible to participate in an athletic program involving IHSAA recognized sports
only at the student’s School of Enrollment, or at the Public School Serving the Student’s
Residence, provided the student meets the requirements of rules 12-4, 12-5 or 12-6.
b. In order to be eligible for athletic competition during any semester, a student must have
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