Page 68 - 2025-26 By-Laws

Rule 12 - Enrollment

Enrolled in some high school and have attended full credit classes within the first Fifteen
(15) school days of the semester in which the Contest occurs.
12-2 Participation Limited to Eight Consecutive Semesters or Four Consecutive Years
After Enrollment in the 9th grade, and the passage of Fifteen (15) or more school days, students
shall be eligible for no more than Four (4) consecutive years, or the equivalent. (e.g. Twelve
(12) semesters in a Trimester plan, etc.)
12-3 Exception for Illness or Injury
After Enrollment in the 9th grade, if a student is injured or contracts an illness which necessitates
the student’s complete withdrawal from the School or prohibits enrollment in the School for
that semester, and the student does not receive any academic credit for that semester, then
the semester shall not count as One (1) of the consecutive semesters of enrollment.
a. The terms illness and injury do not include those which are caused in whole or part by
chemical dependency or use, such as the illegal consumption of drugs or alcohol.
b. If the withdrawal should occur after the student has, during the semester, participated in
Twenty percent (20%) or more of the interschool Contests in a sport, then the semester shall
be counted as a semester of enrollment in all sports falling in that semester’s sports seasons.
This percentage shall be determined by dividing the total number of interschool Contests
in which the student participated, during the semester by the total number of interschool
Contests in which the School team participated during the semester (participation by
student during semester/total number of interschool Contests during the semester).
c. If the student participates in more than One (1) level of play, e.g., Varsity, junior-varsity,
freshman, then the participation percentage shall be arrived at by dividing the total number
of interschool Contests in which the student participated during the semester by the total
number of interschool Contests in which the School participated in the level of play in which
the student primarily participated plus the number of interschool Contests in which the
student participated outside the student’s primary participation level (number of Contests
student participated/ [total number of School Contests in primary level of play plus number
of student Contests outside primary level].)
d. A student may participate in a sport for a maximum of Four (4) full seasons.
e. All withdrawals must immediately be reported to the Association prior to the withdrawal
(except in emergency situations), and supported by written verification from a treating
physician, with an unlimited license to practice medicine, and the student’s principal or the
principal’s designee. These verifications must specify the circumstances which warrant the
student’s withdrawal, and the student’s inability to obtain academic credit for the semester.
f. Any student and parent wishing to be considered under this exception must consent to an
independent medical examination of the student, if required, by a physician selected by
the Association.
12-4 Enrollment in an Innovative School or an Innovation Network School
a. If a student is Enrolled in and attends, Full-time, an Innovative School, the student may
have eligibility to participate in the athletic program at the Indiana Public School serving
the student’s residence, provided that:
(1.) Prior to participation, the Public School serving the student’s residence accepts the
student in its athletic program;
(2.) the student in conjunction with the Innovative School and the Public School serving
the student’s residence, provide proof to the IHSAA that the spirit of the eligibility rules
will not be compromised; and
(3.) The student adheres to all IHSAA standards for eligibility at the Innovative School,
including, but not limited to, academic standards, behavioral expectations and
attendance requirements.
b. If a student is Enrolled in and attends, Full-time, an Innovation Network School, as defined
by Indiana Code 20-25.7-5, the student may have eligibility to participate in the athletic
program at a second Innovation Network School serving the student’s residence, provided
that:
(1.) prior to participation, the second Innovation Network School accepts the student in
its athletic programs;
(2.) the first Innovation Network School does not sponsor any athletic programs involving
any IHSAA Recognized Sports, whatsoever;
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