Page 84 - 2025-26 By-Laws

Rule 15 - Participation

15-3 Moratorium
Each Member School shall observe a moratorium week starting on Monday of the
Corresponding Week which includes July 4th. During this Seven (7) day moratorium week
there shall be no contact between athletes and coaches, and no athletic activities, including
conditioning, conducted. (Effective with Summer 2025) Each Member School shall also
designate Five (5) additional separate weekdays in which there shall be no contact between
athletes and coaches, and no athletic activities, including conditioning, conducted (T-Wk48 -
F-Wk4). Note: All Corresponding Weeks begin on Monday.
15-4 Penalties
(See rule 17-7.1.)
Q & A
Participation - Generally
Q. 15-1 What is considered participation in a sport for a Contest Season?
A. Playing in a part of One (1) Contest in a sport constitutes participation in that sport
for that Contest Season.
Q. 15-2 If a student tries out for a Non-School baseball league, would that be a violation of
IHSAA rules?
A. If the try-out occurred during the authorized Contest Season in baseball, this would
be a violation of rule 15-2.1; however, it would not affect the student’s eligibility in
other sports. And if the try-out occurred during the School Year Out-of-Season, it
would not be a violation. (rules 15-2.1, 15-2.2)
Q. 15-3 Does a student become ineligible in all sports if the student plays on a team other
than the student’s School team during the authorized Contest Season in one sport?
A. No, a student is ineligible only in the sport in which the student participates as a
member of a team other than the student’s School team and would not affect the
student’s eligibility in other sports. (rules 15-1.1(a); 15-2.1(a))
Q. 15-4 If a student participates in a league or tournament of a sport not recognized by
IHSAA, does the student become ineligible in other sports?
A. No. The rules of the IHSAA are generally sports specific, and participation in a sport
not recognized by the IHSAA does not impact a student’s eligibility to participate in
a sport recognized by the IHSAA.
Q. 15-5 Can a student play on Two (2) interschool teams at the same time?
A. Yes. The IHSAA rules do not prohibit multi-sports participation by student athletes.
Q. 15-6 Can a student who is ineligible for the Varsity team play on teams of lower ranking?
A. Generally, no, since ineligibility for One (1) sport team generally means the same for
all sport teams. (rule 17-7.1(a)) However, a student who has been given Limited
Eligibility to participate in athletics is only eligible for sub-Varsity participation and
cannot play on the Varsity until the period of Limited Eligibility expires. (rule 19-6.2)
School Contests
Q. 15-7 During the Contest Season can a member School play in a Contest against a college
team, a Y team, an independent team, etc., in an IHSAA Recognized Sports?
A. Yes, a member School may play in a single Contest against a college team, a Y
team, an independent team, etc., in an IHSAA Recognized Sports, but may not
play in a tourney, in a multi-team meet or in a league. In such single Contest the
member School must obey all of the eligibility and contest rules of the IHSAA, and
the Contest shall count in determining the maximum number of Contests in which
the member School may play under the Interschool Sports Rules and Unified Sports
Rule. (rules 9-15, rules 50-65, rules 100-102)
Practice - Generally
Q. 15-8 May an ineligible student Practice with the regular team?
A. Yes, if the student has remaining eligibility in that sport. An ineligible student may
Practice only at home in regular Practice and shall not appear in an athletic uniform
at Contests. (rule 15-1.1(g))
Practice During the Authorized Contest Season With and at Non-School Facilities
Q. 15-9 Can a student practice swimming, during the Authorized Contest Season, at a
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