YOUR HIGH SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY

The purpose of this pamphlet is to help you protect your eligibility because the WHSAA believes that you should know the rules that determine your eligibility. Most pupils who find themselves ineligible do so for one of two reasons: (1) They do not know the eligibility rules, or (2) They disregard these rules with the hope that no one will discover the violation. The rules of the Wyoming High School Activities Association are explained in the following paragraphs. Please understand that this pamphlet contains only a summary of the rules. You should read them carefully so that you understand them, and abide by them so that you are eligible to enjoy the privilege of interscholastic competition. Since this pamphlet is only a summary of the rules, please contact your principal or athletic director for exact copy and meaning of any rules you are unsure about.

These eligibility rules were not developed by chance, but have been developed gradually over a period of years by necessity to protect the welfare of youth and to ensure that interschool activities provide experiences of educational value to pupils. Only when activities provide such experience can they be justified as part of the total educational program. All of these rules have been voted on by the member schools of the WHSAA.

Eligibility to participate in interscholastic contests is a privilege to be attained by meeting the standards set forth by your school and by the WHSAA. Because your school is a member of the Wyoming High School Activities Association, it adopts the rules of this Association as minimum eligibility rules. Your school board, superintendent, and principal have the authority to establish any additional rules which they feel are beneficial to your school. Furthermore, coaches and sponsors may adopt training rules they deem advisable in the best interests of individual pupils and the team, so long as they are not in violation of the policies of the local school board. By abiding by these rules you can be eligible to take part in any interscholastic activity.

A complete copy of the WHSAA Rules Handbook can be found on the WHSAA Web Site <www.whsaa.org>. Following each rule in ( ) is the WHSAA Handbook reference number for that rule.

What Are These Rules?

*1. STUDENT IN GOOD STANDING (6.1.0)

You must be a regularly enrolled student in good standing. Good standing implies that you be a creditable school citizen whose conduct in and out of school is such that it will not reflect discredit upon your school.

You will become ineligible if you are under suspension from school by your principal or superintendent for any reason.

*2. GRADES AND CREDITS (6.2.0)

You must currently be passing in five (5) solid subjects, and you must have passed in five (5) solid subjects during the immediate preceding semester. Upon school district approval, deficiencies, including incompletes, conditions, and failures for the previous semester may be made up during a subsequent semester, summer session, night school, or tutoring for meeting eligibility requirements. Special education students must meet the educational goals set for them.

3. TRANSFER OR CHANGE OF SCHOOLS (6.4.0)

If you transfer from one school to another without a corresponding change of residence on the part of your parents, you will be ineligible for one year from the date of enrollment for varsity competition in the sports in which you competed in the previous twelve months. If this transfer is made with a corresponding move on your parent's/legal guardian's part, you will be just as eligible in this new school as you were in the former. Only that legal guardianship which has been established at least 12 months prior to the student's moving is recognized by the WHSAA.

Before you are eligible to represent the new school in either of the foregoing cases, the principal must submit the completed transfer form to the Association office attesting your move and your eligibility.

To understand the exception to this rule, please ask your principal.

*4. NUMBER OF SEMESTERS OF

COMPETITION (6.5.0)

You are limited to competing for no more than four (4) fall and four (4) spring semesters for a total of eight (8) semesters. These 8 semesters shall be consecutive and begin once you start the ninth grade.

5. AGE LIMIT (6.3.0)

You must be under twenty years of age on August 1 for fall sports, November 1 for winter sports, and March 1 for spring sports.

6. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND

IMMUNIZATION (6.6.0)

Before you are eligible to compete or practice in any sport within the current school year, you must have on file a certificate of physical fitness issued by qualified medical personnel and a statement of permission signed by your parent or guardian. The physical must be taken after May 1. You must also have on file proof of immunization.

7. AMATEUR STANDING (5.7.0)

You must be an amateur, that is, a person who has never used and is not now using his/her athletic skill for gain as a participant in athletic contests. For gain means accepting money or other monetary compensation as a result of athletic competition.

8. NUMBER OF PRACTICE DAYS (5.10.1)

You must participate in the required number of practices in your sport before you can compete. Check with your coach to find out the number of days required for your sport.

9. AWARDS (5.6.0)

You will be declared ineligible if you receive awards valued at more than $250 or any amount of cash because of athletic involvement. Golf will follow the USGA rule.

10. ASSUMED NAME (6.1.6, 5.0.3)

Competing under a false or assumed name will cause you to become ineligible.

Your name must be certified by your principal on a standard form to the opposing school or schools for each contest in which you are to compete.

11. UNDUE INFLUENCE (4.1.0)

Transferring from one school to another because of being influenced by any person to do so will make you ineligible for one full year.

*12. INDEPENDENT TEAMS (5.8.0)

Playing on an independent team while a member of your high school competing squad in the same sport or activity is not allowed. Should you do so, you would forfeit your eligibility.

13. SPECIALIZED SPORTS CAMPS (5.4.0)

A coach or school representative may not directly or by implication direct you to attend camps/clinics, open gym sessions, or weight room training as a condition to practicing, participating or otherwise influencing your opportunity to participate in any school interscholastic program.

You may not participate in a specialized sports camp/clinic teaching individual skills for a period greater than two calendar weeks during any calendar year in which any of your coaches or high school faculty members are involved.

Students going to summer camps will not be covered by school or WHSAA catastrophic insurance.

Please ask your principal or activities director if you have questions about these rules.

*Fine Arts & Vocational participants need only meet these requirements.

Any student wanting to attend an NCAA or NAIA college or university on an athletic scholarship should meet with their counselor as soon as possible to determine their eligibility for financial aid under the rules established by the NCAA and NAIA. Failure to do this may make you ineligible for an athletic scholarship.

Published by the Wyoming High School Activities Association 6571 East 2nd Street Casper, WY 82609. (307)577-0614

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