High School participation rule

I think this is a grouping of a number of rules. I do not know if it is a state rule or not, but it was a local rule at my sons HS.

If you are on a HS team and in that sports active season, you were not permitted to participate in any activity (practice or conditioning) for another HS team. So as such, a HS baseball player in the baseball season could not participate in offseason conditioning with the football team......

However, that rule was for the HS only.....many of the HS baseball players would leave HS baseball practice amd go directly to summer league and travel team practices......HS having no jurisdiction over local leagues......

I'd be interested to know if the state associations have such a rule....

Up until the mid-90s Texas UIL (Texas' public school governing body) did not allow players to participate in 'club' baseball activities during their HS baseball season.

The UIL changed this rule for the benefit of the unsport known as s****r but it went into effect for all sports across the board as well and freed up kids to play HS baseball and 'club' ball at the same time.

In California, high school sports are governed by CIF, of which there are several 'sections'. We found that the different sections have different rules on matters such as working with a high school coach in a travel or elite program, or competing in two sports during the same season or competing with a non-high school team ... in the same sport during the same season.

In our son's case, the CIF-Southern Section did not (and still does not) allow for participation (practice or play) in any organized (amateur) outside (i.e., non-high school) sport/activity during the high school season for that sport. Nor are they permitted to cross-over from another high school sport (e.g., basketball and that "kicking-the-round-ball" sport) until that high school team is completely out of competition (e.g, if the basketball team goes into CIF play-offs, a two-way player cannot participate in baseball try-outs, practices or games in high school until the basketball team has completed their play-off run). I am pretty sure they can't even 'try out' for a non-high school team without jeopardizing their eligibility ... though I think they can attend a pro team pre-draft work-out. As far as I know, the only exception may be high school football where I think spring football activities may be permitted during baseball season but I am not positive. (Of course that may have to do with the fact that so many high school baseball coaches are involved with football at their school ...

Other CIF sections may handle these matters differently as they are allowed. Can't speak to any but the Southern Section ... )

No game's or practice for travel/select teams during the HS season/playoffs in California.
You can have clinics, One on One training. Also Tryouts for Travel/Select teams Only, I believe.
This is how it was told to me. The EH

So how exactly does one sort out all these rules, since they seem to be different from one state to the next. Where do we go to find the rules governing High School play in our specific states/areas?

As DBAT 18 GM mentioned, in Texas the club teams may start, but I really don't know of many that infringe on the high school season.

Here in Texas, unless your team make the playoffs, the HS team is finished by the end of April and most club teams respect the HS season and begin in May. They might have one or two practices or introductory meetings, but nothing of any consequence until May.

http://www.miaa.net/MIAA-Handbook05-07.pdf

Dad10

I think this link is what you're looking for.

Simply put, HS participation is governed by state's athletic association. There is no national standard.
We live in VA and are governed by the VHSL (Virginia High School League). vhsl.org
You can not play in two VHSL sanctioned sports in the same season (i.e. can't do track and baseball at the same time).
HOWEVER, you can participate in a "varsity" sport and "club" sport at the same time (assuming of course your coach will allow it).

For two years we had a standout football player at our HS play basketball in the winter. Good player (excellent athlete). He also played ice hockey in the winter, which is considered a "club" sport in VA (there is no state championship).

Baseketball was priority one. He didn't practice with the hockey team, but when he was available, he did play for them. And was quite good!

Missouri-BB-Dad,

Wow! That was quick. Thank you very much. Hopefully someday I can be as helpful as you guys here are.

In Indiana, the ISHAA governs (forbids) participation in multiple sports. There are a lot of rules on what constitutes a practice and game.

Basically you must have completed your season before you are released to participate in another sanctioned or unsanctioned sport. You can't start to practice (coaches present) until your season is over.

Last year our HS baseball team made it to the state championship game. The game was held on 6/18/05. School year was completed prior to Memorial Day. My son was not allowed to play or practice with his summer travel team until completion for his baseball season on 6/18. He missed over two weeks of practice and tournaments.

In Illinois, we have the IHSA (ihsa.org) that governs extra-curricular activities (sports, scholar bowl, music, etc)

I believe that you cannot compete in a competition outside your high school season during the season. EX. This year our freshman football team had to forfeit 2 or 3 games because their punter competed in the Punt, Pass, and Kick during the season. Apparently nobody knew that was against the rules. He also had to sit out 3 games or something as well.

As far as I know, there is no rule against playing more than one sport at one time, though. For the last several years, we have had a couple players play two sports in the fall; football as varsity kickers and that other kicking sport. Our two coaches in each sport get along great and it works out because the kickers have a specific coach on the staff that they work out with. They do not attend practice regularly for football.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by home builder:


Basically you must have completed your season before you are released to participate in another sanctioned or unsanctioned sport. You can't start to practice (coaches present) until your season is over.

QUOTE]

Same thing in Georgia ~ can not start another sport until the first one's season is over. Boys on the basketball team could not show up for baseball tryouts until after their season was over.

EH ...

What section of CIF governs northern Cal? Their rules may be slightly different ... was pretty sure when our son was in school (class of '01) that Southern Section forbad even try-outs. If anyone out there knows differently for that time period, I would like to have my old memory refreshed (that's what happens when we get old and the gray matter starts fading ... )

In the CCS (Nor Cal), you are not allowed to participate in any other school workouts or tryouts until your sport has concluded it's season.

You are allowed to go to clinics during the season. This is known as paid summer team practices.