Reclassing guidelines?

I'm no expert but I believe that will vary by state.

I believe it it's easier to reclassify by transferring to a private but I don't think that's required where I live.

It is also easier to do before you start the high school clock. Kindergarten, 8th grade and a gap year post high school graduation are the more common schools years to reclassify.

PWE is right, it depends on the state. In California, re-classing backwards junior year wouldn't work -- well, he could re-class for school, but he wouldn't get a 5th year of high school athletic eligibility. It would have to be done before finishing 8th grade. 

There are no guidelines and no easy cookie cutter answers.  It can be done, most likely in the private school setting, but it must be done carefully and with a lot of research.  Which I realize is why you are asking.  Most public HS's won't allow it due to the taxpayer's having to foot the bill for an extra year of your education.  Private schools are where I believe you have to do it.  Make sure you check with NCAA requirements too.  

I guess that is what you hear of parents actually holding their kids from starting early...So that they are bigger (older) their senior years.  

When I was enrolling my kids, I enrolled them into school the moment  they were able to be enrolled.  When daycare costs stopped it was like hitting the lottery.  

Never thought about the size difference between a graduating 17 year old and a senior who turns 18 at the start of his senior year.  Never applied it to school like they do now...

Here's the info on NCAA requirements.  If an athlete is reclassifying in the midst of their high school years, it will be important - especially for athletes with the ability/desire to go Division I - that they complete all of their core course requirements by the time they would have normally been expected to graduate.

To use the wording from the NCAA Manual, an athlete must satisfy the core-course requirements no later than the graduation date of their class "...as determined by the first year of enrollment in high school."

Rick at Informed Athlete posted:

Here's the info on NCAA requirements.  If an athlete is reclassifying in the midst of their high school years, it will be important - especially for athletes with the ability/desire to go Division I - that they complete all of their core course requirements by the time they would have normally been expected to graduate.

To use the wording from the NCAA Manual, an athlete must satisfy the core-course requirements no later than the graduation date of their class "...as determined by the first year of enrollment in high school."

This type of post is why this site is indeed valuable.  Here is a person who many others have called one of, if not the, top expert on NCAA rules concerning eligibility.  Nothing to argue about here - no opinion that others don't share - just simple facts that are brought to the table for the incredible price of $0.00.  True, it is in the rule book and folks could have read it on their own, but it's these types of nuggets that over time will greatly enhance one's knowledge and help look at any situation from all the necessary angles - not just will one more year get him to a Power 5.  It won't happen if he isn't eligible to begin with.

When I was in school in Texas in the 70's and 80's it was quite common for football players to repeat the 8th grade - happened all the time. I do believe Texas law has prohibited this sort of thing now, though.

I know that the OP is in NC, but for the 1/8 of U.S. folks who are in California, here are the rules:

Bylaw 204. B. Eight Consecutive Semester Rule. A student who first enters the 9th grade of any school following the student's completion of the 8th grade in any school may be eligible for athletic competition during a maximum period of time that is not to exceed eight consecutive semesters following the initial enrollment in the 9th grade of any school, and eligibility must be used during the student's first eight consecutive semesters of enrollment at that school or any other school.

So once you start high school, you can't reclass backwards to gain a year of athletic eligibility. You can reclass forward (skip a grade).

As Kevin A alluded to, the way this restriction is gotten around, is to reclass in 7th or 8th grade. The age limitations in California are:

Bylaw 203. Age Requirement. A student, whose 19th birthday is attained  prior to June 15 , shall not participate or practice on any team in the following school year. A student, whose 19th birthday is on or before June 14, is ineligible. 

Lately there has been a phenomenon (particularly in basketball, in which there a few prominent recent examples) of "double holdbacks," in which kids with birthdays that fall from June 15 - Aug. 31 (and who would normally graduate high school at age 17, turning 18 in the summer) are held back not one year, but two. So they play their senior year at age 19, and turn 20 over the summer right after high school graduation. But all of the holdbacks must happen before they start 9th grade.

Lately there has been a phenomenon (particularly in basketball, in which there a few prominent recent examples) of "double holdbacks," in which kids with birthdays that fall from June 15 - Aug. 31 (and who would normally graduate high school at age 17, turning 18 in the summer) are held back not one year, but two. So they play their senior year at age 19, and turn 20 over the summer right after high school graduation. But all of the holdbacks must happen before they start 9th grade.

I guess this sometimes has a huge payoff, but it just seems weird.  I'm guessing they don't want any high schoolers playing sports who can legally buy the beer for the team.  At least they ought to be making straight A's on their third year in 8th grade.

On the flip side - what about Hunter Greene?  I love these kids going in the first round having to get their parents to "co-sign" the MiLB contract.

2019Dad posted:

I know that the OP is in NC, but for the 1/8 of U.S. folks who are in California, here are the rules:

Bylaw 204. B. Eight Consecutive Semester Rule. A student who first enters the 9th grade of any school following the student's completion of the 8th grade in any school may be eligible for athletic competition during a maximum period of time that is not to exceed eight consecutive semesters following the initial enrollment in the 9th grade of any school, and eligibility must be used during the student's first eight consecutive semesters of enrollment at that school or any other school.

So once you start high school, you can't reclass backwards to gain a year of athletic eligibility. You can reclass forward (skip a grade).

As Kevin A alluded to, the way this restriction is gotten around, is to reclass in 7th or 8th grade. The age limitations in California are:

Bylaw 203. Age Requirement. A student, whose 19th birthday is attained  prior to June 15 , shall not participate or practice on any team in the following school year. A student, whose 19th birthday is on or before June 14, is ineligible. 

Lately there has been a phenomenon (particularly in basketball, in which there a few prominent recent examples) of "double holdbacks," in which kids with birthdays that fall from June 15 - Aug. 31 (and who would normally graduate high school at age 17, turning 18 in the summer) are held back not one year, but two. So they play their senior year at age 19, and turn 20 over the summer right after high school graduation. But all of the holdbacks must happen before they start 9th grade.

Wow...do you think it's to get them drafted (age 19) out of HS to avoid being the often vilified "one and done" player in college?  Or is it just to make them taller/stronger/better and stand out among HS Seniors to make their draft stock go up?

Stafford, report back what actually happens.  I bet the parents haven't looked into it yet!  

2020Mom posted:

2019Dad posted:

I know that the OP is in NC, but for the 1/8 of U.S. folks who are in California, here are the rules:

Bylaw 204. B. Eight Consecutive Semester Rule. A student who first enters the 9th grade of any school following the student's completion of the 8th grade in any school may be eligible for athletic competition during a maximum period of time that is not to exceed eight consecutive semesters following the initial enrollment in the 9th grade of any school, and eligibility must be used during the student's first eight consecutive semesters of enrollment at that school or any other school.

So once you start high school, you can't reclass backwards to gain a year of athletic eligibility. You can reclass forward (skip a grade).

As Kevin A alluded to, the way this restriction is gotten around, is to reclass in 7th or 8th grade. The age limitations in California are:

Bylaw 203. Age Requirement. A student, whose 19th birthday is attained  prior to June 15 , shall not participate or practice on any team in the following school year. A student, whose 19th birthday is on or before June 14, is ineligible. 

Lately there has been a phenomenon (particularly in basketball, in which there a few prominent recent examples) of "double holdbacks," in which kids with birthdays that fall from June 15 - Aug. 31 (and who would normally graduate high school at age 17, turning 18 in the summer) are held back not one year, but two. So they play their senior year at age 19, and turn 20 over the summer right after high school graduation. But all of the holdbacks must happen before they start 9th grade.

Wow...do you think it's to get them drafted (age 19) out of HS to avoid being the often vilified "one and done" player in college?  Or is it just to make them taller/stronger/better and stand out among HS Seniors to make their draft stock go up?

I don't know if it's for the draft, but it makes for some really good 9th graders! Plus, they can drive before even starting 9th grade, so that's gotta make things easier (in terms of logistics) on the parents!

Seriously, the rules have been in place a long time, and I have no problem with someone who plays by the rules.

Any updated on if the kid did this?

There is a kid in my son's school that is asking questions about this.  This kid has always struggled in school, he's in some special classes and still doesn't do very well grade wise.  Good ball player, but also very young for the grade.  A kid like him might really benefit in having an extra year to wise up. Does the NCAA hold that against him?

Stafford posted:

A kid at my daughter's high school told her he intends to reclass for baseball. He's a pitcher who was not able to play this high school season due to a shoulder injury. This kid is a junior in high school and made it seem that he would reclass at his current school?

I was under the impression that if you reclass after starting high school, you have to transfer to a private in order to do so. And, that it had to be done prior to the junior year of high school.

What are the guidelines or is it dependent on local or state rules?

I'm an athletic director at a high school in NC and this PROBABLY won't be allowed.  NC rules say that once you enter your freshman year you have 8 semesters to compete.  If a private school competes under the NCHSAA then the same rule applies.  There have been situations where a kid has been given a "redshirt" for medical reasons but they were pretty severe cases.  This is where I doubt it will happen because they rarely give them.

Overall, this is a state to state situation and for anybody my suggestion is talk to the AD at your school or look up the state governing body website because they usually put all the rules on there.

Reading is fundamental - I just realized this is from last year but rule is still the same.

"... in Texas in the 70's and 80's it was quite common for football players to repeat the 8th grade - happened all the time. I do believe Texas law has prohibited this sort of thing now, though."

In my opinion it is now much worse.