Athletic Requirements

Age of a Player

No student may be approved for any athletic contest if his or her 19th birthday comes on or before August 31 of that school year at the high school level.

A student shall not participate on a sixth, seventh or eighth grade team if his or her 15th birthday comes on or before August 31 of that school year at the middle school level.

Attendance

A student-athlete must have been in attendance for at least 85 percent of the previous semester at an approved high school.

For a regular 90-day semester, a student may not miss more than 13 days and be in compliance with the 85 percent rule.

A student-athlete enrolled at a 4X4 block schedule school must be in attendance for two (2) full periods of class in order to practice or play.

A student-athlete enrolled in a traditional seven period day or enrolled in a middle school must be in attendance at least half of the school day in order to practice or play.

Dressing for a Game or Practice

A student-athlete shall not dress for a game, practice or scrimmage when he or she is not eligible to participate. Dressing and sitting on the bench shall be interpreted as participating in the game.

Eight Semester Rule

No student may be eligible to participate at the high school level for a period lasting longer than eight consecutive semesters, beginning with the student’s first entry into ninth grade or participation on a high school team, whichever occurs first.

No student may be eligible to participate at the middle school level for a period lasting longer than six consecutive semesters, beginning with the student’s entry into sixth grade.  Eligibility begins for all students with initial entry into the sixth grade regardless of:

– the school organization pattern
– the decision of the LEA/Charter to allow 6th grade participation

Eligibility

All students must be eligible prior to dressing or participating in any interscholastic contest.

Only students in grades six, seven and eight may participate in middle school interscholastic contests (Six graders may not participate in football).

All students must meet the residence requirement to be eligible. A student transferred from one high school to another forfeits, for one year, athletic eligibility in any sport in which the student was on a eligibility roster at their former school during the immediately preceding year to the transfer approval. Please reference Policy #470 Athletic Participation for more information on eligibility.

Practice Time

There shall be no athletic practice during the regular school day. Practice may begin after the last regularly scheduled instructional period.

No authorized practice or contest may occur during a teacher workday. Exception: If the Superintendent gives permission for schools to practice prior to the end of a workday due to inclement weather only.

Each coach, for his or her team, will schedule practice times. Players should be in attendance for all scheduled practices. It is the responsibility of the student-athlete to contact their coach prior to a practice or game if they wish to be excused from a practice or game.

There shall be no Sunday practice, Sunday team meeting or Sunday interscholastic contest in any sport on or off the school campus.

Scholastic Requirements

All student-athletes must meet the Henderson County Public Schools promotion standards.

A student-athlete, upon first entering the ninth grade, is academically eligible for competition on high school teams.

A student-athlete who is promoted from the fifth grade to the sixth grade automatically meets the course passed requirements for the first semester of the sixth grade.

A student-athlete enrolled at a 4X4 block schedule school must have passed three courses during the preceding semester to be eligible.

A student-athlete enrolled in a traditional seven period day must have passed five courses during the preceding semester to be eligible.

High School student-athletes who attend summer school and receive recovered course credit will have credit count during the semester the course was taken. High School student-athletes who attend summer school and receive new course credit will have credits count toward the preceding semester.

A student-athlete enrolled in a middle school must have passed three core courses during the preceding semester to be eligible.