The Ohio High School Athletic Association

Bylaw Situations Requiring Commissioner Approval

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Situations Requiring Approval of the Commissioner’s Office
As of August 1, 2006 

4-2-1 – Exception – Age – High School – Student with a Disability
If a student enrolled in high school attains the age of 19 before August 1, the student shall be ineligible to participate in high school interscholastic athletics for the school year commencing in that calendar year.

EXCEPTION: If the student is a “child with a disability” as that term is defined at 42 U.S.C. Section 12102 (ADA) and the Regulations promulgated there under, and the student’s specific disability has contributed significantly to the student’s inability to meet the requirements of this bylaw, that student may be declared eligible by the Commissioner if, in the Commissioner’s sole discretion, the Commissioner determines that:

a) the student does not pose a safety risk to himself/herself or others; and
b) the student does not enjoy any advantages in terms of physical maturity, mental maturity or athletic maturity over other student-athletes; and
c) the student’s participation does not affect the principles of competitive equity; and
d) the student’s participation does not displace another student-athlete; and
e) there is no evidence of “red-shirting” or other indicia of academic dishonesty.

4-2-2 – Exception – Age – Grades 7-8 – Student with a Disability
If a student enrolled in grade 7 or 8 attains the age of 15 before August 1, the student shall be ineligible to participate in 7-8th grade interscholastic athletics for the school year commencing in that calendar year.

a) the student does not pose a safety risk to himself/herself or others; and
b) the student does not enjoy any advantages in terms of physical maturity, mental maturity or athletic maturity over other student-athletes; and
c) the student’s participation does not affect the principles of competitive equity; and
d) the student’s participation does not displace another student-athlete; and
e) there is no evidence of “red-shirting” or other indicia of academic dishonesty.

4-3-4 - Eight Semesters
After a student completes the eighth grade, or is otherwise eligible for high school athletics pursuant to Bylaw 4-2-3, the student shall be eligible for a period not to exceed eight semesters taken in order of attendance, whether the student participates or not. A student in grade 7 or 8 who attains the age of 15 before August 1 shall be eligible only at the high school level for a period not to exceed eight semesters taken in order of attendance, whether the student participates or not.

4-3-4 – Exception 1 – Completion of a Sports Season
EXCEPTION 1: The Commissioner or the Board of Control may permit a student who completes the eighth semester of eligibility during the season of a sport to complete the sports season of the sport in which the student is participating provided the student is enrolled in school. If such extension is granted, the student is ineligible for further interscholastic participation when the sports season, regular and tournament, has ended.

4-3-4 - Exception 2 – Eight Semesters – Student with a Disability
EXCEPTION 2: If the student is a “child with a disability” as that term is defined at 42 U.S.C. Section 12102 (ADA) and the Regulations promulgated there under, and the student’s specific disability has contributed significantly to the student’s inability to meet the requirements of this bylaw, that student may be declared eligible by the Commissioner if, in the Commissioner’s sole discretion, the Commissioner determines that:

a) the student does not pose a safety risk to himself/herself or others; and
b) the student does not enjoy any advantages in terms of physical maturity, mental maturity or athletic maturity over other student-athletes; and
c) the student’s participation does not affect the principles of competitive equity; and
d) the student’s participation does not displace another student-athlete; and
e) there is no evidence of “red-shirting” or other indicia of academic dishonesty.

4-3-7- Combining 7-8^th Grade Schools
Member schools containing grades 7 and 8 may combine students from two or more schools within the school district to form one interscholastic team in a sport. Requests for permission to combine students from two or more schools in the same non-public or public school system must be submitted annually to the OHSAA in writing by the superintendent of the non-public or public school system. The written request must contain the following:

1 — Names of schools involved.
2 — Total number of students from each school involved in the sport.
3 — Total number of boys or girls in each grade of each school in the combination.
4 — The name of the Principal, name of the School and the complete address of the Administrator responsible for the conduct and operation of the combined team or teams.

2.   Cover letter verifying that the person named in the agreement will be a bona fide residence of the new public school district into which the student has transferred (or non-public school if that option is selected).

4-7-2 - Exception 11 – School District Drops all Sports Programs
EXCEPTION 11 — If, and only if, a school district ceases to sponsor its interscholastic athletic program, a student may transfer to any other school and continue his/her eligibility provided the following conditions are met: a) The student had participated on the school sponsored team in the canceled sport during the entire previous sport season for that sport; and b) The transfer occurs at the beginning of the new school year (defined as the first day of school or when the student participates in the first contest for the school prior to the beginning of the school year) or, at the beginning of the next grading period following the school’s decision to cancel its sponsorship of its interscholastic athletic program; and c) For a period of one year from the date of transfer, the student may only participate in that sport(s) in which the student had participated in the previous school year; and d) Evidence that all of the conditions for eligibility are submitted to the office of the Commissioner, which, upon review, may rule the student eligible. No student transferring under this provision shall be eligible until declared so by the Commissioner’s office.

4-7-3 – Intradistrict Transfer
The superintendent or person delegated by the superintendent of either a non-public or public school system may transfer students within the system without jeopardizing their eligibility. Such transfers are eligible only after approval by the Commissioner. 

4-7-4 – Transfer from Poor Performing Schools
Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 4-7-2 and 4-7-3, if a student transfers pursuant to state or federal statutes addressing unsafe schools or academically poor performing schools, and the student can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Commissioner’s office that the transfer is for purely academic reasons and not athletic reasons, the Commissioner’s office may declare such transferring student eligible upon application to the Commissioner’s office. The student is not eligible until declared eligible by the Commissioner’s office.

4-8-1- Students from outside the United States
Students from countries and provinces outside the United States are ineligible for interscholastic athletics.

4-8-1 – Exception 1 – Parents move to the USA
EXCEPTION 1: A student from a country or province outside the United States may be declared eligible if the student’s parents move into and are legal residents of the school district in which the student is enrolled and attending. The student is not eligible until declared eligible by the Commissioner.

4-8-1 – Exception 2 – Foreign Exchange Program - CSIET
EXCEPTION 2: A student in an approved foreign exchange program contained in the Advisory List of International Educational Travel and Exchange Programs published by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) may be eligible for interscholastic athletics. The student is not eligible until declared eligible by the Commissioner upon submission of the exchange student form. The following restriction applies: a. Students are eligible for a maximum of one school year.

4-8-1 –Exception 3 - Adoption
EXCEPTION 3: A student from a country or province outside the United States may be declared eligible for interscholastic athletics upon the submission of a court approved document certifying the student’s adoption by a legal resident of the school district in which the student is attending. The student is not eligible until declared eligible by the Commissioner upon submission of the appropriate court documents.

4-8-1 – Exception 4 – Parents are USA Citizens living outside the USA
EXCEPTION 4: A student from a country or province outside the United States may be declared eligible for interscholastic athletics when the student’s parents are citizens of the United States who reside outside the United States. The student is not eligible until declared eligible by the Commissioner upon submission of the appropriate court documents.

4-8-2 – Return from Domestic or Foreign Exchange Program
An Ohio student returning from a domestic or foreign exchange program may resume interscholastic competition in an Ohio member school at the point of interruption provided the student did not receive credits toward graduation while participating in the exchange program and provided the student meets all requirements relative to age, semesters of eligibility as well as preceding grading period scholastic requirements in the exchange program. Such a student is ineligible until ruled eligible by the Commissioner or Board of Control.

Principal shall submit letter or request citing circumstances.

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