ARTICLE 12

APPROVED SPORTS

1200. LIST OF APPROVED SPORTS

A.            The addition to, or deletion from, the list of CIF-approved sports is subject to Federated Council approval. A Section may not approve or conduct competition in a non-CIF-approved sport without Federated Council approval. Approved interscholastic sports are:  badminton, baseball, basketball, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, skiing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

                NOTE: Snowboarding is an approved event within the sport of skiing.

                1.             Interscholastic competition in approved sports shall be conducted under CIF rules.

                2.             All sports or events not listed as CIF-approved sports need not be conducted under CIF rules or jurisdiction.

B.            Boxing

                Boxing is not approved as a CIF interscholastic sport. Schools participating in interscholastic boxing may be barred from all CIF competition for a period of time up to one year in duration.

(Revised May 2008 Federated Council)

 

1201. OFFICIAL RULE BOOKS

A. In all student team sports, where rules are written by the National Federation, the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) rule book shall be official. In student team sports where the National Federation does not write the rules, the NCAA rules (scholastic division) shall apply. In sports where neither the National Federation nor the NCAA write the rules, the nationally recognized amateur association rules for that sport shall apply.

B. Where rules are written for girls' sports by the National Federation, those rules shall be official.

C. In gymnastics, CIF Sections are authorized to use the U.S. Gymnastic Federation (USGF) rules for compulsory routines; all optional routines must follow National Federation rules.

D. In sports for girls where the National Federation does not write the rules, the National Association of Girls and Women Sports (NAGWS) rules shall be official whenever the rules for the sport are written by NAGWS. In sports where neither the National Federation nor the NAGWS write the rules, the nationally recognized amateur association rules for that sport shall apply.

E. For special mixed events and coed teams in tennis and volleyball, the following rule guide shall be used: Tennis - United States Tennis Association (USTA); Volleyball - United States Volleyball Association (USVBA).

NOTE: CIF Sections may adopt optional game rules whenever permitted by state association adoption in all sports game rules published by the National Federation.

1202. DAILY CONTEST LIMITATIONS

A. CONTESTS

Interscholastic (dual-triangular) athletic contests in CIF approved sports are to be arranged in such a way that no student shall take part in more than two athletic contests in any one day. NOTE: The two contest maximum rule does not apply to tournaments.

B. TOURNAMENTS

All interscholastic athletic tournaments (defined as four or more teams) in CIF approved sports are to be arranged in such a way that no student shall take part in more than one tournament in the same sport in any one day.

1203. STUDENT PARTICIPATION

A. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR:

California Interscholastic Federation approved sports are listed in Bylaw 1200. Rules and regulations apply for these sports during the school year only. Some activities depend upon specified sport skills. Among these are hole-in-one contests for golf, basketball free-throw contests, baseball throws for distance and accuracy, and football punts for distance. Achievement in these activities depends upon an individual's athletic prowess in a particular sport. If this sport is an approved California Interscholastic Federation sport, then a student may jeopardize the student's CIF eligibility if the student's participation violates the California Interscholastic Federation amateur status or award rules.

B. DURING THE SUMMER:

During the summer period California Interscholastic Federation rules and regulations do not apply to any activities except as follows:

(1) No physical conditioning or practice sessions for football prior to the opening of authorized practice may be conducted by a high school, unless specifically authorized by the appropriate CIF section.

(2) Participation in any other sports during the summer is governed by the nationally recognized authority for each sport, if such authority exists.

1204. SECTION GUIDELINES FOR OFFICIALS

Each CIF Section shall develop guidelines for the use of officials. It is highly recommended that officials trained and rated in CIF approved rules for each sport be used.


 1204A. The Board of Managers passed a policy to only use officials for all contests who are members of an accredited officials association. (Ex. Bd. April 22, 1998)

1205. UNIFORM RULE EXCEPTIONS

In the case of a manufacturer's error, the Section Commissioner is authorized to waive National Federation uniform rules, allowing exceptions as necessary within the spirit of the National Federation rules.

1206. UNIFORM ATTACHMENTS

All uniform attachments are prohibited by State CIF Federated Council action except where provisions are allowed under National Federation Rules.

 

1207. CLASSIFICATION AND ORDER OF INTERSCHOLASTIC TEAMS

(Leagues shall determine order and designation of teams below Varsity level).

A. Teams shall be organized for competition between schools in the respective sports as follows:

Football, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Volleyball:

Varsity, Junior Varsity (9-11) or Frosh-Soph, Freshman or Frosh.-Soph

Reserves or Freshman Reserves

Golf, Tennis, Swimming/Diving, Badminton:

Varsity, Junior Varsity (9-12)

Cross Country:

Varsity, Junior Varsity, Frosh-Soph,, Freshman

Wrestling:

Varsity, Junior Varsity (9-12), Freshman

Track:

Varsity, Frosh-Soph

1208. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS

Experimental Programs: The CIF Central Section Executive Board by two-thirds vote, may grant variances in classification and order of teams for purposes of experimentation for a two-year period.

1209. A student may NOT move up or down the same day that he/she plays in another classification in the same sport.

1210. Girls may compete on boys' teams or student teams, but boys may NOT compete on girls' teams. However, after competing on either boys' team or student team or a girls' team in a particular sport, a girl can not compete on the other team during that season of sport. A girls must make a choice at her first contest of sport whether she will compete on the boys' team or a student or girls' team.

1211.  Protests

       Protests of game results must be submitted and signed by the principal of the school making the protest within 72 hours after the contests, including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

       A. Copies of the protest letter must be sent to the opposing principal, league president, League Commissioner and the Central Section Commissioner. (FAX is acceptable).

       B. Letters of the protest must site the rule (s) infraction upon which the protest is based.

       C. If agreement is not reached at the league level, the protest shall be referred to the League Commissioner for decision. The decision of the League Commissioner is final.

       D. Protests regarding division, area qualifying and Central Section final play-offs shall be submitted to the CIF Central Section Commissioner for decision. His/her decision is subject to appeal to the Central Section Executive Board.

 

1212. PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF CENTRAL SECTION CONSTITUTION OR  BY-LAWS.

 THE LEAGUE, OR A COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE LEAGUE, AND THE APPROPRIATE LEAGUE COMMISSIONER, WILL REVIEW THE ALLEDGED VIOLATION. UPON COMPLETION OF THE REVIEW, THE COMMITTEE MAY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE SECTION COMMISSIONER TO IMPOSE AT HIS/HER DISCRETION ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING PENALTIES:

 

1)       A LETTER OF REPRIMAND AND WARNING

2)       PLACE THE SCHOOL ON PROBATION-ONE YEAR

3)       FORFEITURE OF CONTESTS AND AWARDS

4)       TAKE AWAY A SCRIMMAGE

5)       TAKE AWAY A TOURNAMENT (S)

6)       TAKE AWAY PRE-SEASON CONTESTS

7)       LOSS OF PLAY-OFF SHARE OF GATE (S)

8)       TAKE AWAY PLAY-OFF PRIVILEGES

9)       REDUCE FUTURE SCHEDULE BY 10%

 

SHOULD A SCHOOL ON PROBATION BE FOUND GUILTY OF OTHER VIOLATIONS, NUMBERS 2-9 MAY BE IMPOSED.

SCHOOLS WHO SELF-REFER A VIOLATION WILL BE PLACED ON PROBATION

SCHOOLS WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPEAL THE DECISION OF THE COMMISSIONER TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.

 

1213. ADMITTANCE CHARGE

All CIF playoffs in spectator sports where facilities are available must carry an admittance charge. Deviations must be cleared through the Central Section Commissioner.

1214. GAME MANAGEMENT RULES

Game management rules may be amended by a majority vote of the Board of Managers assembled at a called meeting.

1215. POST SEASON GAMES

Post-season games in all sports are prohibited unless approved by the Board of Managers of Central Section at a regular meeting.

1216. CENTRAL SECTION CIF PASSES

Thirty CIF Central Section passes will be issued to Yosemite CIF Central Section schools. All other leagues will receive twenty-five. "School staff" instead of personal names shall be printed on each pass.

1217. ACCEPTED PLAYOFF PASSES

At Section Playoff contests, no passes except Section-issued playoff passes, Lifetime Honorary passes, and State passes will be accepted for admission. (See Sports Regulations and Procedures for complimentary tickets issued to participating schools).

1218. SPIRIT AND INTENT OF RULES

Each coach and principal is responsible for the knowledge of all CIF Central Section rules and game regulations pertaining to his or her sport, and shall be responsible to see that the Spirit and Intent of all rules and regulations are strictly adhered to.

1219 FILMING AND TV TAPING

Filming and TV taping of non-league and league contests for scouting purposes was approved by Central Section Board of Managers 3/3/93. Filming of potential playoff opponents is also permitted. (EX. Bd. 3-3-99)