ARTICLE 20
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
(200 series revised May 2007 Federated Council)
200. CIF PHILOSOPHY ON STUDENT ELIGIBILITY FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC
COMPETITION
The CIF, as the governing body of high school athletics, affirms that athletic competition is an important part
of the high school experience and that participation in interscholastic athletics is a privilege. The privilege of
participation in interscholastic athletics is available to students in public or private schools who meet the
democratically established standards of qualification as set forth by the CIF Federated Council.
CIF Bylaws governing student eligibility are a necessary prerequisite to participation in interscholastic
athletics because they:
A. Keep the focus on athletic participation as a privilege, not a right;
B. Reinforce the principle that students attend school to receive an education first; athletic
participation is secondary;
C. Protect the opportunities to participate for students who meet the established standards;
D. Provide a fundamentally fair and equitable framework in which interscholastic athletic competition
can take place;
E. Provide uniform standards for all schools to follow in maintaining athletic competition;
F. Serve as a deterrent to students who transfer schools for athletic reasons and to individuals who
recruit student-athletes;
G. Serve as a deterrent to students who transfer schools to avoid disciplinary action;
H. Maintain an ethical relationship between high school athletic programs and others who demonstrate
an interest in high school athletes;
I. Support the Principles of “Pursuing Victorywith Honorsm.”
201.
STANDARDS OF ELIGIBILITY
Only students regularly enrolled in public, charter and private
CIF-member schools, grades 9-12, shall be permitted to participate in the
CIF and shall represent only that school of enrollment except as provided
in Bylaws 303, 304 and 306. The CIF establishes the standards
for eligibility to participate in interscholastic athletes to include the
following:*
(See Related Bylaws: 305 – Home Study/Home Schooling; 306 –
Independent Study
Programs/Schools; 510 – Undue Influence; and the 600 Series – Outside
Competition)
A. Philosophy
statement (Bylaw 200)
B. Accurate
information requirement (Bylaw 202)
C. Age
requirement (Bylaw 203)
D. Eight
Consecutive Semesters requirement (Bylaw 204)
E. Scholastic
Eligibility (Bylaw 205)
(1)
Initial scholastic eligibility (Bylaw 205.A.)
(2)
Continuing scholastic eligibility (Bylaw 205.B.)
(3)
Summer School Credits (Bylaw 205.C.)
(4)
Non-Traditional Programs (Bylaw 205.D.)
(5)
Waivers of 20 semester credits requirement (Bylaw 205.E.)
F. Residential
Eligibility (Bylaw 206)
(1)
Initial residential eligibility (Bylaw 206.A.)
(2)
Continuing residential eligibility (Bylaw 206.B.)
G. Transfer
rule (Bylaw 207)
H. Hardship
waivers of the transfer rule (Bylaw 208)
I. Foreign
student eligibility (Bylaw 209)
J. Discipline
eligibility (Bylaw 210)
(1)
Expulsion (Bylaw 210.A.)
(2)
Suspended Expulsion (Bylaw 210.B.)
(3)
Transfer Compelled for Disciplinary Reasons (Bylaw 210.C.)
K. Physical
Assault (Bylaw 211)
L.
M. Amateur status
requirement (Bylaw 213)
N. Hardship
waivers of eligibility standards other than transfer (Bylaw 214)
O. Post-Injunctive
Remedies (Bylaw 215)
P. Intercollegiate
Competition (Bylaw 216)
Q. Graduates
(Bylaw 217)
(1)
Mid-Year/Spring Graduation (Bylaw 217.A.)
(2)
*The CIF recognizes that any student who is ineligible under the rules of
another state cannot gain eligibility by transfer to a CIF member
school until the terms of ineligibility are served.
(Revised Federated Council May 2011)
202.
ACCURATE INFORMATION
(1)
If it is discovered that any parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver or student
has provided incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete or false information in regards
to any aspect of eligibility status on behalf of a student, that student is
subject to immediate ineligibility for CIF competition at any level in any sport
for a period of up to 24 calendar months from the date the determination was
made that false information was provided.
(2)
If it is discovered that persons associated with the student or the
school (coach, teachers, parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver, friends, etc.)
provided incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete or false information in order to
fraudulently gain favorable eligibility status for a student, that student is
subject to immediate ineligibility for competition at any Section member school
at any level in any sport for a period of up to 24 calendar months from the
determination that incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete or false information was
provided whether the student was aware of the fraudulent information or not.
(Revised October 2001 Federated Council)
(3)
Any contests in which a student or students participated based on
incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete or false information or fraudulent practices
regarding eligibility status shall be forfeited according to the guidelines set
in accord to the rules of the Section.
(4)
Teams
a.
If it is determined that someone associated with a school (including, but
not limited to, a coach) knowingly participates in either providing incorrect,
inaccurate, incomplete or false information or using fraud or
knowingly allows others to do so, in order for a team to meet qualification
standards in any event, that team will be subject to immediate ineligibility for
further competition in that sport that season.
b.
Any contest in which that team has participated based on incorrect,
inaccurate, incomplete or false information or fraud shall be forfeited
according to the guidelines of the Section or the State CIF.
(5)
School Personnel Involvement
If
any school personnel (including but not limited to a coach) knowingly
participates in either providing incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete or false
information or allowing others to provide incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete or
false information in order to gain favorable eligibility status for a student,
or team information to meet qualification standards for participation in any
contest including playoffs or championships, sanctions may be imposed on the
school including but not limited to: probationary status, prohibitions against
playoff participation, forfeitures, revoking of CIF or Section membership, etc.
(6)
Assumed Name
In addition to any sanctions or penalties arising from the provisions
above, a student shall become ineligible for CIF competition in the respective
sport for competing in CIF competition under an assumed name.
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. Each Section may waive this
provision so long as criteria for such a waiver shall include, but not be
limited to, the following:
A. Such
a waiver would not grant more than four years (eight semesters) of eligibility;
AND
B. Such a
waiver would not grant more than four years’ participation in any sport; AND
C. That
a hardship exists which, in the judgment of the Section, requires a waiver.
“Hardship” is defined in Bylaw 214; AND
D. A
decision to deny such a waiver by the Section Commissioner may be appealed only
to the Section and in accordance with the provisions set forth in Bylaw 1101.
204. EIGHT
CONSECUTIVE SEMESTERS REQUIREMENT
A.
Definition of a Semester of Attendance
(1)
Enrollment and/or attendance for 15 school days or more shall count as
one of the eight semesters.
(2)
Participation in one or more interscholastic athletic contests shall
count as one of the eight semesters.
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. Each
Section may, at its discretion, establish rules and procedures for waiving the
limitation on semesters of eligibility, providing:
(1)
The student is required by the student’s school principal to return to
grade eight from grade nine and the student did not take part in an
interscholastic contest while in the 9th grade,
for the first time; OR
(2)
The student, because of mid-year completion of an 8th grade or a mid-year
completion of the 9th grade in a junior high school, is required by the
student’s school principal to repeat a semester of work in order to conform to
a school program having annual terms, AND
(3)
The student has not taken part in an interscholastic athletic contest
while enrolled for the first time in the semester which the student’s school
principal required the student to repeat.
C. Other
than paragraph B. (1), (2) and (3) above, relief under this rule may only be
granted in accordance with the conditions set forth below in Bylaw 204.D. Any
other or past rationales or bases for relief under this bylaw are disapproved.
D. Waiver
of the Charge of a Semester of Attendance
Each
Section may waive the charge of one or more of the eight consecutive semesters
of eligibility for athletic competition due to a hardship condition that causes
the student’s absence from school or to extend the student’s attendance in
school beyond eight consecutive semesters, PROVIDED:
(1)
That a hardship condition exists that, in the judgment of the Section,
warrants a waiver. “Hardship” is defined in CIF
Bylaw 214;
a.
The hardship caused the student to remain out of school for more than
half of any semester during his/her
high school career; OR
b. The
hardship is the direct and sole cause of the student extending his/her
attendance beyond eight consecutive semesters even though the student was
in attendance for those eight consecutive semesters. Further, the student’s
extension of his/her attendance beyond eight semesters has no athletic
motivation.
(2)
That the student was eligible under all rules in the semester immediately
prior to either his/her absence or the onset of the hardship condition that is
the direct and sole cause for extending his/her attendance beyond eight
semesters;
(3)
Such a waiver would not grant more than four years’ participation in
any sport;
(4)
All other eligibility requirements apply.
NOTE:
Failure to satisfy the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE),
(Revised May 2001 Federated Council)
205.
SCHOLASTIC ELIGIBILITY
A.
Initial Scholastic Eligibility
In order to be eligible, any student entering from the 8th grade into a CIF
four-year high school, a junior high or a junior high under the
provisions of Bylaw 303, must have achieved an unweighted 2.0 grade-point
average, on a 4.0 scale, in enrolled courses at the conclusion of the previous
grading period.
(1)
Probationary Period
The
governing board of each school district, private school, or parochial school may
adopt, as part of its policy, provisions that would allow a student who does not
achieve the above requirement in the previous grading period to remain eligible
to participate in interscholastic athletics during a probationary period. The
probationary period shall not exceed one semester in length, but may be for a
shorter period of time, as determined by the governing board of the school
district, private school, or parochial school. A student who does not meet the
above requirements during the probationary period shall not be allowed to
participate in interscholastic athletics in the subsequent grading period. For
the purpose of determining the maximum length of a semester, the measure shall
be the maximum number of days comprising a semester as used in that school
during the year in question.
B.
Continuing Scholastic Eligibility
(1)
Minimum Requirements
A student is scholastically eligible if:
a.
The student is currently enrolled in at least 20 semester credits of
work;
(i)
Non-Traditional Programs
In
schools where other than traditional semester programs are offered, the
principal of each individual school shall be responsible for determining the
equivalent of 20 semester credits of work.
(ii)
Accelerated Programs
Students studying on an accelerated program that includes one or more
advanced (either high
school or college) courses while enrolled in high school may substitute
enrollment and passing
grades in these courses for one or more required 20 semester credits of
work; evaluation of these
courses is to be done by the high school principal.
b.
The student was passing in the equivalent of at least 20 semester credits
of work at the completion of the
most recent grading period;
c.
The student is maintaining minimum progress toward meeting the high
school graduation requirements as
prescribed by the governing board;
d. The
student has maintained during the previous grading period a minimum unweighted
2.0 grade-point average, on a 4.0 scale, in all enrolled courses.
(2) Probationary
Period
The
governing board of each school district, private school, or parochial school may
adopt, as part of its policy, provisions that would allow a student who does not
achieve educational progress in items “c.” or “d.” above in the previous
grading period to remain eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics
during a probationary period. The probationary period shall not exceed one
semester in length, but may be for a shorter period of time as determined by the
governing board of the school district, private school, or parochial school. A
student who does not achieve educational progress as defined in items “c.”
or “d.” during the probationary period shall not be allowed to participate
in interscholastic athletics in the subsequent grading period. For the purpose
of determining the maximum length of a semester, the measure should be the
maximum as used in that school.
(3)
Grading Period
The
grading period is that time when all students in a school are graded. If two
grades are given at the end of a grading period, scholastic eligibility shall be
established according to the grade issued for credit.
(4)
Incomplete Grades
A
grade(s) of “Incomplete” shall not be considered a passing grade under this
bylaw unless, by operation of a school grading policy, “Incomplete” grade
shall become a passing letter or (numeric) grade without further achievement or
accomplishment by a student, at a certain time. When an “Incomplete” grade
is issued which does not automatically become a passing grade, as indicated
immediately above, such “Incomplete” grade shall not satisfy the requirement
of this bylaw until academic deficiency which gave rise to such “Incomplete”
grade shall have been satisfied and a passing grade has been substituted for the
“Incomplete” grade. Upon such substitution, the substituted grade shall be
considered in determining scholastic eligibility as established by evaluation of
previous grading period grades and the substituted grade. A scholastically
ineligible student may become immediately scholastically eligible upon such
evaluation.
(5)
Physical Education Credits
Credits earned in physical education may count toward the 20 semester
credits of work requirement.
C.
Summer School Credits
Summer
school credits shall be counted toward making up scholastic deficiencies
incurred in the grading period (semester) immediately preceding. Summer school
courses failed shall not impair an athlete’s scholastic eligibility achieved
in the semester immediately preceding. A course taken by contract or independent
study during the summer must meet the following four criteria:
(1)
The course(s) must be approved by the local board of trustees as a valid
part of the district’s school program;
(2)
The student receives a passing grade in the courses taken;
(3)
The personnel providing the instruction and course supervision are
approved by the board of trustees;
(4)
The school credit is recorded on student’s transcript.
D.
Scholastic Eligibility for Students in Non-Traditional Programs
In
schools operating on other than the traditional program (i.e., for schools such
as those with a modular or flexible scheduling, special programs for the
physically-disabled, or continuous progress programs) the principal shall
certify as to the scholastic eligibility of each student based upon satisfactory
progress in accordance with the standards defined above. Students may apply
college course units to satisfy the 20 semester credits of work requirement and
the grade point average requirement. Students who are eligible for differential
standards of proficiency pursuant to Section 51412 of the Education Code are
covered by that Section.
NOTE: For crediting purposes the grading period closes with the last
day of school in the given grading period. In determining eligibility, one
grading period does not end until the next one begins.
E.
Waiver of the Requirement of Passing 20 Semester Credits of Work
Each
Section may waive the requirement of passing in 20 semester credits of work
during the regular school grading period immediately preceding that of
competition, PROVIDED:
(1)
Serious illness, injury, or attendance in special schools (as referenced
in Education Code Sections 59000 et seq. and
59100 et seq.) prevents the student from meeting one or more of these
requirements; OR
(2)
The student has been traveling abroad with the consent of the student’s
parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver and circumstances
prevented further school attendance; OR
(3)
The student is returning from an American abroad school attendance
program; OR
(4)
The student is returning from school attendance abroad because of a valid
change of residency by the student’s
parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver; OR
(5)
The student is required to remain out of a
(6)
That the student was eligible under all rules in the semester immediately
prior to his/her absence; AND
(7)
All other rules such as age and number of seasons of sport shall apply.
A
decision to deny such a waiver by the Section Commissioner may be appealed only
to the Section and in accordance with the provisions set forth in Bylaw 1101.
206.
RESIDENTIAL ELIGIBILITY
A.
Initial Residential Eligibility
A student has residential eligibility upon initial enrollment in:
(1)
The 9th grade of any CIF high school, a CIF junior high school, or a
junior high school under provisions of Bylaw
303; OR
(2)
The 10th grade of any CIF high school from 9th grade of a junior high
school in
B.
Continuing Residential Eligibility
Sections will require paperwork for the following provisions:
(1)
A student retains residential eligibility as long as he/she is
continuously enrolled in the CIF-member high school in
which the student initially enrolled; OR
(2)
A student changes schools with a valid change of residence by the
student’s
parent(s)/guardian(s)/ caregiver provided there is a valid change of
residence.
a.
Valid Residence
A
valid residence is defined as the location where the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver
(with whom eligibility has been established) live with that student and thereby
have the use and enjoyment of that location. A student (with the student’s
parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver with whom eligibility has been established) may
only have one valid residence at one time.
b.
Valid Change of Residence
Determination of what constitutes a valid change of residence depends
upon the facts in each case, however,
to be considered, the following facts must exist:
(i)
The original residence must be abandoned as a residence by the immediate
family (new school is responsible to validate) AND
(ii)
The student’s entire immediate family must make the change and take
with them the household goods and furniture appropriate to the circumstances.
For eligibility purposes, a family unit may not maintain two or more residences;
AND
(iii)
The change of residence must be genuine, without fraud or deceit, and
with permanent intent; AND
NOTE: A
student whose family makes a valid move into a new school boundary (See “iv”
below) is immediately residentially eligible for varsity competition. A
subsequent move into a different school boundary by the family (or other family
members) during the next 12 calendar months will result in the student being
declared ineligible until cleared for competition by the Section Commissioner.
(iv)
A request for transfer eligibility based on a valid change of residence
by the student’s entire immediate family must be supported by documentation.
Documentation may be cumulative and no single document or any combination
of documents listed below will be considered as definitive that a valid change
of residence occurred. The documents
must support a finding by the Section that a valid change of residence by the
student’s entire immediate family occurred prior to participation at the new
school; that the previous residence was vacated as required above in paragraphs
(i),(ii)and (iii); and that the family no longer has the use and enjoyment of
that former residence. The Section
Commissioner and school may request additional documents deem necessary to
establish that a valid change of residence occurred as defined above.
Evidence may include:
§
Property tax receipts;
§
Bank account statements;
§
Credit card statements;
Other
documentation that a Section or school/district may require that establishes
that a person is living at the new address. The Section Commissioner and/or
school has the discretion to request additional documents that he/she deems
necessary to confirm residency. Examples may include:
§
Real estate documents indicating and verifying a change of
residence (sale and purchase, for instance);
§
Court documents indicating a change of residence
§
Declaration of residency executed by the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)/
caregiver;
§
Operative telephone and utility service at the student’s new
residence and terminated at the former residence;
§
Utility service receipts;
§
Proof of paying for utilities at the new residence including
phone, gas, electricity, water, cable television, and garbage collection;
§
Proof of submitting a change of address to the U.S. Postal Service
to receive mail at the new residence;
§
Proof of transfer of the parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver and
age-appropriate student’s motor vehicle registration;
§
Proof of changed address on the parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver
and age-appropriate student driver’s license;
§
Voter registration listing the new address;
§
Proof of entering a long-term lease;
§
Rent payment receipts;
§
Declaration of residency executed by the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)/
caregiver;
The
Section Commissioner and/or school has the discretion to request additional
documents that he/she deems necessary to confirm residency.
c.
A Change of Residence for Athletic
Reasons Is Not Permitted
If a student completes a valid change of residence as provided in
Paragraphs 206 (a) or (b), a student may not
be eligible to participate at the varsity level if there is evidence the
move was athletically motivated or the
student enrolled in that school in whole or in part for athletic reasons
(See Bylaw 200; 207(c)).
Q:
What is meant by an athletically motivated move or transfer?
A:
Based on the CIF philosophy that the “student attend school to receive an
education first; athletic participation is secondary” (Bylaw 200 B),
individual Section Offices may limit eligibility for a student when there is
evidence the transfer, or move is made to acquire athletic participation at
“School B.” Such evidence of an athletically motivated move may be, but is
not limited to: Evidence of parental or student dissatisfaction with a coach or
a coaching decision at the former school.
•
Evidence the student’s move would result in the assurance the student
would gain varsity participation at the new school or result in more playing
time.
•
A move to a school by the student that is believed (objectively or
subjectively) to be more competitive or athletically “visible”.
•
A demonstrated move or transfer that is
prompted by association with club programs or outside agencies that use the
facilities of the new school.
•
A demonstrated move or transfer to a school with which the student has
had an athletic association.
•
A move or transfer to a school by a student who is associated with
outside agencies that use the facilities or personnel at the new school of
attendance.
•
The preponderance of credible evidence the move was not made in good
faith to secure greater educational advantage for the student.
The
standard applied to the evidence of “athletic motivation” is that which is
associated with a student move or transfer proffered to a
hearing officer or Section Commissioner is that which a responsible
person acting in a thoughtful manner would judge be with “athletic
motivation”
(3)
School Choice Following a Valid Change of Residence
A student, whose parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver with whom the student was living when the student established residential eligibility at the prior school move from a residence in public high school attendance area “A” to a residence in public high school attendance area “B,” has a choice among continued attendance at the previous school, attendance at School “B,” attendance at a charter school within the boundaries of School “B” or attendance at a private school. The student is eligible if the student remains in School “A,” or if the student enrolls and attends class immediately or no later than the beginning of the next school year in School “B”, a charter school within the boundaries of School “B” or a private school.
(4)
Return to Previous School
When
a student eligible in School “A” transfers to School “B” and is
residentially not eligible, the student may return to School “A” and be
residentially eligible provided the student did not participate in an
interscholastic athletic contest while at School “B” and provided the
student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)/ caregiver still reside in School “A’s”
attendance area.
(5)
Intra-district and Inter-district
Transfers/Open Enrollment
Each
Section shall adopt rules and procedures that address eligibility pursuant to
the provisions of the State Education
Code sections 35160.5(b)(1) et seq. and 48300 et seq. (“open
enrollment” and school choice legislation). However, the
Section Commissioner shall make all final determinations of transfer
eligibility. (See Bylaw 207.B.)
(6)
Court Order
If
court action requires a student to transfer from one school to another when
there has been no corresponding change
of residence on the part of the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver
with whom the student was living when the
student established residential eligibility, the student will be
ineligible at the new school unless approved by action of
the Section.
(7)
Foster Children
A student under the court ordered supervision of the California Foster Care
System who has changed residences pursuant to a court order and as a
result, has transferred schools, shall be immediately residentially eligible for
interscholastic athletics provided all other CIF rules and regulations are met.
A change of residence ordered by a social worker of the California Foster Care
System shall be acceptable, provided all other CIF rules and regulations are
met.
(8)
Military Service
A student is eligible
immediately for athletic competition when returning from military service
provided:
a. The student was
eligible when the student entered into the Armed Forces; AND
b. The student enrolls
in the same school which the student attended before leaving for the service, or
enrolls in the
school in the district in which the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)/
caregiver reside; AND
c. The student enrolls
in the school no later than the succeeding semester after being discharged; AND
d. Provided student
did not receive a dishonorable discharge; AND
e. The student is
fully eligible under all other rules of the CIF.
(9)
Married Status
A student who marries
and lives with the student’s spouse has residential eligibility in the school
in the attendance area
in which the student resides.
(10)
Anticipated Residence Change
If a student transfers
to a high school in advance of the anticipated change of residence by the
student’s
parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver with whom the student was living when the
student established residential eligibility,
student shall become eligible when the parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver
actually complete a valid change of residence to
that school’s attendance area.
(11)
Same Sport at Two Different Schools
No
student shall be eligible to participate in the same sport at two different
schools in the same school year unless the
student changed schools as a result of a valid change of residence by the
student and his parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver.
In the event of a change of schools due to a valid change of residence, a
student will be allowed to participate in the same
sport at two different schools not to exceed, in total, the maximum number of
contests in that sport as established by the Section.
207. TRANSFER ELIGIBILITY
A student who participates in
an interscholastic athletic contest or attends a school shall be considered
enrolled in that school and shall be
classified as a transfer student if the student subsequently enrolls at
another school.
A. A student may have transfer eligibility
provided the student moves from any school to a CIF school due to:
(1) A valid change of
residence (See also Bylaw 206.B.) from one school attendance area to the
attendance area of the new school by the parent (s)/guardian (s)/caregiver with whom the student was
living when the student established residential eligibility (See also Bylaw 206.A.) at the prior school and the following
conditions are met;
a.
The student is not transferring as a result of a disciplinary situation
(See also Bylaw 210); AND
b.
The Pre-Enrollment Contact Affidavit is completed verifying there is no
evidence of the use of undue influence (recruiting) by anyone associated with either school; OR
(2)
A ruling by the Board of Education of a school district that has two or
more high schools mandating a change of school
attendance boundaries affecting an individual student or group of
students provided the change of schools is not the result of a disciplinary action; OR
(3)
A family decision to transfer the student prior to the first day of the
student’s third consecutive semester
(typically the first semester of the sophomore year) of attendance since the initial enrollment when
the following conditions are met:
a.
This is the first transfer of this student since his/her initial
enrollment in the 9th grade; AND
b.
The student is not transferring as a result of a disciplinary situation
(See also Bylaw 210); AND
c.
The student was scholastically and otherwise eligible at the former
school immediately prior to the transfer; AND
d.
There is no evidence that the transfer, in whole or part, is
athletically
motivated (See also Bylaw 510.B); AND
e.
The CIF Form 510 Pre-Enrollment Contact Affidavit is completed verifying
that there is no evidence of the use of undue influence
(recruiting) by anyone associated with either school; AND
f.
The CIF Form 207 Athletic Transfer Eligibility Application and CIF Form
510 Pre-Enrollment
Contact Affidavit have been approved by the Section.
g.
No student shall be eligible to participate in the same sport at two
different schools in the same
school year unless the student changed schools as a result of a valid
change of residence by the student and his/her parent (s)/guardian (s)/caregiver. In the event of a
change of schools due to a valid change of residence, a student will be allowed to participate in
the same sport at two different schools not to exceed, in total, the maximum number of contests
in that sport as established by the Section.
B.
All 9th grade students who are transferring for a second time, or any
10th, 11th or 12th grade students, who transfer
without a valid change of residence, will have limited eligibility for
one year from the date of transfer. (See “a.”below):
(1)
A student who transfers from a school located in the U.S., a U.S.
Territory, a U.S. Military Base, or Canada (to be referred to as School “A”) to School “B”, without a change
of residence on the part of his/her parent (s)/guardian (s)/caregiver with whom the student was living when
the student established residential eligibility, from school attendance area A to school attendance area B,
shall be residentially eligible for all athletic competition EXCEPT varsity level competition in sports in which
the student has competed in any level of interscholastic competition during the 12 calendar months
preceding the date of such transfer (defined as limited eligibility).
a.
Based on the conditions below, the student shall be ineligible for all
sports for one calendar year unless otherwise noted.
(i)
A student who was scholastically ineligible at their previous school will
not be eligible to compete at the new school until the requirements in Bylaw 205 are met and
the new school has completed a grading period to verify that the student has met
the CIF and school district scholastic eligibility requirements.
(ii) A student will be declared ineligible for one calendar year from the date
of transfer if he/she is transferring for disciplinary reasons as defined in Bylaw 210.
(iii)
There is evidence of a violation of Bylaw 510.
b.
The student shall become varsity eligible under the rule after one
calendar year from the date of first attendance at the new school.
(2)
Boarding School
A high school student who transfers to or from the status of a full-time
resident at a 24-hour boarding school shall be subject to all provisions of Bylaw 207.
(3)
Hardship Waivers
Sections may waive the limited eligibility of a student pursuant to Bylaw
208-Transfer Hardship.
(Revised May 2010 Federated Council
C. Pre-Enrollment
Communication or Contact
A student who transfers from School “A” to School “B,” as
described in Bylaws 207.A. and 207.B. above, shall not be eligible for interscholastic athletics at School “B” until
application, under the appropriate CIF/Section procedures, is
completed, including the following:
(1)
The principal and athletic director of School “A” shall attest that
to the best of their knowledge they have no
credible evidence* of any person: who
is connected with the athletic department of School “B;” who is part
of the booster club of School “B;” or who is acting on their behalf,
having communication, directly or indirectly, through intermediaries or
otherwise, with the transfer student, student’s parent (s)/guardian
(s)/caregiver, or anyone acting on behalf of the student, prior to the
completion of the enrollment process.
*Credible evidence is considered as evidence
which proceeds from a trustworthy source; evidence which is so natural,
reasonable and probable as to make it easy to believe; information which is
obtained from authentic sources or from the statements of persons who are not
only trustworthy, but also informed as to the particular matter; that which is
not mere speculation, or rumor.
(2)
The principal, athletic director and head coach of School “B” shall
certify that to the best of their knowledge, no person:
who is connected with the athletic department of School “B;” who is
part of the booster club of School “B;” or who is acting on their behalf,
has had communication, directly or indirectly, through intermediaries or
otherwise, with the transfer student, student’s parent (s)/guardian
(s)/caregiver, or anyone
acting on behalf of the student, prior to the completion of the
enrollment process.
(3)
A transfer of a student from
his or her current school of attendance with or without a corresponding
change of residence to any high school where the student
participated or participated, during the previous 24 months,
on a non-school athletic team, (i.e. AAU, American Legion, club team,
etc.) that is associated with the new school in the sports previously
participated in shall be considered prima facie evidence (“sufficient
evidence”) of undue influence/recruiting by the school to which the student
transfers. Such transfer may be
considered prima facie evidence (“sufficient evidence”) that the student
enrolled in that school in whole or part for athletic reasons.
A team associated with the school is one that is organized by and/or
coached by any member of the coaching staff at, or any other person associated**
with, that school and/or on which the majority
of the members of the team (Participants in practice and/or competition) are
students who attend that school. When
a prima facie case (“sufficient evidence”) of undue influencing/recruiting
exists, the student shall be ineligible to represent the new school in
interscholastic athletic competition for a period of one calendar year from the
date of the student’s enrollment in the new school in all sports in which the
student participated at the former school unless sufficient proof is presented
to the satisfaction of the Section Commissioner that rebuts or disproves the
evidence of undue influence/recruiting for athletic reasons.
**Defined as: Persons
“associated” with a school include, but are not limited to; current or
former
coaches, current or former athletes, parent (s)/guardian (s)/caregiver of
current or former student/athletes, booster club members, alumni, spouses or
relatives of coaches, teachers and other employees, coaches who become employed,
active applicants for coaching positions, and persons who are employed by
companies or organizations that have donated athletic supplies, equipment or
apparel to that school.
(4)
A student at any grade level who transfers to a new school within one
calendar year of the relocation of his/her
high school coach to that school with or without a corresponding change in
residence shall be considered prima
facie evidence (“sufficient evidence”) of undue influence/recruiting by the
school to which the student transfers or may be considered prima facie evidence
(“sufficient evidence”) that the student enrolled in that school in whole or
in part for athletic reasons. When a
prima facie case (“sufficient evidence”)
of undue influence/recruiting exists, the student shall be ineligible to
represent the new school in interscholastic athletic competition for a period of
one calendar year from the date of the student’s enrollment
in the new school in all sports in which the student participated at the
former school unless sufficient proof is
presented to the satisfaction of the Section Commissioner that rebuts or
disproves the evidence of undue
influence/recruiting for athletic reasons.
(5)
Any pre-enrollment communication as described above must be disclosed in
full, and in writing, to the appropriate Section.
The Section Commissioner shall determine if the pre-enrollment
communication is a violation of Bylaw 510.
(6)
A student with whom contact or communication has occurred, and who meets all other CIF/Section transfer waiver
requirements, may become eligible upon determination that:
the communication was completely unrelated to any aspect of School
“B;” AND was of a type that, from the objective
point of view of a reasonable person disinterested in the win/loss record of
School “B,” does not have an effect
upon the integrity of interscholastic athletics a School “A” or School
“B.”
(7)
Penalties
Failure to disclose pre-enrollment communication with School “B”
persons, identified in C.(2) above, to disclose any pre-enrollment contact, or communicate in writing to the
appropriate Section as described in C.(3) above may result in:
a. A forfeiture of all games in which the student participated;
AND/OR
b. Disqualification from playoff and championship competition for all
seasons in which the student is a member of
the school’s team. (A student shall be considered a member of the school’s
team if he or she participated
in any aspect of an interscholastic contest, no matter how brief such participation may have been); AND/OR
c.
Divestment from the school of all trophies, banners and other indicia of
athletic success obtained while the student was a member of the school’s team.
D. This
bylaw also applies to students 18 years of age or older and emancipated minors.
NOTE: Students transferring to another school under any
provision of the federal legislation “No Child Left Behind Act” are not
residentially eligible at their new school.
However, a student may become eligible under the provisions of the
appropriate Section and State CIF Constitution and Bylaws.
(Revised
May 2010 Federated Council)
208.
HARDSHIP WAIVERS
The
CIF recognizes that, in certain circumstances, students may transfer from one
school to another due to a compelling need or situation beyond a student’s
control. In such cases the Section may waive the transfer
limitation imposed on a student when the case meets the definition of a
hardship. (See “A.” below.) Consideration of any hardship request under this
bylaw requires documented proof of the hardship circumstance, and all facts to
be considered must be submitted at the time of application. Consideration will
be given to those situations in which there is no evidence of athletic
motivation, undue influence, pending disciplinary action or falsification of
information (See also Bylaw 202).
A.
A hardship is defined as an unforeseeable, unavoidable and uncorrectable
act, condition or event that causes the imposition of a
severe and non-athletic burden upon the student or his/her family.
Sections may only waive the transfer limitation if the
conditions of hardship are met, and there is sufficient
documentation to support the hardship claim. Sections may not waive the
applicable rule if the conditions of hardship are not met.
B.
Consideration of any hardship request to a Section requires
documentation. Such documents may include, but not be limited to
copies of current transcripts, financial documents, medical statements
and/or supportive statements from the previous school
attended.
HARDSHIP
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
NOTE: CIF provides these questions
and answers as a guide for parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver and school personnel
to aid them in determining if a transfer waiver is possible under the hardship
definition. Every case is different and heard on its merits. The following is
meant as a guide only and is not a definitive list of what is and is not a
hardship.
Question:
If my daughter does not have a hardship as defined in Bylaw 208, will she
be allowed to compete on the athletic teams at her new school?
Answer:
If a student leaves a school in good standing and is eligible under all
other CIF Bylaws and both principals have no objection, she may compete at the
non-varsity level in any sport she participated in at the previous school during
the last 12 months or at the varsity level in any other sport.
Financial
Considerations
Question:
I can no longer afford to send my son to a private school. I want my son
to return to the public school of attendance and compete at the varsity level.
Is that allowed?
Answer:
Under certain circumstances a hardship waiver of the transfer penalty may
be granted because of financial situations. However, there must be evidence of
an unforeseeable, unavoidable, and uncorrectable circumstance that necessitated
the transfer. The Section will need evidence to show that a hardship
circumstance occurred. The Section will require evidence the family attempted to
address the situation with the private school and that aid or assistance by the
private school was insufficient to address the hardship. Increases in tuition or
additional costs at the private school are considered foreseeable and,
therefore, do not meet the criteria.
Transportation Considerations
Question:
My son is enrolled in a school outside the public school attendance area.
It is becoming more and more difficult to travel this distance. If we transfer,
will he still be eligible for varsity competition?
Answer:
Generally, no. Transportation problems are foreseeable, as are instances
of difficulty because of weather or changes in
carpools.
Question:
The price of gas has skyrocketed and limited our ability to transport our
daughter to our school of choice. We are considering changing to a school closer
to our home. If we transfer, will she still be eligible for varsity competition?
Answer:
Generally, no. The student may be given “limited eligibility” at her
new school. Fluctuations in gasoline prices, as with most transportation issues,
are foreseeable and must be considered when making your initial choice of
schools.
Divorce or
Change of Guardianship
Question:
We are divorced (or divorcing) and my son will be moving to live with his
father. Will he be eligible at his new school at the varsity level?
Answer:
A student who moves without the parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver with whom
he established residential eligibility is ineligible for varsity competition.
However, a hardship waiver may be requested that documents why the student must
move to a new parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver. In the case of a divorce decree
that requires the student to transfer to a new school and live with a parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver
different from the one with whom he/she established initial eligibility, a copy
of the court order must accompany the hardship request. Other changes of
custody, if out of the control of the parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver or
student, may be the basis for a hardship waiver of the bylaw. In transfers made
as a result of a change of legal guardianship, determined by a court having
jurisdiction to do so, the request may be approved provided that the student has
changed his/her residence to that of the new legal guardian.
NOTE:
Affidavits of responsibility outside the purview of a court do not meet
the criteria of this policy. (See also Bylaw 206.B.(7))
Question:
We have been divorced for several years and have joint custody of our
daughter. Our child has lived with
me, but this past year has been unable to follow our house rules, so we have
decided that she should now live with her father.
Is she eligible at her new high school?
Answer:
A student’s behavior and disciplinary issues are NOT considered a
hardship since behavior is typically correctable and avoidable.
The student most likely would have “limited eligibility” at their new
school.
Question:
What does court-appointed change of
guardianship mean?
Answer:
The Section will look for documentation that the student has changed from
one parent to another or to a guardian(s)/ caregiver. Such proof of this type of
transfer is a court document transferring physical custody from one parent to
another. This is not a modification of custody rights; it recognizes that
parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver with whom the student resides.
Discontinued Programs
Question:
The school my daughter attends has discontinued a program in which she
participated. Can a hardship waiver be granted if she transfers to a school that
offers the same program?
Answer:
When a transfer is made as a result of a school discontinuing a
particular program in which the student had previously been enrolled or
participated, the student may request a waiver of the transfer rule. Proof of
the student’s enrollment in the program at the new school should be submitted
at the time of the request.
Student
Emergencies
Question:
My son changed schools because of a medical condition. Will he be allowed
to compete at his new school at the varsity level?
Answer:
Transfers based upon medical considerations may be approved, provided
that Medical Doctor/Doctor of Osteopathy substantiates the need for such a
transfer as an integral part of medical therapy of prevention or aggravation of
an existing condition serious enough to warrant a compelling need to transfer.
The Section Commissioner may deny the request if it is established that the
diagnosis was made for the purpose of establishing athletic eligibility at the
new school.
NOTE:
Letters/notes from a psychologist, nurse, or social worker will not be
considered for medical emergencies and/or conditions.
Student
Social Issues
Question:
My daughter is having trouble making friends at her school of choice. She
wants to transfer to a school where she has friends and the course offerings
will be better for her. Will she be eligible at the varsity level at her new
school?
Answer:
It is reasonable to expect that there may be social adjustment problems
or scholastic problems when a student chooses to attend a school outside of the
neighborhood or a school that has a rigorous curriculum. Such circumstances do
not satisfy the criteria for a hardship.
Question:
I want my son to attend a different school because the scholastic program
is better at that school. He also feels he will
fit in better at that school. Will he be eligible at the varsity level?
Answer:
Defining a “better” school scholastically or socially is subjective.
Parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregivers are urged to research schools prior to
enrollment. Transfers for these
reasons do not meet the hardship criteria. If
your child attends a school defined as “Low Achieving” by the State
Department of Education, (must be named on the annual published list) please see
Bylaw 207 for transfer options.
Question:
Can my daughter apply for a hardship waiver if she has been subject to a
disciplinary action?
Answer:
Transfers as a result of disciplinary action or pending disciplinary
action by a school do not meet the criteria for consideration.
Question:
The school my son attends is not a safe environment and I want to
transfer him to another school. Will this transfer limit his athletic
eligibility?
Answer:
Any hardship waiver request MUST be substantiated with documented
evidence. In a claim of an unsafe school environment, there must be documented
school reports of incidents involving the student that makes remaining on that
campus a dangerous situation that is beyond the control of the student.
Question:
What if these incidents occurred in the community and not at school?
Answer:
Any hardship waiver request MUST be substantiated with documented
evidence. If something happened in the community, the Section would require
police documentation and/or reports that would substantiate that the incident
occurred in the community and was beyond the control of the student.
Additionally, school officials may be required to provide letters and
documentation affirming knowledge of the circumstances.
DEFINITION
OF TERMS
Hardship
— A hardship is defined as an unforeseeable, unavoidable, and uncorrectable
act, condition or, event, that causes the imposition of a severe and
non-athletic burden upon the student or his/her family.
Hardship Waiver
— The CIF recognizes that in certain circumstances students may transfer from
one school to another due to a compelling need or situation beyond a student’s
control. In such cases the Section may waive the “Limited Eligibility”
imposed on a student when the case meets the criteria. Consideration will be
given to those situations in which there is no evidence of athletic motivation,
undue influence, pending disciplinary action, or falsification of information.
For more detailed information and a question and answer guide, please refer to
Bylaw 208.
Immediate Family
— Includes parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver, stepparents and minor siblings
with whom the student resided when “Initial Residential Eligibility” was
established.
Initial Residential Eligibility
— Under CIF rules and regulations, students establish their “Initial
Residential Eligibility” at their school of choice entering the 9th grade, or
the 10th grade, of a 3-year high school.
Limited Eligibility
— Students granted limited eligibility are limited for one year (from the date
of transfer) to non-varsity competition in the CIF sports they participated in
during the previous 12 calendar months but may participate in varsity
competition in all other CIF sports.
Prima Facie
— A legal term that means at first sight; on the first appearance; on the face
of it; a fact presumed to be true unless
disproved by some evidence to the contrary. A prima facie case is one in which
the evidence presented is sufficient proof for the
plaintiff (Section) to win its case of undue influence. In such a case, the
defendant (school) must successfully refute the evidence for the student to gain
eligibility.
Transfer
Eligibility
— Once a student enters high school and then changes schools, he/she is
considered a transfer student. There are several types of transfer students.
• A
student and his/her immediate family complete a valid change of residences as
explained above. In most cases, this student will be eligible for all sports at
the new school if the student meets all CIF scholastic standards and other rules
and regulations.
• 9th-grader transferring before the start
of the sophomore year without a valid change of residence.
A family decision to transfer the student during his/her 9th grade year
or immediately upon the completion of 9th grade and/or no later than the first
day of the third consecutive semester (typically the first semester of the
sophomore year) may be eligible to compete in sports, at all levels, at the new
school of choice if he/she meets CIF scholastic standards and all other rules
and regulations.
• 10th, 11th, 12th-grader transferring
without a valid change of residence.
A family decision to transfer the student during his/her 10th, 11th or
12th grade year without a valid change of residence may have limited eligibility
to participate in athletics at the new school. A student who changes residence
and resides with someone other than his/her immediate family with whom he/she
first established residential eligibility may have limited eligibility to
participate in athletics at the new school.
Valid
Residence
— Where the student and his/her immediate family reside when the student
entered high school for the first time (See Initial Residential Eligibility). A
valid residence is further defined as the location where the student’s
parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver live with that student and thereby have the use
and enjoyment of that location. A student (with the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver
with whom eligibility has been established) may have only one valid residence at
a time.
Valid
Change of Residence — A family
makes a valid change of residence into a new school boundary when the
student’s immediate family relocates and takes with them the household goods
and furniture appropriate to the circumstances. For eligibility purposes, a
family unit may not maintain more than one valid residence. A subsequent move by
the family (or other family members) during that same school year will result in
the student being declared ineligible until cleared for competition by the
Section Commissioner. CIF rules and regulations will require the new school to
document and verify a Valid Change of Residence. Evidence that a valid change of
residence has occurred may include:
§
Property tax receipts;
§
Bank account statements;
§
Credit card statements
Other documentation that
a Section or school/district may require that establishes that a person is
living at the new address. The Section Commissioner and/or school has the
discretion to request additional documents that he/she deems necessary to
confirm residency. Examples may include:
§
Real estate documents indicating and verifying a change of
residence (sale and purchase, for instance);
§
Court documents indicating a change of residence
§
Declaration of residency executed by the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)/
caregiver;
§
Operative telephone and utility service at the student’s new
residence and terminated at the former residence;
§
Utility service receipts;
§
Proof of paying for utilities at the new residence including
phone, gas, electricity, water, cable television, and garbage collection;
§
Proof of submitting a change of address to the U.S. Postal Service
to receive mail at the new residence;
§
Proof of transfer of the parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver and
age-appropriate student’s motor vehicle registration;
§
Proof of changed address on the parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver
and age-appropriate student driver’s license;
§
Voter registration listing the new address;
§
Proof of entering a long-term lease;
§
Rent payment receipts;
§
Declaration of residency executed by the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)/
caregiver;
The Section Commissioner
and/or school has the discretion to request additional documents that he/she
deems necessary to confirm residency.
209. FOREIGN
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
Any
student who transfers from a school located outside the United States, a U.S.
Territory, a U.S. Military Base or Canada (to be referred to as School “A) to
a CIF-member school,
without a change of residence on the part of his/her parent(s) with whom the
student was living when the student while enrolled in School A, (See CIF Bylaw
206.B.(2) shall be considered a transfer from a foreign country and as such is
subject to the following CIF residential eligibility bylaws.
A.
Foreign Exchange students
A
foreign exchange student is a transfer student from one school to another
without a valid change of residence (See CIF bylaw 206.B.(2)) under the auspices
of a foreign exchange program.
(1)
Students transferring to a CIF member school under the auspices of a
CIF-approved foreign exchange program.
Foreign Exchange students transferring under the auspices of a
CIF-approved foreign exchange program from a school located outside the United
States, a U.S. Military Base, a U.S. Territory or Canada to a CIF member school
may be granted unlimited residential eligibility for all CIF athletic
competition if all of the following conditions apply:
a.
Such student must be under the auspices of, and be placed with a host
family in the United States by, a foreign exchange program that meets all the
requirements listed below: The
program has been accepted for listing by the Council on Standards for
International Educational Travel (CSIET); AND
The
program has submitted a signed CIF Foreign Exchange Program Approval
Request form:
(i)
Stating that their placement procedures for foreign exchange students are
purely random with respect to athletic participation and school placement; AND
(ii) Stating that there shall be no school, coach, community, relative or
friend contact related to athletics regarding the enrollment of any student in a
particular school; AND
(iii)
Has been approved by the CIF; AND
(iv)
The program has been recognized by the U.S. State Department and the
California Attorneys’ General Office; NOTE: A foreign exchange student is considered to be
placed with a host family
when written notice of placement is provided by the exchange organization
to the student and
his/her parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver, and to the host family; AND
(v)
Any CIF-approved foreign exchange program that fails to fulfill the
State CIF conditions for exempt status shall be subject to immediate suspension
of its exempt status and subject to permanent loss of its exempt status after
due process has been fulfilled. All approved programs will be posted on
the State CIF web site (www.cifstate.org)
NOTE: Only foreign exchange programs registered with the California
Attorneys General office and the U.S. State Department may place foreign
exchange students in a California School (Government Code Section12620 et seq.).
The list above reflects the list approved by both the CIF and those registered
with the California Attorney General, Council on Standards for International
Educational Travel (CSIET) and the U.S. State Department. No other exchange
programs will be recognized by the CIF as approved exchange programs for
2010-11. AND
b.
A foreign exchange student shall have been placed with a host family in
compliance with this bylaw and Bylaw 510 (undue influence). Such student will
have the choice of attending either:
(i)
The public school in the host family’s public school attendance area;
OR
(ii)
A private school located in the host family’s public school attendance
area. To gain residential eligibility at any other school, the student must
receive written approval from both the principal of the public school located in
the host family’s attendance area and the principal of the other school; OR
(iii)
In the event of a change of placement by the CIF-approved foreign
exchange program, a different public school or private school with written
approval from the principal of the new school. AND
c.
Neither the school the foreign exchange student attends, nor any person
associated with the school, shall have input into the selection of the foreign exchange student; AND
d.
No member of the school’s coaching staff, paid or voluntary, may serve
as the host family for the foreign exchange student; AND
e.
A foreign exchange student involved in an approved foreign exchange
program where placement is not in accordance with State CIF conditions for exempt status is subject to loss
of his/her residential eligibility (waiver of the transfer rule);
AND
f.
A foreign exchange student must possess a current J-1 visa, issued by the
U.S. State Department; AND
g.
A foreign exchange student must comply with all eligibility requirements
set forth by the CIF and the Section having jurisdiction; AND
h.
A foreign exchange student who graduated from high school is ineligible
to participate in CIF competition, unless the educational program in the
student’s country completes high school (graduation) after the student’s
10th or 11th year of regular schooling (not including pre-school or kindergarten
classes), in which case the student may have CIF athletic eligibility through
the 12th consecutive year of
regular school attendance after initially enrolling in the first grade (not
pre-school or kindergarten classes); AND
i.
A foreign exchange student participating in a CIF-approved foreign
exchange program must comply with the maximum of eight consecutive semesters bylaw.
A foreign exchange student who is not in compliance with the eight consecutive semesters bylaw may apply for a waiver under the
bylaws established by the State CIF and the respective Section of the student’s current CIF school; AND
j.
A foreign exchange student must be eligible under all other State and
Section bylaws; AND
k. All
foreign exchange students in CIF-approved foreign exchange programs shall
submit the appropriate waiver application(s) as required by their respective Section under Bylaw 209 with a
CIF Pre-Enrollment Contact Affidavit (CIF Form 510) signed by the student and a host parent (part 1), and
the enrolling school official(s) (part 3). Foreign students in
CIF-approved foreign exchange programs need not obtain signatures of officials
from their former school; AND
l.
A foreign exchange student who participates in an interscholastic
athletic contest or is enrolled in and/or attends a school for 15 school days or more shall be considered to have
been “enrolled” in that school and shall be classified as a transfer student if the student subsequently
enrolls at another school.
m.
Hardship Waiver: A hardship
waiver of 209.A. (1) may be granted
to a foreign exchange student pursuant to the
conditions of Bylaw 208.
(2)
CIF students transferring
back to a CIF member school from enrollment in a Foreign Exchange Program.
A Foreign Exchange Student who, after being enrolled in a CIF member
school (referred to as school A),
transfers under the auspices of a foreign exchange program to a school located
outside the United States, a U.S.
Territory, a U.S Military Base or Canada (to be referred to as School B) and who,
following completion of their foreign
exchange program, transfers back to school A, may be residentially eligible for
all sports at all levels at School A when the
following conditions are met:
(a)
The student is returning to the same CIF-member school in which they were
enrolled immediately prior to their
enrollment in the foreign school; AND
(b)
There is no evidence that the transfer to or from the foreign country was
athletically motivated (see also Bylaw 510); AND
(c)
There is no evidence of the use of undue influence (recruiting) by anyone
associated with either school or the foreign exchange program; AND
(d)
The CIF student is in compliance with all eligibility requirements set
forth by the CIF and the Section having jurisdiction; AND
(e)
The CIF student who has participated in the foreign exchange program must
comply with the maximum of
eight consecutive
semester bylaw. If a student has
exceeded eight consecutive semesters of attendance upon return from the
foreign exchange program, they may apply for a waiver under the bylaws
established by the State CIF and the respective Section of the student’s
CIF-member school. All CIF students returning from enrollment in a foreign
exchange program shall submit the appropriate waiver application(s) for approval
as required by their respective Section.
B.
Foreign Transfer Students:
A Foreign Transfer Student is any student transferring from a school
located outside of the United States, a U.S. Territory, a U.S. Military Base or Canada to a CIF member school without a valid change of
residence (see CIF Bylaw 206.B.(2)) who has been enrolled in the equivalent of a United States high school secondary
educational program and is NOT under the auspices of, and/or placed by, a CIF-approved foreign exchange program.
(1)
Foreign Transfer Students transferring from a school located outside the
United States, a U.S. Military Base, a U.S. Territory or Canada (to be referred to as School “A”) to a CIF member
school (School B) without a valid change of residence on the part of his/her parent(s/guardians(s) with whom the
student was living when attending School A into the attendance area of School B, shall be residentially eligible for all
CIF athletic competition EXCEPT varsity level competition in sports in which the student has competed at any level of play for
a school or club during the 12
calendar months preceding the date of transfer
to the CIF member school (defined as limited eligibility) under the following
bylaws:
a.
For the purpose of this bylaw, any and all organized sports programs
(e.g. youth teams, community teams, club teams, national teams at any level or individualized instruction for
competition in development schools or programs) in which the international student competed on, or
participated within the last 12 months, will be considered by the CIF in determining whether the student participated
in the equivalent of interscholastic competition.
b.
The foreign transfer student must possess a valid visa, allowing them to
attend school, issued by the U.S.
Immigration and Naturalization Service or be a U.S. citizen who has been
attending the equivalent of a
United States high school secondary educational program outside of the United States;
AND
c.
The foreign transfer student must provide to the principal of the school
he/she attends an official un-translated transcript and a transcript that is translated into English,
by an agency acceptable to the Section from the National Association of Credential Evaluation Service (NACES)
membership, which indicates work taken in all grades in which the student was enrolled; the grade level
equivalent in the United States as if
the international student had completed all courses attempted satisfactorily; and th
California grade-point average equivalent; AND
d.
If required, the foreign transfer student must pay tuition to the
school/school district he/she attends as prescribed in Education Code Section 48052 et seq.; AND
e.
The foreign transfer student is subject to the maximum of eight
consecutive semesters bylaw; AND
f.
The foreign transfer student is subject to the age requirement bylaw AND
g.
Any foreign transfer student who graduated, or should have graduated, or has completed the equivalent coursework for graduation from high
school/secondary
school is ineligible to participate in CIF competition; AND
h.
No member of the school’s coaching staff, paid or voluntary, may serve
as the resident family for the foreign transfer student; AND
i
Boarding School: Foreign
transfer students who transfer to or from the status of a
full-time resident at a 24-hour boarding school shall be subject to all
provisions of Bylaw 209.B.(1)
j.
All foreign transfer students shall submit the appropriate waiver
application(s) for approval as required by their respective Section under Bylaw 209.
k.
Hardship Waiver: A hardship
waiver of 209.B. (1) may be granted to a foreign transfer student pursuant to the conditions of Bylaw 208.
C. Appeals
Appeals of eligibility
involving foreign transfer students
from a foreign country, must be in accordance with all
relevant provisions of the CIF appeal process as set forth in Bylaw 1100.
(Revised May 2010 Federated Council)
210. DISCIPLINE, EXPULSION AND TRANSFER FOR DISCIPLINARY REASONS
A. Expulsion
A student who is expelled by a public school district in the State of California pursuant to the
provisions of Education Code Section 48900 et seq., or from a public school from any other State,
or any private or parochial school or district, shall be ineligible to practice, or compete with any
CIF team or individual sport program that is under the jurisdiction of the CIF for the period of the
expulsion.
B. Suspended Expulsion
A student who has been expelled and has the expulsion suspended by the school board or board of
directors and remains at his/her current school may be eligible so long as all other CIF and Section
requirements are met. The conditions under which this student may be eligible will be determined by the
local school board or board of directors. If the student is deemed eligible to participate, the conditions of
his/her eligibility must be sent to the appropriate Section office.
C. Disciplinary Transfer
(1) If a student transfers from any public or private school when a disciplinary action is in
place or pending that contributes in any way to the decision to transfer, that student shall
be ineligible for competition in all sports for one year from the date of the transfer to the
new school.
(2) A student, permitted by the principal to return to the school compelling the disciplinary
transfer, may be granted unrestricted athletic eligibility by the Section if the student did
not participate in any athletic program at the transfer school; compete for the transfer
school; and, at the time of the transfer, conditions for return were established by the
school administration that include, but are not limited to:
a. Satisfactory attendance criteria;
b. Applicable behavior standards;
c. Academic performance standards; and,
d. Principal’s approval of the return based upon documented evidence provided
by the transfer school that the student satisfactorily complied with all
conditions for return.
(Revised May 2005 Federated Council)
211. PHYSICAL ASSAULT
A. Student
Any student who physically assaults the person of a game or event official shall be banned from
interscholastic athletics for the remainder of the student’s eligibility. A game or event official is
defined as a referee, umpire or any other official
assigned to interpret or enforce rules of competition at an event or contest. A student may, after a
lapse of 18 calendar months from the date of incident, apply for reinstatement of eligibility to the
State Executive Director.
B. Coach
Any coach who physically assaults the person of a game or event official shall be considered to
have violated Bylaw 22 (Conditions of Membership) and, pending action by the building principal,
subjects the member school to sanctions or loss of standing as a member. When a coach allegedly
assaults a person of a game or event official it is mandatory that the principal/designee notify the
CIF Section Office within 48 hours (excluding holidays and weekends) after the receipt of the
assault report notification. The competing schools and officials will be required to file written
reports within 10 days of the incident. After reviewing the material, the principal of the school
involved will be required to respond to the respective Section Office concerning his/her
investigation of the incident.
NOTE: Definition of a Physical Assault: A physical assault is the intentional infliction of or an
attempt to inflict a harmful or offensive touching or contact upon the person of an official. Note
that the rule is violated even if no contact is made with the person of an official. Such conduct
shall include verbal threats and/or intimidation either before, during or after the contest. All that is
required is the “attempt.” However, the act constituting the attempt must be accompanied by a
specific intent, which may be inferred from the circumstances and nature of the act, to inflict a
harmful or offensive touching contact of the official’s person. (Approved May 2009 Federated
Council)
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211 A PHYSICAL ASSAULT The Central Section also includes coaches, administrators or other school personnel assigned to the contest or games as a game official. |
212. CONTINUATION SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY
A. Current Eligibility
While enrolled in a continuation school, a student is only eligible to represent the continuation
school of attendance.
B. Transfer Eligibility
A student who transfers from continuation school to the student’s school of residential eligibility is
eligible immediately provided:
(1) The student is currently enrolled in the school of residential eligibility in at least 20
semester credits of work.
(2) The student was currently passing in at least 20 semester credits of work or a maximum
program in the continuation school when the student transferred to the school of
residential eligibility.
(3) The student is maintaining minimum progress toward meeting the high school graduation
requirements as prescribed by the governing board.
(4)
The student has maintained during the previous grading period a minimum
of passing grades which is defined as at
least an unweighted 2.0 grade-point average, on a 4.0 scale, in all
enrolled courses.
a.
Probationary Period
The governing board of each school district, private school, or parochial
school may adopt, as part of its
policy, provisions that would allow a student who does not achieve
educational progress in items (3) or (4)
above in the previous grading period to remain eligible to participate in
interscholastic activities during a
probationary period. The probationary period shall not exceed one
semester in length, but may be for a
shorter period of time as determined by the governing board of the school
district, private school, or parochial
school. A student who does not achieve educational progress, as defined
in items (3) or (4), during the
probationary period shall not be allowed to participate in
interscholastic athletics in the subsequent grading
period. For the purpose of determining the maximum length of a semester,
the measure should be the
maximum as used in that school.
(5)
Student was eligible under all rules at the time student was transferred
from student’s school of residential eligibility to continuation school. Exception: if
a student spends a full grading period or more in the continuation school and
passes all required subjects which that
continuation school considers to be a full program, even if it is less than 20
semester credits, the student is eligible
immediately upon transfer to student’s school of residential eligibility as
long as the student meets the requirements
of Bylaw 205.B.(1).
(6)
Semesters of attendance at continuation school are to be counted as part
of student’s eligibility as defined in Bylaw 204
(7)
The student was not compelled to transfer to the continuation program for
disciplinary reasons or the student was not administratively
placed in the continuation program as a result of expulsion, suspended expulsion
or rehabilitation program pursuant to
re-admittance following expulsion. (If the student was compelled to transfer
under disciplinary reasons, please refer
the process under Bylaw 210.C.).
(Approved May 2003 Federated Council)
213. AMATEUR STATUS
A. CIF Sponsored Competition
A student is governed by CIF amateur rules when the student participates in CIF competition. A
student who
violates CIF amateur or award rules shall be ineligible for CIF competition in that sport until appeal
and
reinstatement as an amateur by the CIF Federated Council. A student may apply to the CIF
Federated Council for reinstatement when the student can again qualify as an amateur in that sport.
B. Reinstatement of Amateur Status
A student will become ineligible for CIF competition in a given sport if the student is determined to
be a professional by the national sports governing body (NSGB) for the sport in question. A student
may apply for reinstatement of his/her amateur status through the Section in which the student
competes. Any request for reinstatement must include a statement from the NSGB for the sport in
question that the student’s amateur status has been reinstated by the appropriate NSGB.
(ApprovedMay 2003 Federated Council)
C.
Violations in CIF-Sponsored
Competition
A student shall become ineligible for CIF competition in the respective
sport and shall be penalized according to A. and B. above
for the following violations related to CIF competition:
(See CAUTION below)
(1)
Receiving, from any and all sources, athletic awards totaling more than
$250.00 in value for:
a.
Accomplishments in any regular season CIF high school competition event;
NOTE: Typical examples of “regular season CIF high school
competition event” include, but are not limited to, any
league or non-league dual contest and invitational tournament held prior
to any season-culminating League, Section,
Region and/or State Playoff competition.
b.
A recognition award program, such as “Player of the
Week”/“Month,” for any regular season CIF high school
competition.
(2)
Receiving, from any and all sources, athletic awards totaling more than
$500.00 in value for any post-regular season
CIF high school competition or recognition program;
NOTE: For
purposes of this bylaw only, League, Section, Region and State Playoff
competition is considered to be
one continuous event.
NOTE: The
dollar value of an award, exclusive of engraving, shall be determined by the
following criteria:
a.
The retail price paid by the last purchaser in the acquisition of the
award;
b.
When the host school or League purchases the award, the retail price paid
by the host school or League;
c.
When the award is donated by another entity, the retail price paid by or
cost to that entity.
(3)
Wearing a school team uniform or any identifying school insignia while
appearing in any advertisement, promotional
activity or endorsement for any commercial product or service;
(4)
Lending his/her name and team affiliation for purposes of commercial
endorsement. Any appearances by students for
nonprofit organizations must be approved by the Board of Trustees
concerned. This provision is not intended to restrict
the right of any student to participate in a commercial endorsement
provided there is no school team or school
affiliation;
(5)
Accepting payment for loss of time or wages while participating in CIF
competition;
(6)
Receiving payment for coaching a team in CIF competition.
CAUTION:
Compliance with these Bylaws does not ensure maintenance of eligibility under
the eligibility standards of
other athletic organizations (e.g. NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, California
Community College Association and National
Sports Governing Body, etc.). Students desiring information on the
amateur rules of other organizations must
communicate with the respective organization.
214. HARDSHIP WAIVERS OTHER THAN TRANSFER
A hardship is defined as an unforeseeable, unavoidable, and uncorrectable act, condition, or event, which
causes the imposition of a severe and non-athletic burden upon the student or his/her family. Due to hardship
circumstances experienced by the student, the following bylaws may be waived, provided that the Section has
established rules and procedures regulating hardship waivers.Waivers granted by a Section are not
transferable to another Section.
A. Twenty-semester credit requirement (Bylaw 205.E.)
B. Charged semester of attendance (Bylaw 204)
C. Age requirement (Bylaw 203)
215. POST-INJUNCTION REMEDIES
If a student-athlete, who is ineligible under the terms of the Constitution, Bylaws or other legislation of the
California Interscholastic Federation, is permitted to participate in interscholastic competition contrary to
such CIF legislation, but in accordance with the terms of a court restraining order or injunction operative
against the CIF and injunction is subsequently voluntarily vacated, stayed, reversed or finally determined by
the courts that injunctive relief is not or was not justified, the CIF or its Sections, may take any one or more
of the following actions against the school in the interest of restitution and fairness to competing schools:
A. Require that individual records and performances achieved during participation by such ineligible
student-athlete shall be vacated or stricken;
B. Require that team records and performances achieved during participation by the ineligible studentathlete
shall be vacated or stricken;
C. Require that individual awards earned during participation by such ineligible student-athlete be
returned to the CIF, the sponsor or the competing institution;
D. Require that team awards earned during participation by such ineligible student-athlete be returned
to the CIF, the sponsor or the competing institution;
E. Require that team victories achieved during participation by such ineligible student-athlete shall be
abrogated and the games or events forfeited to the opposing schools;
F. Make a determination of future ineligibility for one or more CIF championships, or playoff
competition, in the sports in which the ineligible student-athlete participated;
G. Make a determination of future ineligibility for invitational and postseason meets and tournaments
in the sports in which the student-athlete participated;
H. Require that a school which has been represented in a CIF championship or playoff event by an
ineligible student-athlete return its share of the net receipts from such competition in excess of the
school’s actual cash expenses with reference to such event or, if such funds have not been
distributed to the school, require that funds be withheld by the State Executive Director or Section
Commissioner. Funds remitted or withheld pursuant to the above, shall be utilized by the CIF in
either the State or Section scholar-athlete or drug abuse programs.
I. When a student-athlete competing as an individual is declared ineligible subsequent to the
competition, or a penalty has been imposed or action taken as set forth above, the student-athlete’s
performance shall be stricken from the championship’s records, the points the student-athlete has
contributed to the team’s total shall be deleted, the team standings shall be adjusted accordingly and
any awards involved shall be returned to the CIF. The placement of other individual competitors
shall be altered appropriately.
J. When a student-athlete representing a school in team events is declared ineligible subsequent to the
competition, or a penalty has been imposed or action taken as set forth above, all records of the
team’s performance shall be deleted, the team’s place in the final standings shall be vacated and the
team’s trophy, banner, patches and other indicia of victory shall be returned to the CIF. In the event
the student-athlete’s school has been previously declared champion, the runner-up school shall be
declared champion and all records adjusted accordingly.
216. INTERCOLLEGIATE PARTICIPATION
A student who participates in an intercollegiate athletic contest prior to the completion of his/her eight
consecutive semesters of high school eligibility shall be ineligible for high school participation in that sport
for the duration of the student’s high school enrollment.
(Approved February 2003 Federated Council)
217. GRADUATES
High school graduates are not eligible for CIF competition and are not subject to CIF rules except as noted
below in A. and B. A “recent graduate” game is outside the jurisdiction of the CIF.
A. Mid-Year/Spring Graduation
(1) Mid-Year: Students completing graduation requirements mid-year and no longer enrolled
become immediately ineligible for further CIF competition.
(2) Spring: Students graduating at the end of a school’s spring semester shall have continuing
eligibility until all CIF spring competition is completed.
(Revised May 2003 Federated Council)
B. California High School Proficiency Exam
A student who successfully passes the California High School Proficiency Examination and
withdraws from high school has one opportunity to re-enroll in high school and be eligible
immediately for athletic competition provided the student:
(1) Was eligible under all rules of the CIF at the time of withdrawal from school; AND
(2) Meets all rules of the CIF other than “a.” and “b.” under Bylaw 205.B.(1) at the time of
re-enrollment; AND
(3) Re-enrolls in the same school which the student attended prior to withdrawal, or enrolls
in the school of the attendance area to which the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver
with whom the student was living when the student established residential eligibility have
moved; AND
(4) Is within four years of the student’s first entry into the 9th grade.
QUESTION: Can a student go back to a teacher and get extra work to raise a grade, to gain eligibility, after grades have been issued?
ANSWER: No! The student could not regain his/her eligibility until the next grading period.
QUESTION: Does the Central Section provide for waiver of the above ruling?
ANSWER: The CIF Central Section utilizes the hardship waiver appeal on any waiver, with the building principal submitting background information, providing all specific background to the case and any verification papers which may be deemed necessary in order to arrive at a decision.
QUESTION: Can a student go back to a teacher and get extra work to raise a grade, to gain eligibility, after grades have been issued?
ANSWER: No! The student could not regain his/her eligibility until the next grading period.
QUESTION: What is the eligibility status of a student who repeats the ninth grade of a four-year high school or in a junior high school due to failing grades, to raise low grades or because parents feel that the student is socially immature?
ANSWER: If a student repeats the ninth grade, the student will have used up four semesters of opportunity for competition. The student is only permitted 8 semesters of competition so the student would therefore be ineligible during the senior year of high school.
QUESTION: Has CIF established grading periods for eligibility?
ANSWER: No. The regular grading period may vary among member schools, but in every case the period of potential eligibility is exactly equal to the period of potential ineligibility.
QUESTION: What if the grading period ends, but the grades themselves will not return from the computer center for two weeks?
ANSWER: Keep in mind the basic rule that the period of potential eligibility must be exactly equal to the period of potential ineligibility. An ineligible student who has just regained his/her eligibility and an eligible student who has just become ineligible can never be eligible on the same day. If grades are returned from the computer two weeks after the end of the grading period, it is that point (when grades have been returned) students become eligible and ineligible for the next grading period. This system would balance out over the year, assuming grades are returned from the computer center roughly two weeks after each grading period.
QUESTION: Is there a CIF rule about attendance in school on the day of an athletic contest?
ANSWER: No. Attendance in school on the day of a contest is not a CIF rule for the purpose of eligibility. Some leagues and individual schools, however, do have such a rule that requires a student to attend school during the day to participate in a game or practice, unless previously excused.
QUESTION: For those districts offering summer school physical education and/or sports classes for credit, what are the guidelines in terms of “competition” with other schools offering similar programs?
ANSWER: Schools MAY NOT as part of a summer physical education class, engage in competition (scrimmages, etc.) with another school or excuse students enrolled in said P.E. classes from attending regular classes so that time may be “made up” while competing in a summer league. In summary, any competition during the summer months is to be divorced from P.E. classes in that instructors are being paid for their teaching services and are not to be compensated for coaching during that span.
QUESTION: Can summer school classes be used to make up work in order to meet the eligibility requirement?
ANSWER: In order to maintain academic eligibility (2.0 GPA), students may take summer school classes. If a student attempts to improve his grades taking the same class, the summer school grade can replace the grade received in the preceding grading period. However, if a student takes a different class that the one previously taken, the summer school grade is averaged with all grades received in the preceding grading period.
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207. Approved attendance areas for parochial or private schools in CIF Central Section are: 1. San Joaquin Memorial High School, Fresno Clovis Unified School District Washington Unified School District Central High School District Fresno Unified School District 2 Garces Memorial High School, Bakersfield All elementary and junior high schools that involve high schools in the area of the Kern High School District listed below: Arvin High School Liberty High School Bakersfield High School North High School Centennial High School Ridgeview High School East Bakersfield High School Shafter High School Foothill High School South High School Highland High School Stockdale High School Wasco High School McFarland High School West High School 3. Bakersfield Christian High School, Bakersfield 4. Lighthouse Christian High School, Bakersfield All elementary and junior high schools that involve high schools in the area of the Kern High School District listed below: Arvin High School Liberty High School Bakersfield High School North High School Centennial High School Ridgeview High School East Bakersfield High School Shafter High School Foothill High School South High School Highland High School Stockdale High School Wasco High School McFarland High School West High School 5. Immanuel Academy, Reedley Reedley Joint Union High School Dinuba Union High School District Kingsburg Joint Union High School District Fresno Unified School District Fowler High School District Visalia Unified School District Orosi High School District Sanger Unified School District Selma Unified School District Caruthers High School District Riverdale Joint Union High School District Hanford Joint Union High School District Washington Unified school district 6. Kings Christian School, Lemoore All public junior and senior high school districts as listed below: Laton Coalinga Lemoore Corcoran Avenal Hanford Riverdale 7. Central Valley Christian School Society of Visalia. Visalia Christian Visalia Unified School District Tulare Joint Union High School District Hanford Joint Union High School District Cutler-Orosi Unified School District Dinuba Union High School District 8. Fresno Christian Clovis Unified School District Washington Unified School District Central High School District Fresno Unified School District 9. Clovis Christian Fresno Unified School District Clovis Unified School District Washington Unified School District Central High School District Attendance areas for parochial or private schools in the Central Section. When a parochial and/or private school applies for membership in the Central Section CIF, the application shall include the proposed school attendance area for purposes of determining and regulating residential eligibility. Once the boundaries have been approved by the Central Section Board of Managers, they may not be altered except upon request by private or parochial school and approved by the Board of Managers. This refers to actual physical boundaries as identified by streets, highways, rivers, etc., at the time of approval. Ensuring changes in names of residential areas, school district unifications, and any other nomenclature changes do not change the physical boundaries of the approved attendance area. The Central Section CIF League Commissioner shall be responsible for redefining attendance boundaries as nomenclature changes in his/her area shall make necessary. Failure to have published such re-definitions shall not, however, constitute grounds for a successful eligibility appeal or a defense or mitigating factor in the imposition of any penalty.
The spirit, intent, and interpretation of residential eligibility requirements as they pertain to private/parochial school attendance areas, are outlined below: EXHIBIT
A
= Parochial/Private High School B = Area outside of attendance area A
Area A. 1. A student who lives in A1, and attends school A1, who then moves to any other area within umbrella A and transfers to private school A, will be residentially ineligible for varsity competition with those exceptions noted in Regulation 213. (CIF Central Section Interpretations: Technically, there has been no move from attendance area A to B as required by 213. Any move from one point in A to another point in A does not constitute a bona fide move for residential eligibility purposes) 2. A student who lives in A1, within umbrella A, but who attends private school A, who then moves to area A2, upon transfer to School A2, will be residentially ineligible for varsity competition except as noted in 213. (CIF Central Section Interpretations; same as #1 above. 3. A student who moves from attendance area A to attendance area B and then back to A within 180 calendar days, the overall result being a transfer from A1 to A, or transfer from A to A1, A2 or A3, will be ineligible for varsity competition with the exception noted in 213. (CIF Central Section Interpretations: The student must prove to CIF Central Section appeals authorities that the residential moves from A to B and then back to A were not for the purpose of transferring from school A1, A2 or A3, in violation of the CIF Central Section fairness and equity in competition concept. |
QUESTION: What is the difference between temporary guardianship and legal custody in so far as eligibility is concerned?
ANSWER: Guardianship or letters of Guardianship are easily obtained and generally on a temporary basis. Therefore, the eligibility of any transfer student where guardianship is concerned must be reviewed and determined by the Commissioner. Legal adoption is more complicated and permanent and Rights of Survivorship accompany such action. In all cases, a student is immediately eligible when his/her transfer from one school to another is a result of legal action.
QUESTION: When the parents of a student legally separate and take up residence in different school attendance areas, what is the eligibility status of the student?
ANSWER: When a student's parents legally separate and indicate divorce proceedings, the student would have continuing eligibility in the high school attendance area in which he/she originally resided. Any subsequent move tp a new school attendance area would require review. All other changes would be governed by regular transfer bylaw 214.
QUESTION: May a student whose parents are divorced and reside in opposite ends of the state attend a school in the middle of the state equal distance from his/her parents and be eligible for interscholastic competition?
ANSWER: The student will not be eligible. The student would only be eligible in the attendance area where the parent who has custody of the student resides.
QUESTION: What is the status of a student who t5ransfers and then resides with "foster-parents"?
ANSWER: The student would come under transfer by-law 214 and all applications. Any waiver of the residence by-law would require appeal to the CIF for consideration.
QUESTION: What is the eligibility status of a student formerly living with his/her parents who transfers to a new school and takes up residence with a legal guardian?
ANSWER: The student would be considered eligible if the guardian were "court appointed" as legal guardian and the new school submitted all documentation to he CIF Central Section Office for review and subsequent approval.
QUESTION: May a student continue to participate in athletics at a school after the parents have moved to another city?
ANSWER: The student may continue in the first school of legal enrollment and be eligible even though the parents or guardians change residence.
QUESTION: Are there any attendance areas for private or parochial schools?
ANSWER: The CIF Central Section has prescribed attendance areas for private and parochial schools. A student graduating from the eighth grade of an elementary school or the ninth grade of a junior high school may enroll and be eligible in any private or parochial school in the Central Section.
QUESTION: Under what conditions may a student maintain his/her athletic eligibility when the student transfers from one private or parochial school to another private or parochial school?
ANSWER: A student, not a full time student at a 24 hour boarding school, who transfers from a private or parochial school to another private or parochial school, will be eligible at the second school, only when the family has established a new bona fide residence change in another attendance area different from the one of the first school.
QUESTION: What is the eligibility status of a student who transfers from a four year parochial or private school at the end of the freshman year, to a public school in the district in which his/her parents reside, but there has been no change of residence on the part of the parents since the student enrolled in the ninth grade?
ANSWER: The student transferring from one high school to another without a change of residence on the part of the parents will be ineligible for 265 days from the date of the transfer. Such student could become eligible for restricted eligibility under guidelines established under by-law 214.
QUESTION: What is the status of a senior transferring under the provisions of by-law 214 when the school has no junior varsity program?
ANSWER: Athletes transferring under the provisions of by-law 214 will not be granted varsity eligibility, even though the school does not have a junior varsity program.
QUESTION: If a student's parents move into a new attendance area in March, what are the options for the student in terms of attendance?
ANSWER: The student, at the time of the move in March, has the option of remaining in his/her current school or transferring to the new school in attendance area B where the parents now reside; or or any time up until the start of the next semester. PLEASE NOTE: If the students opts to stay at school "A" for the remainder of the semester and then re-enrolls and attends school "A" at the start of the new trem, the student is now locked into school "A" for all residency purposes. Thus, if the student would decide to transfer to school "B" in November, the student would now come under by-law 214 and all applications for eligibility.
QUESTION: If a student starts the ninth grade and is residing with a "relative" in attendance area "A", what are the transfer options for the student whose parents may also living in attendance area "A" or another attendance area?
ANSWER: The student, by virtue of living with the "relative" when entering the ninth grade, will now have the residency of the "relative" determine all eligibility status with regards to transfer. The movement of the parents, due to the fact the student did not reside with same when entering the ninth grade, will have no bearing on any subsequent transfers.
QUESTION: May a student who is enrolled in a continuation school, practice with his/her high school of attendance or any other high school?
ANSWER: No. Only students regularly enrolled in grades 9-12 may practice and or compete for their high school of attendance.
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223 A. OPEN ENROLLMENT Any student transferring under the provisions of an open enrollment board policy, public or private, will have immediate "restricted eligibility" upon transfer from school A to School B, subject to the following limitations: A student who transfers from a school located in the United States, a U.S. Territory, a U.S. Military Base or Canada (to be referred to as School A) to school B, without a change of residence on the part of his/her parents, legal guardians or caregiver with whom the student was living when the student established residential eligibility from school attendance area A to school attendance area B, shall be residentially eligible for all athletic competition EXCEPT varsity level competition in sports in which the student has competed in any level of interscholastic competition during the 12 calendar months preceding the date of such transfer, provided the athletic eligibility is approved by both principals of the schools involved. (1) The student shall be ineligible for all sports for one calendar year in the event that either or both principals decline to approve athletic eligibility. (2) The student shall become eligible under the rule after one calendar year from the date of first attendance at school B. (3) No student shall be eligible to participate in the same sport at two different schools in the same school year, unless the Section determines that the transfer from School A to School B: was the direct result of a hardship, as defined in Bylaw 208 and/or the Section policy for waiving Bylaw 214; OR: a bona fide change of residence by the student with the student’s parents, legal guardian (s), or caregiver with whom the student was living when the student established residential eligibility, to School “B’s: attendance area. 1. Only one transfer is allowed during the student’s high school career after the initial enrollment as a ninth grader in a four-year high school or a tenth grader in a three-year high school. 2. The transfer must be completed during the first 15 school days of the new academic year at school B. The student must have applied for admission at the new school by the deadline established by the district (on or before May 15). 3. The transfer must not be as a result of disciplinary action. 4. The receiving school B must certify that no consideration was given to the athletic performance of the student in accepting the transfer. 5. The process for selection of students, when the number of applicants exceeds the number that can be accommodated shall be random and unbiased. Additionally, selection shall not be based upon academic and/or athletic performance, nor on a first-come, first served bases. The policy shall also ensure that students currently residing in the receiving school’s attendance area are not displaced. 6. For inter-district open enrollment transfers (involving public and/or private schools) the receiving school shall have established an application deadline which will be on or before May 15, preceding the school year for which the student wished to transfer. 7. The receiving school shall have distributed notice to the general public of the options available under its open enrollment policy. 8. The receiving school must have a copy of the "Principal’s Statement of Compliance" form on file with its league and/or section office as determined by its section. |
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240 MULTI SCHOOL DISTRICTS Multi-school districts must have on file with the Section Commissioner Board of Trustees adopted written policy for athletic eligibility concerning intra district transfer of students without a change of residence of parents, legal guardian or caregiver acceptable by the Central Section Board of Managers. Multi-school districts who do not have an acceptable intra district policy as mentioned above on file shall be governed by Bylaw 207 between each school’s residential areas. 241. ELIGIBILITY Eligibility: Questions of eligibility must be submitted Section Commissioner, in writing, and signed by the principal of the school submitting the question. The decision of the Section Commissioner shall be final. However, under "due process" the decision may be appealed to the Board of Managers (See Article 1100A, CIF Central Section Appeals Procedure) .(Board of Managers approval Oct. 23, 2002.) |