ARTICLE 6
OUTSIDE COMPETITION
600. COMPETITION ON AN OUTSIDE TEAM
A student on a high school team becomes ineligible if the student competes in a contest on an "outside" team, in the same sport, during the student's high school season of sport. (Refer to by-law 511) The following exceptions apply:
A. If the outside team has half or more of the team members as stated in the National Federation rule book for that sport, it shall be considered the same sport. Examples: three on three basketball -- outside team competition prohibited; two on two volleyball -- outside team competition permitted.
B. FLAG FOOTBALL
For purposes of this rule, touch football and flag football are considered to be a different sport than tackle football.
C. SOCCER
In the sport of soccer rule 600 shall be in effect only during the winter high school soccer season. High school soccer programs that compete during the fall or spring season are not subject to Rule 600.
D. SWIMMING AND DIVING
Swimmers may compete for an amateur team during the season of sport in the USA Swimming Senior National Championship Meet, the USA Swimming Sectional Championship meets and the YMCA National Meet. Divers may compete for an amateur team during the season of sport in the USA National Diving Championships and the USA National Junior Diving Championships.
E. Rule 600 shall not be in effect for those sports conducted outside the State adopted season of sport.
F. SPONTANEOUS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY
It is permissible for a high school team member to participate in a spontaneous recreational activity or game in which sides or teams are chosen without regard to players representing any group or organization. Such participation would not cause loss of eligibility. ( Spontaneous--no prior planning or notice; an unplanned part of another activity which has a primary focus other that the sport.)
G. UNATTACHED COMPETITION IN INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
1. An unattached athlete shall not represent any team. Points won by the athlete shall not be credited to any team. An unattached athlete shall not use a uniform which identifies a school or "outside" team. Any violation shall be considered an infraction of Bylaw 600.
2. Unattached competition is permissible for a student in other than school contests during the season of sport provided the student enters in the individual sports of badminton (singles and doubles), cross country, golf, gymnastics, skiing, swimming (including unattached entry on relays), tennis (singles and doubles), track and field (including unattached entry on relays), and wrestling.
3. CERTIFICATION OF UNATTACHED ATHLETES
No official recognition or certification on the part of the CIF member school or personnel of the CIF member school may be given in order that unattached athletes may participate in contests.
4. REPRESENTATION IN CIF COMPETITION
Unattached competition is not permitted in any CIF competition (see Bylaw 302). Individuals or teams entered in CIF competition must represent a CIF member school. No other form of representation shall be permitted in CIF competition..
QUESTION: What is the definition of the student's high school season of sport in the Central Section?
ANSWER: A season of sport is defined as that period which begins with the school's first interscholastic competition ( non-league game, tournament or league game). The student's season of sport begins when the student participates in his/her first interscholastic contest.
QUESTION: May a student compete on a Frosh, Frosh-Soph or Junior Varsity level team and on an outside team in the same sport during the same season of sport?
ANSWER: No. The outside participation rule applies to all levels of participation
601. PAN-AMERICAN OR OLYMPIC COMPETITION
During the high school season of sport, a high school student who has been selected or qualified for participation on the United States team which will engage in Pan-American or Olympic competition, may participate on that team.
602. SPECIAL PROGRAMS/OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
During their high school season of sport, a high school student who has been selected or qualified for an Olympic development program by the respective National Governing Body for that sport, shall be permitted to participate in such a
program without loss of interscholastic eligibility, if the following conditions are met:
A. The Olympic development program is:
(1) Verified as such by the State CIF; AND
(2) a. Conducted or sponsored by the United States Olympic Committee; OR
b. Directly funded and conducted by the U.S. national governing body for the sport on a national level; OR
c. Authorized by a national governing body for athletes having potential for future national team participation; AND
B. The student informs the high school principal at least 30 days prior to participating in the program; AND
C. The principal verifies the authenticity of the program; AND
D. The student makes prior arrangement to complete missed academic lessons, assignments and tests before the last day of classes of the semester in which the student’s absence occurs.
E. This bylaw was written with the intent that only individual student-athletes that have been identified by the respective National Governing body for that sport, as having Olympic potential, would be eligible for this exemption of Bylaw 600. Individual student-athletes who are members of a club team(s) consisting in whole or part of high school age athletes, participating in any competitions (e.g. Super Y League events, championships, etc.), even if the competition itself is labeled as an ODP event, that occur during the high school student’s season of sport are not eligible for this exemption.
(Revised Federated Council May 2007)
603. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Each CIF Section may grant approval, upon individual petition, for an athlete to travel to a foreign country to participate in international competition sanctioned by the governing body for that sport in the United States and the international governing body. (Revised May 2003 Federated Council).
604. 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. (Adopted February 2003 Federated Council).
605. BYLAW 600 PENALTY
A. INDIVIDUAL
(1) First Offense in High School Career in Any Sport
The student becomes immediately ineligible for participation with his/her high school team for a number of contests equal to twice the number of contests of outside competition in which the student participated.
(2) Any Subsequent Offense in High School Career in Any Sport
The student becomes immediately ineligible for one year (365 days) from the second infraction in all sports.
(3) Appeals
Upon written appeal to the section commissioner, the student may petition his/her section for reinstatement of his/her eligibility status.
B. TEAM
(1) Games Forfeited
Games in which a student participated on his/her high school team after violation of CIF Bylaw 600 shall be forfeited.
(2) Appeals
Sections may establish rules and procedures to consider requests for waivers of game forfeitures.