ARTICLE 8

AWARDS FOR CIF COMPETITION

800. PARTICIPATION AWARD RULES

A high school student is governed by CIF rules when the student participates in CIF competition. When the student participates in other than CIF competition in a CIF approved sport, at any time during the calendar year, the student is governed by the awards rules of the amateur governing body for that sport. If the student violates the amateur standing rule of the amateur governing body for that CIF approved sport, the student is ineligible for CIF competition, except whenever the amateur governing body rule for that sport is more stringent than the CIF rule, the CIF rule shall prevail.

801.  COACHES AWARD LIMITATIONS

No tournament will be sanctioned if an award of over $20.00 in value is made to coaches.

802.  STUDENT AWARD LIMITATIONS

A student shall become ineligible for CIF competition in the respective sport and shall be penalized according to Bylaw 400 for the following violations related to CIF competition: 

A. Receiving from any source an award for CIF high school competition of more than one-hundred ($100) dollars in value for:

(1)    Accomplishments in any regular season CIF sport competition event; NOTE: Typical  examples of "regular season 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, Regional and/or State Play-off competition.

(2) A recognition program, such as "Player of the Week"/"Month", for any regular season CIF high school competition.

B.  Receiving from any and all sources, athletic awards totaling more than $250 in value for any post-regular season CIF high school competition or recognition program; NOTE: for the purpose of this By-law, League, Section, Region and State Play-off competition is considered to be one continuous event.

C.   The total dollar value of all awards shall be determined by the following criteria:

                                (1) The retail price paid by the last purchaser in the acquisition of the award.

                (2)  If the host school or league purchases the award, the RETAIL price paid by the host school or league;

                                 (3)   If the award is donated by another entity, the RETAIL price paid or the cost to that entity shall determine the value, exclusive of engraving.

D.   Such award can not be cash, a gift certificate, or merchandise alone. It may be merchandise, badge, medal, plaque, ribbon, picture, certificate, or trophy, if it is suitably engraved or designated as an award.

E.   In the event a students accepts athletic awards in excess of the respective $100.00 and $250.00 value   (s) stated above, and he/she or his/her parent (s)/legal guardian/caregiver does not pay the excess amount (s), the student becomes ineligible for further CIF high school competition and shall be penalized according to Bylaw 400. (Approved May 2004 Federated Council)

803.  CONTRIBUTIONS

A.  No entity including, but not limited to booster clubs, individual or corporate donors, school districts, and leagues may contribute anything in order to make it possible to give an award exceeding the $100.00 or $250.00 value.

B. Awards exceeding the $100.00 and $250.00 values may not be held and given to the student after the student graduates. (Approved May 2001 Federated Council).

804. EQUAL VALUE OF AWARDS

Whenever a CIF athletic event is conducted for girls' teams and boys' teams in the same sport, awards of equal value for boys' competition and girls' competition shall be provided at each equivalent event of competition. Such awards need not be identical. The value of awards for junior varsity or other level of competition need not be the same as for varsity, but at each level of competition awards for boys and girls should be of equal value.

805.  ANY GIFT, OR TOTAL OF GIFTS, SPONSORSHIPS OR CONTRIBUTIONS, VALUED AT $500.00 OR MORE, TO AN ATHLETIC PROGRAM, TEAM OR COACH

A.            Information on any gift, or total of gifts, sponsorships or contributions of $500.00 or more yearly to an athletic program, team or coach which is meant to support that program, team or coach must be reported to the governing body or administrative officer responsible for policy development related to athletics.

B.            If requested, a record of gifts, contributions or sponsorships must be made available to the Section to which the school belongs and to the State CIF. Such a record should include the date and amount as well as a copy of any existing contractual obligations related to the gift, contribution or sponsorship, and a clear record of the disbursement of the funds.

C.            The acceptance and disbursement of any gifts, contributions or sponsorships must also be in accord with school administrative and district policy and as stipulated under the conditions of membership as outlined in Article 2-22.

D.            In the case of private schools or public charter schools specifically exempt from such regulations, the Section or State may require the implementation of reasonable administrative review practices and procedures, concerning the receipt and disbursement of gifts, contributions or sponsorships.

(See also Bylaw 311 - Donated Equipment)

(Revised May 2008 Federated Council)