Eligibility Rules

Academic Eligibility

Requirement: Student athletes must be passing all classes and have a minimum of a 2.0 GPA.

• If a student-athlete is deemed academically ineligible to participate in athletics during a semester because they don’t meet one of the requirements, they will sit out one week and be re-evaluated at the end of that week. If they are eligible at the end of that week, they will be allowed to practice and play the following Monday.

• Academically ineligible student-athletes are required to turn in a weekly progress report to their coach and to the athletic office

• Academically ineligible student-athletes are required to attend 8th hour Monday through Thursday until they are academically eligible again

• If a student-athlete is deemed academically ineligible to participate in athletics at the end of a semester, they are athletically ineligible for the first 60 days of the following semester.

• If a student-athlete is on academic probation they are ineligible to participate in athletics until they are no longer on probation and also meeting the 2.0 GPA requirement and the passing 5 classes requirement.

Behavioral Eligibility

Suspensions:

• Any time a student is suspended by the school for behavioral issues (in school and/or out of school), they may not participate in any athletic practice or competition during that suspension.

• Suspended student-athletes may not be in attendance at any athletic event in which the team they are on is participating in until the suspension is lifted (see TPHHS Family Handbook for suspension guidelines).

Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs, Illegal Acts:

• Student-athletes may not use or possess alcohol, illegal drugs, or tobacco. Students who violate this rule will be declared ineligible for the remainder of the season.

• A student-athlete may not be present at a gathering where alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs are being used. Student-athletes who are at such a gathering will miss a minimum of ¼ of the scheduled events for that sport.

• A student-athlete will be declared ineligible for the remainder of the season if he or she is convicted by proper authorities of any illegal acts (weapons, violence, drugs, alcohol, etc).

Repeated Behavior:

A student-athlete may lose eligibility if if they are habitual repeat offenders of school rules. This will be reviewed, as necessary, by administration and staff members.

Attendance:

A student must be in attendance at school for at least the last 4 hours of the day (11:25am-3:25pm) in order to be eligible to participate in a scheduled athletic event that day.

Transfer Eligibility

A student already enrolled in grades 9-12 who changes schools (transfers) is not immediately eligible in the new school unless that student meets one of the 15 stated exceptions. This rule does not apply to 7th and 8th-graders. When students who do not meet an exception become eligible depends on when the student enrolled in the new school. If students change schools before the 4th Friday after Labor Day, they are eligible mid-January on Dr. Martin Luther King Day; if the change of schools is after that but before the 4th Friday of February they are eligible on August 1 to start fall sports. The 15 Exceptions break down as follows: 8 are residency exceptions which must be full and complete (a very specific definition by interpretation), 5 have to do with the status of the school – school closing, new school opening, and 2 involve the status of the student such as an incoming 9th-grader. In addition, a full and complete residential change which would grant immediate eligibility, must be from one public school district to another district – regardless of the type of school attended before. When students do
change schools and residency under the regulation, they are eligible only at the school of residence or the closest non-public or charter school to their new residence.

Exchange Student Eligibility

A student who is an exchange student is ineligible to immediately participate in athletics unless they are an exchange student in a previously approved MHSAA exchange program. These situations will be handled on an individual basis by the Athletic Director, student, and parent(s)/guardian(s)