ARTICLES, BYLAWS & POLICIES
2021-22 School Year
IHSAA
HANDBOOK
Iowa High School Athletic Association
PO BOX 10
Boone, IA 50036
Phone: (515) 432-2011
Fax: (515) 432-2961
www.iahsaa.org
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Welcome .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 4
IHSAA Core Beliefs and Purpose ........................................................................................................................................................ 4
IHSAA BOARD OF CONTROL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Health and Wellness Policies
Concussion Management .................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Concussion Return to Participation Protocol ....................................................................................................................................... 7
Concussion Management - Coach Education Requirement ................................................................................................................. 9
Use of Tobacco and Vaping ................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Sportsmanship Policies
Coach Ejection Policy .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Student-Athlete Ejection Policy ............................................................................................................................................................ 9
Awards Presentation Policy ................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Hosting Events Policies
Ticket Policy ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Hazardous Weather Guidelines ......................................................................................................................................................... 10
Lightning Safety ................................................................................................................................................................................. 10
Suspension or Postponement of Contests ......................................................................................................................................... 11
Pets Prohibited at IHSAA Sanctioned Events .................................................................................................................................... 11
Shirt & Shoe Policy ............................................................................................................................................................................ 11
No Alcohol Policy ............................................................................................................................................................................... 12
No Smoking, Chewing or Vaping Regulation ..................................................................................................................................... 12
Jamboree, Scrimmage and Practice Policies
Jamborees ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Scrimmages ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Practice Facility Policy ....................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Gender Policies
Girls Participating in Boys Sports Programs ...................................................................................................................................... 15
Transgender Statement ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Inclusion and Respect Regarding Transgender or Gender Neutral Student-Athletes ........................................................................ 16
Other IHSAA Board of Control Policies
Mandatory Head Coaches Rules Meeting Attendance ...................................................................................................................... 17
Anonymous Calls, E-mails, & Letters Pertaining to Member Schools ................................................................................................ 17
HANDBOOK: ARTICLES AND BYLAWS
Article I ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Article II .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Article III: ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 18
Article IV: ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Article V: ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 18
Article VI: ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Article VII ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Article VIII .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Article IX ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 22
Article X ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 24
Article XI ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 24
Article XII ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Article XIII: ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Article XIV: ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Article XV: .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Article XVI .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Article I: Bylaws
Student Eligibility, Part I, Title VI, Interscholastic Competition, Chapter 36, Extracurricular Interscholastic Competition
36.14(1) Physical Examinations ........................................................................................................................................................ 30
36.14(2) Sportsmanship .................................................................................................................................................................... 30
281-36.14(3) Awards ......................................................................................................................................................................... 30
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281-36.14(7) Ineligible Player Participation ....................................................................................................................................... 30
281-36.15(1) Local Eligibility and Student Conduct Rules ................................................................................................................. 31
281-36.15(2) Scholarship Rules ........................................................................................................................................................ 31
281-36.15(3) General Transfer Rule .................................................................................................................................................. 31
256.46 Ineligible Transfer Students ................................................................................................................................................... 33
282.18(13) Open Enrollment .............................................................................................................................................................. 33
36.15(6) Coach-Athlete Contact (Camps & Clinic Rule) .................................................................................................................... 35
36.15(7) Non-school Team Participation; ........................................................................................................................................... 35
Chapter 17, Open Enrollment ............................................................................................................................................................ 38
Chapter 37, Extracurricular Athletic Activity Conferences for Member Schools ................................................................................. 38
280.13 Uniform School Requirements, Section ................................................................................................................................. 39
280.13A Sharing Interscholastic Activities ........................................................................................................................................ 39
Internal Review of Initial Decision of Eligibility of Tournament Participants ........................................................................................ 39
Article II: Bylaws Part II, Student Eligibility ......................................................................................................................................... 40
Article III: Bylaws Annual Meeting ...................................................................................................................................................... 40
Article IV: Bylaws Duties of Administrators ........................................................................................................................................ 40
Article V: Amendments ...................................................................................................................................................................... 41
HANDBOOK: SUPPLEMENT
Official Board of Control Interpretation of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Iowa High School Athletic Association ....................... 41
High School Graduates Not Permitted to Practice or Participate with or Against High School Student Athletes ................................ 42
Student Conduct ................................................................................................................................................................................ 42
Recommended: BOE Policy Which to Prevent Student from Transferring to Circumvent Another School’s Good Conduct Rule ..... 42
Ineligibility for Use of Anabolic Steroids ............................................................................................................................................. 42
Schools Desiring to Play Up in Classification ..................................................................................................................................... 42
Starting New Sports ........................................................................................................................................................................... 43
Late Scheduling of Games ................................................................................................................................................................. 43
Non-Varsity Teams Playing Varsity Teams in Varsity Competition .................................................................................................... 43
Public Address Announcement Policy ............................................................................................................................................... 43
Academic Achievement Award for Athletic Teams and Cheerleading Squads................................................................................... 43
Requirements for the Coaching Authorization ................................................................................................................................... 44
Gift Law ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 44
Junior High Membership .................................................................................................................................................................... 45
Classifications .................................................................................................................................................................................... 45
Filing a Protest Against Another School ............................................................................................................................................ 45
Game Protests Not Upheld ................................................................................................................................................................ 45
Representative Council ...................................................................................................................................................................... 46
Guidelines for Ejection of Players ...................................................................................................................................................... 46
Guidelines for Ejection of Coaches .................................................................................................................................................... 47
Taunting ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 47
Bench Area Restriction Rule .............................................................................................................................................................. 48
Guidelines on the Awards Rule .......................................................................................................................................................... 48
Guidance on the Scholarship Rule ..................................................................................................................................................... 49
Eight-Semester Rule .......................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Student Graduating at Midyear .......................................................................................................................................................... 56
General Transfer Rule & Athletic Eligibility: Is the Student Eligible as a Result of a Change in Residence? ...................................... 56
Interpretation Pertaining to Establishing a Residency ........................................................................................................................ 57
Eligibility for Transfers........................................................................................................................................................................ 57
Foreign Exchange Student Eligibility .................................................................................................................................................. 59
Summer Camps & Clinics, Coaching Contact out of Season & Non-School Team Participation ....................................................... 60
College Tryouts ................................................................................................................................................................................. 62
School-Compensated Personnel Coaching 7th & 8th Grade Students in Non-school Team Participation Outside the Season ........ 62
Family-Coach Contact ....................................................................................................................................................................... 63
What is an Amateur? ......................................................................................................................................................................... 63
Undue Influence................................................................................................................................................................................. 63
Sportsmanship of School Personnel .................................................................................................................................................. 64
Public Conduct on School Premises .................................................................................................................................................. 64
Local Rules and Forfeiture of Contest ................................................................................................................................................ 64
Affiliated Organizations ...................................................................................................................................................................... 64
Contest with Out-of-State Schools ..................................................................................................................................................... 65
Multiple Meets or Tournaments ......................................................................................................................................................... 65
Intrastate Athletic Event - IHSAA Guidelines for Intrastate Competition ............................................................................................ 65
Interstate Athletic Event - IHSAA Guidelines for Interstate Competition ............................................................................................ 65
Athletic Policies of Each Member School ........................................................................................................................................... 66
Game Contracts ................................................................................................................................................................................ 66
Registered Officials ............................................................................................................................................................................ 66
Policy When Game Officials Fail to Appear for a Contest .................................................................................................................. 67
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TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND COACHES
Dear Educators:
Thank you for your school’s membership in the IHSAA and for your work with the young people of Iowa! We
present this IHSAA Handbook as a reference to the rules, policies, and regulations of the Athletic Association
and Department of Education. This handbook includes the IHSAA Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws as well
as sport regulations and IHSAA/DE policies.
The IHSAA also posts this Handbook and all sport manuals to our website at www.iahsaa.org. Because policies
and regulations may change during the course of the year, the most current information is contained in the
online publications. If you find an error in any Handbook or sport manual information please contact us so we
can correct it, update the information on the website and notify member schools of the correction.
Best wishes throughout the school year and don’t hesitate to contact our office if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Tom Keating
Executive Director, IHSAA
IOWA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION MISSION STATEMENT
“The Iowa High School Athletic Association serves its member schools and students by providing leadership and support for education
based interscholastic athletics that enrich the educational experience of the student athlete.”
IHSAA Core Beliefs:
• Extracurricular, interscholastic athletic programs enrich each student’s total educational experience and positively impacts academic
achievement.
• The IHSAA is the recognized authority in Iowa regarding boys’ interscholastic athletic programs, and developing and interpreting
rules that promote fair play and minimize risks for participating students.
• Extracurricular, interscholastic athletic participation develops ethical behavior, character development and good sportsmanship.
• Participation in extracurricular, interscholastic athletic programs promotes student academic achievement.
• Participation in extracurricular, interscholastic athletic programs helps students develop healthy lifestyles.
• Extracurricular, interscholastic athletic programs contribute to positive school and community relationships.
• Conduct counts in all aspects of extracurricular, interscholastic athletics for participants, coaches, administrators, parents, and
spectators.
• Properly trained administrators, coaches, and athletic directors promote the educational mission of extracurricular, interscholastic
athletic programs.
• The IHSAA is committed to working cooperatively with other professional, education-based organizations.
• Extracurricular, interscholastic athletic programs foster involvement of a diverse population.
• Properly trained officials enhance extracurricular, interscholastic athletic programs.
IOWA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION PURPOSE
To promote, develop, direct, protect, and regulate amateur interscholastic athletic relationships between member schools and to
stimulate fair play, friendly rivalry, and good sportsmanship among contestants, schools, and communities throughout the state.
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IOWA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION BOARD OF CONTROL POLICIES
Health and Wellness Policies
IOWA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AND IOWA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC UNION
CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT
IHSAA/IGHSAU Recommended Protocol When a Student Has Sustained a Concussion or other Brain Injury as
Defined in Iowa Code Section 280.13C
1. No student should return to play/competition or practice (RTP) on the same day s/he sustained a concussion or
brain injury, but a licensed health care provider as defined in Iowa Code Section 280.13C makes the final decision
regarding (RTP).
2. A licensed health care provider as defined in Iowa Code Section 280.13C should evaluate a student suspected
of having a concussion or brain injury on the same day the injury occurs.
3. After receiving medical clearance by a licensed health care provider as defined in Iowa Code Section 280.13C,
RTP should follow a stepwise protocol with provisions for delayed RTP based upon the return of any signs or
symptoms.
4. Education of contest officials, school coaches and other appropriate school personnel, contestants, parents,
and licensed health care providers.
• The Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union will provide educational
materials related to concussions and brain injuries developed by the CDC and other organizations knowledgeable
about concussions.
5. Removing students who exhibit signs, symptoms, & behaviors of a concussion or brain injury from participation,
and their return to participation.
• Coach Removal - If the student’s coach observes signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion or
brain injury, during any kind of participation, i.e. practices, scrimmages, contests, etc., the student shall be
immediately removed from participation and shall not return until the school’s designated representative receives
written clearance to return from a licensed health care provider as defined in Iowa Code 280.13C.
• Contest Official, Licensed Health Care Provider, Emergency Medical Care Provider Removal
- If a contest official, licensed health care provider, or emergency medical care provider observes signs, symptoms,
or behaviors consistent with a concussion or brain injury, during scrimmages, contests, etc., the student shall be
Iowa Code Section 280.13C states, in part,
1b. “Annually, each school district and nonpublic school shall provide to the parent or guardian of each student
a concussion and brain information sheet, as provided by the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa
Girls High School Athletic Union. The student and student’s parent or guardian shall sign and return the
concussion and brain injury information sheet to the student’s school prior to the student’s participation in any
interscholastic activity for grades seven through twelve.
2. If a student’s coach, contest official, licensed health care provider, or an emergency medical care provider
observes signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion or brain injury in an extracurricular
interscholastic activity, the student shall be immediately removed from participation.
3a. A student who has been removed from participation shall not recommence such participation until the
student has been evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of
concussions and other brain injuries and the student has received written clearance to return to participation
from the health care provider.
3b. For the purposes of this section, a licensed health care provider means a physician, physician’s
assistant, chiropractor, advanced registered nurse practitioner, nurse, physical therapist, or licensed
athletic trainer licensed by a board designated under section 147.13.
3c. For the purposes of this section, an extracurricular interscholastic activity means any extracurricular
interscholastic activity, contest, or practice, including sports, dance, and cheerleading.”
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immediately removed from participation and a designated contest official at the contest/event must receive the
written clearance to return from a licensed health care provider as defined in Iowa Code 280.13C before the
student can return to participation in that contest/event, including an event that takes place over multiple days.
• Before allowing a student who has been exhibiting signs, symptoms, & behaviors of a concussion to return to
participation (practice and/or competition), licensed health care providers as defined in Iowa Code 280.13C should
follow the return to participation protocol from “Suggested Guidelines for Management of Concussion in Sports,”
NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee 2013 and “Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport 4
th
International Conference in Sport Held in Zurich, November 2012," British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2013;
47:250-258.
6. At events where the Iowa High School Athletic Association or Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union have
provided licensed health care providers as defined in Iowa Code 280.13C, those licensed health care providers
have final authority regarding RTP when a student has exhibited signs, symptoms, and behaviors consistent
with a concussion.
Adopted 12/2012
References update 05/14
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RETURN TO PARTICIPATON PROTOCOL FOLLOWING A CONCUSSION
(GUIDELINES FOR LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS)
Return to participation following a concussion is a medical decision made on an individual basis by licensed
health care providers. Medical experts in concussion believe a concussed student should meet ALL of the
following criteria in order to progress to return to participation. These criteria are required by Iowa Code Section
280.13C when licensed health care providers determine a student’s return to participation.
Asymptomatic at rest, and with exertion (including mental exertion in school), AND have written clearance
from physician, physician’s assistant, chiropractor, advanced registered nurse practitioner, nurse, physical therapist
or licensed athletic trainer . *Written clearance to return by one of these licensed health care providers is
REQUIRED by Iowa Code Section 280.13C!
Once the criteria above are met, the student should progress back to full activity following the stepwise
process detailed below. A licensed health care provider as defined in Iowa Code Section 280.13C, or their
designee, should closely supervise this progression.
Progression to return is individualized and should be determined on a case-by-case basis. Factors that may
affect the rate of progression include: previous history of concussion, duration and type of symptoms, age of the
student, and sport/activity in which the student participates. A student with a history of concussion, one who has
had an extended duration of symptoms, or one who is participating in a collision or contact sport may progress
more slowly as determined by a licensed health care provider as defined in Iowa Code Section 280.13C, or their
designee.
Step 1. Complete physical and cognitive rest. No exertional activity until asymptomatic. This may include
staying home from school or limiting school hours (and studying) for several days. Activities requiring
concentration and attention may worsen symptoms and delay recovery.
Step 2. Return to school full-time /normal cognitive daily activities, or normal cognitive functions.
Step 3. Low impact, light aerobic exercise. This step should not begin until the student is no longer having
concussion symptoms and is cleared by the treating licensed health care provider. At this point the
student may begin brisk walking, light jogging, swimming or riding an exercise bike at less than 70%
maximum performance heart rate. No weight or resistance training.
Step 4. Basic exercise, such as running in the gym or on the field. No helmet or other equipment.
Step 5. Non-contact, sport-specific training drills (dribbling, ball handling, batting, fielding, running drills, etc.)
in full equipment. Weight-training can begin.
Step 6. Following medical clearance*, full contact practice or training.
Step 7. Normal competition in a contest.
NOTE: Generally, each step should take a minimum of 24 hours. If post-concussion symptoms occur at
ANY step, the student must stop the activity and their licensed health care provider as defined in Iowa
Code Section 280.13C should be contacted. If any post-concussion symptoms occur during this process, the
student should drop back to the previous asymptomatic level and begin the progression again after an additional
24-hour period of rest has taken place.
References: “Suggested Guidelines for Management of Concussion in Sports,” NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory
Committee 2009; “Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport 4
th
International Conference in Sport Held in
Zurich, November 2012," British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2013; 47:250-258.
Updated 05/14
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A FACT SHEET FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS
HEADS UP: Concussion in High School Sports
Please note this important information based on Iowa
Code Section 280.13C, Brain Injury Policies:
(1) A student participating in extracurricular interscholastic
activities, in grades seven through twelve, must be
immediately removed from participation if the coach,
contest official, licensed healthcare provider or
emergency medical care provide believe the student has
a concussion based on observed signs, symptoms, or
behaviors.
(2) Once removed from participation for a suspected
concussion, the student cannot return to participation
until written medical clearance has been provided by
a licensed health care provider.
(3) A student cannot return to participation until s/he is free
from concussion symptoms at home and at school.
(4) Definitions:
“Contest official” means a referee, umpire, judge, or
other official in an athletic contest who is registered
with the Iowa High School Athletic Association or the
Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.
“Licensed health care provider” means a physician,
physician assistant, chiropractor, advanced registered
nurse practitioner, nurse, physical therapist, or athletic
trainer licensed by a board.
“Extracurricular interscholastic activity” means any
extracurricular interscholastic activity means any dance
or cheerleading activity or extracurricular
interscholastic activity, contest, or practice governed by
the Iowa high School Athletic Association or the Iowa
Girls High School Athletic Union that is a contact or
limited contact activity as identified by the American
Academy of Pediatrics. “Medical clearance” means
written clearance from a licensed health care provider
releasing the student following a concussion or other
brain injury to return to or commence participation in
any extracurricular interscholastic activity.
What is a concussion?
Concussions are a type of brain injury that disrupt the way
the brain normally works. Concussions can occur in any
sport or recreational activity and can result from a fall or from
players colliding with each other, the ground, or obstacles.
Concussions can occur with or without loss of
consciousness, but most concussions occur without loss of
consciousness.
What parents/guardians should do if they think their
child has a concussion?
1. Teach your child that it’s not smart to play with a
concussion.
2. OBEY THE LAW.
a.
Seek medical attention right away.
b.
Keep your child out of participation until s/he is
cleared to return by a licensed healthcare
provider.
3. Tell all of your child’s coaches, teachers, and school
nurse about ANY concussion.
What are the signs and symptoms of concussion?
Signs and symptoms of concussion can show up right after the
injury or may not be noticed until days after the injury. If an athlete
reports one or more symptoms of concussion after a bump, blow, or
jolt to the head or body, s/he should be removed from play
immediately. The athlete should only return to play with permission
from a health care provider and after s/he is symptom free at home
and at school.
Signs Observed by Parents or Coaches:
• Appears dazed or stunned
• Is confused about assignment or position
• Forgets an instruction
• Is unsure of game, score, or opponent
• Moves clumsily
• Answers questions slowly
• Loses consciousness (even briefly)
• Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes
• Can’t recall events prior to hit or fall
• Can’t recall events after hit or fall
Symptoms Reported by Student-Athlete:
• Headache or “pressure” in head
• Nausea or vomiting
• Balance problems or dizziness
• Double or blurry vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to noise
• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
• Concentration or memory problems
• Confusion
• Just not “feeling right” or is “feeling down”
STUDENTS, If you think you have a concussion:
• Tell your coaches & parents – Never ignore a bump or blow to
the head, even if you feel fine. Also, tell your coach if you think
one of your teammates might have a concussion.
• Get a medical check-up – A physician or other licensed health
care provider can tell you if you have a concussion, and when it
is OK to return to play.
• Give yourself time to heal – If you have a concussion, your brain
needs time to heal. While your brain is healing, you are much
more likely to have another concussion. It is important to rest
and not return to play until you get the OK from your health care
professional.
PARENTS/GUARDIANS, You can help your child prevent a
concussion:
• Make sure they wear the right protective equipment for their
activity. It should fit properly, be well maintained, and be worn
consistently and correctly.
• Ensure that they follow their coaches’ rules for safety and the
rules of the sport.
• Encourage them to practice good sportsmanship at all times.
For more information visit: www.cdc.gov/Concussion
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CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT
COACHES EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
All coaches are required to view the NFHS course: “Concussion in Sports” before the first regulated practice
date of their respective sport season.
USE OF TOBACCO OR VAPING
The Iowa High School Athletic Association’s and National Federation of State High School Association’s
policies regarding the use of any tobacco product in any sport are summarized as follows: “No team personnel or
official shall
use any form of tobacco while at or in the vicinity of the contest site. The use of any tobacco product by team
personnel is considered unsportsmanlike conduct. The penalty for tobacco use by team personnel is detailed in
each National Federation sports rules book. Situations involving officials’ use of tobacco shall be handled by the
state association.”
Sportsmanship Policies
COACH EJECTION POLICY
Any coach at any level, grades 9-12 who is ejected from an IHSAA sanctioned sport is required to take
the NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching elective course entitled “Teaching and Modeling Behavior.” This
course must be viewed prior to being able to return and coach an interscholastic contest and the certificate
of completion must be sent to the IHSAA office. This mandate is in addition to missing the next playing date
at the level of competition he/she was ejected from all games in the interim. The cost of the course will be
the responsibility of the individual coach.
STUDENT-ATHLETE EJECTION POLICY
Additional Penalty: Any student-athlete at any level grades 7-12 who is ejected from an IHSAA sanctioned
sport will
be required to take the NFHS Coach Education/Certification Program elective course “Sportsmanship-
It’s Up to You.”
The course must be viewed prior to being able to return and participate in an interscholastic
contest and the certificate of course completion must be sent to the IHSAA office. This mandate is in addition
to missing the next regularly scheduled game/meet which is defined as the next scheduled, rescheduled, or
contracted date. There is no cost for this course.
IHSAA AWARDS PRESENTATION POLICY
It is the goal of the IHSAA is to protect the safety and well-being of all participants, spectators, coaches,
officials,
and tournament staff as well as demonstrate the sportsmanship philosophy of the IHSAA and its member
schools with
regard to respect for the opponent during all IHSAA award presentations. In furtherance of this
goal and the requirement that member schools should insure that their contestants, coaches & spectators
practice the highest principles of sportsmanship and ethics of competition, the following policy has been
adopted by the Board of Control:
No team(s) student body/spectators are allowed on the playing surface at the conclusion of an IHSAA
postseason
event without the express permission of the tournament manager.
Penalty: Team or individual awards will not be presented to the participant(s) immediately following the competition
and said award(s) will be delivered to the school administration of the respective teams at a time to be
determined by the Executive Director or designee of the IHSAA.
This penalty is in addition to any other penalty or sanction which may be imposed by the Board of
Control, its Executive Director, or designee as a result of a violation of any other policy, rule, bylaw, or regulation
of the IHSAA.
The policy shall be enforced at all IHSAA sponsored tournaments that have an awards presentation
following the
completion of the event. The enforcement of this policy will be at the discretion and judgment of the
2021-2022 HANDBOOK -10-
specific tournament
manager.
The Board of Control also requests school administrators be present and visible when their respective teams
are playing and assist in making sure spectators do not come onto the playing surface at the conclusion of the
event until such time it is permissible following awards and recognition presentations.
Hosting Events Policies
IHSAA-IGHSAU SPONSORED EVENT TICKET POLICY
The Board of the Iowa High School Athletic Association
require that proper accounting procedures are used by
member schools during IHSAA sponsored tournament events.
The IHSAA has partnered with Hometown Ticketing as a digital ticket solution and requires host schools to
use Hometown Ticketing as its method of collecting admission for all IHSAA post-season events which charge
admission.
The Board of the IHSAA has instructed the administration of the organization to notify schools that if they do
not desire to use Hometown Ticketing, they should not accept tournament invitations.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER GUIDELINES
The primary concern when signs of hazardous weather are present is the safety of participants and spectators.
Have
a safety plan for any type of hazardous weather that may occur. Practice and follow the plan. Know where
people will go for safety and know how much time it will take for them to get there. Have specific guidelines for
suspending the event so everyone has time to reach a place of safety before the threat becomes significant.
LIGHTNING SAFETY
The safety of the players and spectators is always more important than the game! Communication between
game management, officials & coaches is essential for the safety of everyone.
Lightning only takes an instant to strike. You are in danger from lightning if you can hear thunder.
All thunderstorms produce lightning and are dangerous. Lightning often strikes as far as 10 miles away from
rainfall.
Don’t wait until the last minute to seek shelter.
If thunder is heard, or lightning is seen, immediately suspend the event and instruct everyone to take
shelter in a safe structure.
Have a lightning safety plan in place. Know where teams and spectators will go for safety and know how
much time it will take them to get to safety. A “safe structure” is a completely enclosed building that is
normally occupied or frequently used by people. The building should have plumbing and electrical wiring to help
ground it from lightning. If there is no such structure available, an enclosed vehicle with a metal roof and sides is
a reasonable second choice.
When a contest is suspended due to lightning, wait at least 30 minutes after hearing the last thunder before
leaving safe shelter and resuming activity.
Lightning detectors are a great tool to draw one’s attention to the fact that lightning is in the vicinity.
Remember, even with lightning detectors, the weather should be monitored closely for lightning or thunder.
LIGHTNING KILLS, PLAY IT SAFE!
SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS
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I. A severe weather watch (flood, thunderstorm, tornado, etc.) is issued when conditions are favorable for
severe weather to develop.
A. Host management should be prepared for an abrupt suspension of the contest and for informing all
participants and spectators to move to a place of safety.
B. Consideration should be given to the length of time it will take to clear the contest area and for all
participants and spectators to move to a place of safety.
II.
A severe weather warning is issued when severe weather is imminent.
A. Host management should suspend the contest when there is a significant threat of severe weather
and inform all participants and spectators to move to a place of safety.
B. Follow the safety plan that your school has developed.
SUSPENSION OR POSTPONEMENT OF CONTESTS
Prior to the contest officials’ assuming authority.
I. The home school’s management shall determine whether a contest should be suspended or
postponed due to severe weather.
A. In making the decision whether or not to suspend or postpone a contest, the host management
should first take into consideration the safety of the participants and spectators.
B. Playing surface conditions should be considered and what continued use may do to the surface.
C. If the decision is made by the host management to postpone the contest, administrators from both
schools should mutually agree if, and when, to reschedule.
II. Once the contest officials’ authority begins.
A. Refer to NFHS playing rules, or IHSAA postseason rules, for the exact rules in each sport regarding
contest officials’ authority to suspend the contest.
III. Postponing the contest.
A. Wait a sufficient amount of time to see if the severe weather will subside.
B. Home management and/or contest officials shall decide whether to postpone or resume the
contest.
C. Playing surface conditions should be considered when making this decision.
IV. If the contest resumes.
A. Adequate time should be given for contestants to warm up prior to continuing play.
V. If the contest cannot be resumed after a severe weather delay.
A. Administrators from both schools need to come to an agreement. The contest may be considered
complete with the existing score becoming the final score, or the contest may be postponed and
continued from the point of interruption, at a time mutually agreed to by both schools.
PETS PROHIBITED AT IHSAA SANCTIONED EVENTS
Except as otherwise stated herein, no pets are permitted at events sanctioned by the Iowa High School
Athletic Association. Any person found with a pet will be asked to remove the pet from the premises. Failure to
comply will result in the person being asked to leave the premises. However, this policy shall comply with the
provisions of Iowa code 216c. as such, a person with a disability or a person training an assistive animal has the
right to be accompanied by a service dog or an assistive animal, under control. The person is liable for damage
done to any premises or facility by a service dog or assistive animal. A “service dog” means a dog specially
trained at a recognized training facility to assist a person with a disability, whether described as a service
dog, guide dog, hearing dog, support dog, independence dog, or otherwise. An “assisted animal” means a
simian or other animal specially trained or in the process of being trained under the auspices of a recognized
training facility to assist a person with a disability.
SHIRT & SHOE POLICY
The Board of Control of the Iowa High School Athletic Association has a policy whereas shirts and shoes are
required
attire for all in attendance at any indoor IHSAA-sponsored athletic events. In the sport of football, this
rule applies to games in the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
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NO ALCOHOL POLICY
No alcohol or tobacco is to be sold or consumed on the grounds of any state tournament venue leased or
provided to the IHSAA for the purpose of conducting a State Championship.
Section 123.46 of the Iowa State Code states: “A person shall not possess or consume alcoholic liquors, wine
or beer
on public school property or while attending a public or private school-related function. A person shall not be
intoxicated
or simulate intoxication in public place. A person violating this subsection is guilty of a simple
misdemeanor.
NO SMOKING, CHEWING, OR VAPING REGULATION
The no smoking regulation is to be observed on the playing grounds by the officials in charge, coaches,
faculty representatives, team trainers, players, and player bench occupants. There should be no use of
tobacco (including
vaping and smokeless) by players or coaches in all sports programs. Disqualification will be the
result for the participant,
and if the coach uses tobacco, a written report will be submitted to the IHSAA Office as
a means of follow-up to the school and said individual will not coach in postseason competition.
Jamborees, Scrimmages and Practices
JAMBOREES
The Athletic Association’s philosophy regarding jamborees is that a jamboree allows teams to compete in a
partial contest and allows the host school, or organization, to use the event as a fundraiser. Jamborees are
permitted in the sports of basketball and soccer with the following guidelines:
• Only one Jamboree is permitted and must take place after the first legal practice date.
• Only varsity teams may participate.
• A maximum of 8 schools may be involved, unless it is a conference Jamboree and there are more than
8 schools in the conference. Then all schools may participate.
• No team may participate in more than two, 8 minute quarters (basketball) or more than one half of play
(soccer).
• No school time may be used to travel or participate in a Jamboree.
• Hosts may charge admission, sell programs and/or concessions
• Score may be kept.
SCRIMMAGES
The Athletic Association’s philosophy regarding scrimmages is that a scrimmage is used to test a team’s
offensive and/or defense against another team’s offense and/or defense in a game-like situation. Scrimmages
in wrestling are
permitted because teams do not always have wrestlers in similar weight classes therefore, those
wrestlers do not have the opportunity to practice offensive and defensive moves against a wrestler of similar ability
and weight. Scrimmages
in tennis are allowed after the district tournaments because schools may have difficulty
finding quality players for their state qualifiers, or team, to practice against as non-qualifying players often
move on to play baseball. The maximum distance allowed for any scrimmage is 100 miles, one way.
Sport
Scrimmages
Allowed
Max. # of
Schools
Baseball
* 3, after the first legal
practice date
kept unless Hall of Pride
No school time may be used to travel or
Held at one of the school’s regular
* A maximum of four
(4)
schools
may
participate
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Basketball
* 3, after the first legal
practice date
kept unless Hall of Pride
No school time may be used to travel or
Held at one of the school’s regular
facilities
Hall of Pride Challenge Scrimmages
* A maximum of four
(4)
schools
may
participate
Cross Country
* 1, after the first legal
practice date
score kept
No school time may be used to travel or
participate
Held at one of the school’s regular
practice facilities
* A maximum of four
(4)
schools
may
participate
Football
* 1, after 10 days of practice
score kept
No school time may be used to travel or
participate
Held at one of the school’s regular
practice facilities
* A maximum of four
(4) schools may
participate, however a
team may only
scrimmage against
one other team.
Soccer
* 2, after the first legal
practice
date
kept
No school time may be used to travel or
Held at one of the school’s regular
* A maximum of four
(4)
schools
may
participate
Swimming
*1, after the first legal
practice
date
kept
No school time may be used to travel or
Held at one of the school’s regular
* A maximum of four
(4)
schools
may
participate
Tennis
* 1, after district tennis and
before
state team tennis
score kept
No school time may be used to travel or
Held at one of the school’s regular
facilities
* Number of schools
participating is limited
only
by the number of
courts available
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Track and
Field
*
1, after the first legal
practice date
score kept
No school time may be used to travel or
at one of the school’s regular practice
* A maximum of four
(4)
schools
may
participate
Wrestling
*
3, after the first legal
practice
date
*
Only 1 may be held
before
first
legal
competition
date
*
Unlimited scrimmages
may
be held for 1A/2A
district qualifiers and 3A
district winners
score kept
No school time may be used to travel or
Held at one of the school’s regular
facilities
* A maximum of four
(4)
schools
may
participate
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PRACTICE FACILITY POLICY
Iowa High School Athletic Association member schools may use practice facilities, other than their regular school
facilities, with no prior approval from the IHSAA as long as the following criteria are met:
A.
Member schools holding practice at a practice facility other than their regular school practice facility, one time per week
or
more, must have a written agreement between the member school and the member school where the practice will be
held or the organization operating the practice facility.
B. Member schools holding practice at a practice facility other than their regular practice facility, on an occasional or
emergency basis, must have local school administration approval before each practice session.
C. Only a school’s bona-fide coaches may provide instruction during practice regardless of where practice takes place.
Member schools may not practice with another member school except in scrimmage situations. [Note the scrimmage
rule for each sport as posted in the regular season handbook.
No school practice shall take place at an IHSAA state tournament venue, unless otherwise indicated in that sport’s
specific postseason manual.
Schools traveling to a state tournament or not returning home between rounds of the state tournament may NOT
practice at the site where the state tournament is being held, unless the IHSAA has arranged for practice times for all
schools involved. (Please refer to the fall and spring postseason manuals for information on golf as it pertains to
practice rounds at the sectional, district and state meet sites.
Gender Policies
GIRLS PARTICIPATING IN BOYS SPORTS PROGRAMS
The Iowa High School Athletic Association’s position on girls participating in boys sports programs is as follows:
1.
If a like sport program is not offered for girls in a school district, the IHSAA recommends that the school district give
consideration for girls to participate on the boys’ team if they request participation.
2.
When a girl participates on a boys’ team, the following guidelines are recommended:
a. A meeting with the principal, athletic director, coach of the sport involved, the girl, and her parent(s).
b. The girl and her parent(s) should be informed that once she becomes a member of the team, she will be treated like
all other team members.
c. The coach should explain to the girl and her parent(s) exactly what will be expected in practice and games so the
girl and her parent(s) will have an understanding of a typical practice/game situation as it pertains to that sport.
d. The girl and her parent(s) should be informed that she will be provided with proper supervision and she will have
supervised dressing facilities.
3.
If the student is planning on participating in football, she should be informed that football is an aggressive contact
sport. She should be informed of the risk of injury while playing football. She should be informed football pads were not
made to protect young ladies, as there is a great deal of contact on the front part of the body.
4.
If the student is going to participate in wrestling, she should be informed of the various holds and maneuvers used in
wrestling, notably:
a. Wrestling is a sport which teaches techniques that involve grasping to restrain a wrestler through the crotch and
across the chest.
b. Competition and practice are often aggressive and physically demanding.
5.
The principal should have a prepared statement that indicates a meeting took place, the date, who was in attendance,
a
meeting outline, and have all parties sign the statement. This will serve as a record that a meeting did take place and
what transpired.
TRANSGENDER STATEMENT
The Code of Iowa clearly delineates unfair practices and discriminatory acts in education. Section 216.9 Unfair or
discriminatory practices – education reads:
1.
It is an unfair or discriminatory practice for any educational institution to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color,
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, or disability in any program or activity. Such
discrimination practices shall include but not be limited to the following practices:
a. Exclusion of a person or persons from participation in, denial of the benefits of, or subjection to discrimination in any
academic, extracurricular, research, occupational training, or other programs or activity except athletic
programs;
b. Denial of comparable opportunity in intramural and interscholastic athletic programs;
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c. Discrimination among persons in employment and the conditions of employment;
d. On the basis of sex, the application of any rule concerning the actual or potential parental, family or marital status of a
person, or the exclusion of any person from any program or activity or employment because of pregnancy or related
conditions dependent upon the physician’s diagnosis and certification.
2.
For the purpose of
this section
,
“
educational institution
”
includes any preschool, elementary or secondary schools,
community college, area education agency, or postsecondary college or university and their governing boards.
This
section does not prohibit an educational institution from maintaining separate toilet facilities, locker rooms, or living
facilities for the different sexes so long as comparable facilities are provided. Nothing in this section shall
be construed as prohibiting any bona fide religious institution from imposing qualifications based on religion,
sexual orientation or gender identity when such qualifications are related to a bona fide religious purpose or any
institution from admitting students of only one sex.
The Code of Iowa clearly defines “Gender identity.” Section 216.2 Definitions. Reads: “When used in this chapter,
unless the context otherwise requires:
10. “Gender identity” means a gender-related identity of a person, regardless of a person’s assigned sex at birth.”
Fully aware of the unfair and discriminatory practices and definition of “gender identity,” the Iowa High School Athletic
Association presents guidelines for the implementation of the Code of Iowa in regards to transgender students.
GUIDELINES FOR INCLUSION AND RESPECTFUL TREATMENT OF
TRANSGENDER OR GENDER NEUTRAL STUDENT-ATHLETES
Gender Identity
The transgender student at an Iowa High School Athletic Association member school who identifies as male, despite
having been born with female genitals, shall be allowed to fully compete as a male as long as he consistently identifies as a
male at school, home and socially.
Communications and Publications: Pronouns and Name Changes
The preference for the use of masculine or gender-neutral pronouns should be the choice of the student-athlete.
Coaches, administrators and athletes should abide by a transgender student-athlete’s name and pronoun preferences,
demonstrating respect for the individual and validating the transgender student-athletes gender identity and
expression.
Access to Locker Rooms and Bathrooms
Every student-athlete should have access to a locker room, bathroom and shower facilities in a safe, comfortable and
convenient environment.
When the transgender student-athlete uses a separate locker room space do not use the common locker room as a
team meeting space or the only location that important team information is shared. Coaches and team members are
strongly encouraged to identify other spaces to conduct team meetings.
When member schools are traveling, the student-athletes school representatives should identify safe spaces for
transgender student-athletes to have their needs met with regard to changing spaces, restroom accommodations, and
meeting spaces.
Overnight Accommodations
If a member school requires overnight accommodations, transgender student-athletes should be assigned rooming
assignments based on their gender identity, with the recognition that the student who needs extra privacy should be
accommodated whenever possible.
Apparel and Dress Codes
All team members should have access to uniforms that are appropriate for their sport. Participants are expected to be in
compliance with the uniform regulations of the National Federation of State High School Associations.
In cases where the coaches of member schools set dress codes or expectations, coaches should set a gender neutral
dress code that is comfortable for all members of the team.
Confidentiality
The privacy of transgender student-athletes is a priority for member schools and the Iowa High School Athletic
Association. All medical information must be kept confidential.
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Other IHSAA Board Policies
MANDATORY HEAD COACHES RULES MEETING ATTENDANCE
Head coaches in all sport programs sponsored by the Iowa High School Athletic Association in which rules meetings
are
conducted are required to attend/view a rules meeting in that sport annually. The penalty for a head coach not
attending/viewing a rules meeting is: “If the head coach does not attend/view a rules meeting in his/her given sport, the
coach will not coach or attend any IHSAA-sponsored tournament/event in that sport during the school year.”
POLICY STATEMENT DEALING WITH ANONYMOUS CALLS,
E-MAILS, AND LETTERS
PERTAINING TO MEMBER SCHOOLS
Anonymous letters sent to the IHSAA shall be forwarded to the school administrator of the school in question by the
IHSAA Executive Director, with no further action to be taken unless a violation is reported by the member school.
Anonymous callers shall be informed that the IHSAA staff has no authority to act upon anonymous calls, e-mails, or letters.
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THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
(a/k/a Constitution of Organization under
Iowa Administrative Code Section 281-36.3)
OF [THE]
IOWA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
(THE “ASSOCIATION”)
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Pursuant to section 504.1006 of the Revised Iowa Nonprofit Corporation Act (the “Act”), the undersigned corporation,
adopts the following Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (a/k/a the Constitution of the Association, which,
pursuant to Iowa Administrative Code Section 281.36.3, the Iowa State Department of Education requires certain
organizations, including the Association, to adopt, hereinafter the “Articles”):
1. The date these Articles were adopted is June 11, 2018.
2. These Articles were duly approved by the members of the Association in the manner required under the Act,
the Articles of Incorporation of the Association, the Bylaws of the Association, and Iowa Administrative Code
Chapter 281.
3. These Articles consolidate all amendments into a single document.
ARTICLE l
The name of the Association is the Iowa High School Athletic Association (the “Association”).
ARTICLE II
The Association shall have perpetual duration.
ARTICLE III
The purpose for which the Association is organized is for the purpose of promoting, developing, directing, protecting,
and
regulating amateur interscholastic athletic relationship between member schools and to stimulate fair play, friendly rivalry, and
good sportsmanship among contestants, school, and communities throughout the state. Notwithstanding
the foregoing,
however, the Association is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific
purposes, including,
for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations
under section 501(c)(3) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or corresponding section of any future federal tax code).
ARTICLE IV
The Association is not organized for profit. No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of, or be
distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons. No substantial part of the activities of the Association
shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation, and the Association shall not
participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in
opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these
articles, the Association shall not
carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt
from federal income tax under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by a corporation,
contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c )(2) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of
any future federal tax code).
ARTICLE V
The street address of the initial registered office of the Association is 1605 South Story Street, P.O. Box 10, Boone, Iowa,
50036, located in the County of Boone, and the name of its initial registered agent at such address is Tom Keating.
ARTICLE VI
The name and address of the incorporator is:
Tom Keating
1605 South Story Street, P.O. Box 10 Boone, Iowa 50036
ARTICLE VII
Section 1. Members. The Association shall have members.
Section 2. Qualifications.
a.
Membership in the Association is open to all high schools in the state of Iowa that are approved by the State
Department of Education. Schools may apply to the Board of Control (Board of Control has the same meaning as board
of
directors under the Act, hereinafter the “Board”) for membership or associate membership and upon the fulfillment of
membership requirements, as designated by the Board, shall be admitted to membership.
b.
Any high school of the state becomes a member of the Association when notice has been given to the Association’s
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Executive Director that the Articles and Bylaws have been read and accepted by the superintendent, or his/her
designee, Schools failing to fulfill membership requirements by June 30 shall forfeit membership for the next school
year, and reinstatement may be made only upon fulfillment of membership requirements.
c.
To qualify for membership in the Association, a school must:
i. Complete the IHSAA Membership & Entry Form for the upcoming school year, including affixing the electronic
signature of the person completing the form and verifying the Articles and Bylaws have been read and accepted
by the superintendent, or his/her designee.
ii.
Employ coaches who meet the minimum requirements for licensure as approved and as established and determined
by the State Department of Education.
iii. Complete IHSAA school directory information for the upcoming year.
Section 3. Compliance
. Whenever a school system has a high school that becomes a member of the Association, all
interscholastic athletic contests involving pupils enrolled in grades above sixth (6th) are automatically covered and
controlled
by the rules of the Association.
a.
Any other school system operating any single grade or combination of grades seven (7) and eight (8) may apply for
junior membership under the condition that, if accepted, it shall comply with all regulations of the Articles of this
Association including the fulfillment of membership requirements.
b.
No member or associate member junior high school may participate against a nonmember junior high school in any
interscholastic competition.
Section 4. Junior Memberships
. Junior High school membership (hereafter referred to as “junior membership”)
shall apply
to and include grades seven (7) and eight (8) only. Such junior membership may be acquired upon proper application,
subscriptions to the rules, and with the understanding that junior members shall not acquire any voting rights nor any
vested interest in the assets of this Association.
Section 5. Classifications. The schools of this Association shall be classified as follows:
a.
The BEDS enrollment for grades nine (9), ten (10), and eleven (11) as provided to the IHSAA from the State
Department of Education, and representing the students served by the member or associate member school. The
previous year’s BEDS enrollment figures will be used in making this determination.
b.
There shall be two classes of high school membership. The 64 largest schools based upon their actual enrollment on
the second Friday in September in their top three grades will be classified as “AA” schools. All the rest of the
membership will be regarded as class “A” schools.
Section 6. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the members shall be held in June of each year at such place and date
as the Board shall each year fix, or at such other place, time and date as the Board shall fix, which date shall be within the
earlier of the first six (6) months after the end of the Association’s fiscal year or fifteen (15) months after the members’ last
annual meeting.
Section 7. Special Meetings
. Special meetings of the members, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise
prescribed
by law (which for purposes of these Articles shall mean as required from time to time by the Act or these Articles), may be
called by the Chairperson of the Board, or the Board, and shall be called by the Board upon the
written demand, signed,
dated, and delivered to the Vice-Chairperson of the Board, of the holders of at least ten percent
of all the votes of members
entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at the meeting. Such written demand shall state the purpose or
purposes for which such meeting is to be called. The time, date and place of any special meeting shall be determined by
the Board or by the Chairperson of the Board. Unless otherwise provided in these Articles, a written demand for a special
meeting may be revoked by a writing to that effect received by the Association prior to the receipt by the Association of
demands sufficient in number to require the holding of a special meeting.
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Section 8. Notices and Reports to Members.
a.
Notice of the place, date, and time of all meetings of members and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or
purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be communicated not fewer than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60)
days before the date of the meeting to each member entitled to vote at such meeting. The Board may establish a
record date for the determination of members entitled to notice, as provided in Section 12 of this Article. Notice of
adjourned meetings need only be given if required by law.
b.
If notice of proposed corporate action is required by law to be given to members not entitled to vote and the action is to
be taken by consent of the voting members, the Association shall give all members written notice of the proposed action
at least ten (10) days before the action is taken. The notice must contain or be accompanied by the same material
that would have been required to be sent to members not entitled to vote in a notice of meeting at which the proposed
action would have been submitted to the members for action.
c.
Notice may be communicated in person, by mail, or other method of delivery, or by telephone, voice mail, or other
electronic means. If these forms of personal notice are impracticable, notice may be communicated by a newspaper of
general circulation in the area where published; or by radio, television, or other form of public
broadcast
communication. Written notice by the Association to its members, if in a comprehensible form, is effective
according to one of the following: (i) upon deposit in the United States mail, if mailed post-paid and correctly
addressed to the member’s address shown in the Association’s current record of members; or (ii) when
electronically transmitted
to the member in a manner authorized by the member.
Section 9. Waiver of Notice.
a.
Any member may waive any notice required by law or these Articles if in writing and signed by any member entitled to
such notice, whether before or after the date and time stated in such notice. Such a waiver shall be equivalent to
notice to such member in due time as required by law or these Articles. Any such waiver shall be delivered to the
Association for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records.
b.
A member’s attendance at a meeting, in person or by proxy, waives (i) objection to lack of notice or defective notice of
such meeting, unless the member at the beginning of the meeting or promptly upon the member’s arrival objects to
holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting, and (ii) objection to consideration of a particular matter at
the meeting that is not within the purpose or purposes described in the meeting notice, unless the member objects to
considering the matter when it is presented.
Section 10. Record Date. The Board may fix, in advance, a date as the record date for any determination of members
for any purpose, such date in every case to be not more than seventy (70) days prior to the date on which the particular
action or meeting requiring such determination of members is to be taken or held. If no record date is so fixed for the
determination of members, the close of business on the day before the date on which the first notice of a
members’ meeting
is communicated to members shall be the record date for such determination of members. When a determination of members
entitled to vote at any meeting of members has been made as provided in this Section, such
determination shall apply to any
adjournment thereof, unless the Board selects a new record date or unless a new record date is required by law.
Section 11. Members’ List.
After fixing a record date for a meeting, the Vice-Chairperson of the Board shall prepare an alphabetical list of the names
of all members who are entitled to notice of a members’ meeting. Subject to Article XV, Section 5, the members’ list must be
available for inspection by any member beginning two business days after notice of the meeting is given for which the list
was prepared and continuing through the meeting, at the Association’s principal office or at a place identified in the
meeting notice in the city where the meeting will be held. A member, or a member’s agent or attorney, is entitled on written
demand to inspect and, subject to the requirements of law, to copy the list, during regular business hours and at the
person’s expense, during the period it is available for inspection. The Association shall make the members’ list available
at the meeting, and any member, or a member’s agent or attorney, is entitled to inspect the list at any time during the
meeting or any adjournment.
Section 12. Organization.
a.
The Chairperson of the Association, or in the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson of the Association,
or in
the Vice-Chairperson’s absence, such person as the Board may have designated, or, in the absence of such a person,
such person as shall be designated by the holders of a majority of the votes present at the meeting, shall call meetings
of the members to order and shall act as chairperson of such meetings.
b.
The Vice-Chairperson of the Association shall act as secretary at all meetings of the members, but in the absence of the
Vice-Chairperson at any meeting of the members, the Chairperson of the Association may appoint any person to act as
secretary of the meeting.
Section 13. Conduct of Business. The chairperson of any meeting of members shall determine the order of business
and procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the matter of voting and the conduct of business as seem to him
or her to be in order. The chairperson shall also announce at the meeting when the polls close.
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ARTICLE VIII
Section 1. Board Members. The Board shall consist of nine (9) members. One (1) member shall be appointed by the State
Department of Education and that person shall serve as a nonvoting member of the Board. One (1) member shall be
appointed by the Iowa Association of School Boards. One (1) member who is a coordinator, or director of athletics shall
be elected to the Board and that position shall be at-large. That person shall cease to be a member of the Board when the
person ceases to be a coordinator or director of athletics at a member school. One (1) member shall be a class AA high
school principal elected at-large. That person shall cease to be a member of the Board when the person ceases to be a high
school principal in a class “AA” school; however, if the person continues as an executive
officer of a member school, that
person shall retain membership on the Board until a successor is elected and qualified.
The remaining five members of the
Board shall represent the Association’s Representative Council (as hereinafter defined) Districts (see Article XIV) in
which he or she is either a superintendent or principal. One member shall be
elected from each of the five (5) districts:
Northwest District; Northeast District; Central District; Southwest District; and
Southeast District.
All five (5) of these positions shall be elected by a vote of the member schools in their respective districts for a five- year
term. Any of the five (5) members who represent a given district, when they change positions
from one district to a new district, shall cease to be a member of the Board. However, if that person continues as an
executive officer of a member school, that person shall retain membership on the Board until a successor is elected and
qualified. Any Board member who is elected to fill out a term of office for another Board member shall only be eligible to
be elected once for a five-year period of time.
Section 2. Succession. A Board member shall be eligible to succeed him/herself but once.
Section 3. Voting. Only the superintendent or his/her delegated high school principal shall have the right to vote in the
election of Board members.
Section 4. Elections. When an election is to take place, the Executive Director of the Association shall electronically
send an official election ballot to each member school by the fourth Friday in September. The ballot will
contain the
incumbent’s name (if an incumbent is eligible for re-election) and a drop-down list of all eligible candidates.
This ballot shall
be a secure electronic ballot and shall include a place on the ballot for the member submitting the ballot to key his/her
name. This keyed name must be on the ballot for the ballot to count. The electronic ballot, when voted, shall be transmitted
to a secure website accessible by a member of the Representative Council who has been designated by the Board as
Chairperson of the Election Board and accessible by the Election Board and IDOE Representative (as defined below)
when canvassing the ballots. This Election Board shall be composed of three (3)
members of the Representative Council
appointed by the Board. On the second Friday of October, the Election Board
shall meet by telephone conference for the
official canvass of the ballots. In addition, a representative of the Iowa
Department of Education (“IDOE”) that has been
designated by the director of the IDOE (“IDOE Representative”) shall
be present at this teleconference and shall validate
the election results. The electronic results database
shall be reviewed by the Election Board and the IDOE
Representative. After review of the database, the individual receiving the highest number of votes shall be considered
elected. In case of a tie the election shall be decided by lot by the candidates in the presence of the Board of Control.
A list of schools voting shall be made from the returned electronic ballots and, together with the results of the election,
be
certified by the Election Board and validated by the IDOE Representative and forwarded to the Board for publication
in the next
bulletin of the Association (the “Bulletin”). All people receiving five (5) or more votes shall be listed in the Bulletin.
Section 5. New Directors. Each newly-elected director becomes a member of the Board at the Board’s first official
meeting following the November Board meeting.
Section 6. Vacancies. A vacancy will occur whenever an elected member of the Board ceases to be an executive officer, or
coordinator or director of athletics, of a member school or is an officer in a member school not in the area from which the
Board member was elected. In case of a vacancy, the Board of Control shall conduct an election in the prescribed manner
within two (2) weeks after the vacancy has occurred to fill and complete the unexpired term; provided, however, if there
are fewer than 120 days remaining in the unexpired term, the Board of Control may, in its sole discretion, leave the
vacancy unfilled until the next regularly scheduled election.
Section 7. Officers
. During the November Board meeting, the Board shall elect a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson,
and a
Treasurer from its membership for a term of office for one (1) year.
a.
The Chairperson of the Board shall, in addition to his regular duties, preside at all meetings of the Representative
Council.
b.
Four (4) members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for any meeting.
c.
No remuneration, salary, or remittance shall be made to any member of the governing board of the Association for
his/her services thereon. He/she shall be paid travel and actual expenses from organizational funds only when on
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official business for the Association. Actual expenses shall be paid for travel within the state but not more than first-
class air travel for transportation outside the state, along with other necessary (itemized and reasonable) expenses.
Itemized accounting of the travel and business expenses of employees shall be furnished to the State Department of
Education in an annual report.
d.
In the event the Chairperson resigns or is unable to complete his/her term, the Vice-Chairperson shall assume the office
of Chairperson for the remainder of the unexpired term. In the event the Vice-Chairperson is unable to serve, the Board
shall appoint a member of the Board to serve as Chairperson by a majority vote at the next regular meeting of the
Board.
ARTICLE IX
Section 1. Powers and Duties. The Board shall have the following powers and duties:
a.
The Board of Control shall employ an Executive Director and such other assistants as they may deem advisable,
subject to the approval of a majority vote of the Representative Council, for a term not to exceed three (3) years and
shall designate their duties.
b.
It shall have general supervision over all athletic contests of schools of this Association.
c.
It shall interpret the Articles, Bylaws, and rules of the Association
d.
It shall have power to make investigations relative to the violation of the Articles, Bylaws, and rules of the Association.
If
charges are brought against any member school for such violation, or violation of the spirit of fair play and good
sportsmanship, or violation of its contracts, the Board shall consider such charges and determine and assess penalties
in
case of conviction. Any school that is charged with such violation shall be given an opportunity to be represented at the
hearing of its case before the Board. Charges of such protests shall be made in writing to the Executive Director of the
Association within four weeks after the alleged violation has taken place. The Executive Director will then give notice
to the interested schools of the place and time of the hearing before the Board. Any investigation or hearing which
involves the school with which any
member of the Board is connected shall not be heard in his/her presence
nor shall he/she vote on the final consideration.
e.
It shall determine penalties for violations when they are not otherwise expressly provided. Any penalty for a member
school may not be greater than “suspension” until the next regular meeting or special meeting of the Representative
Council which must be held within thirty (30) days of the Board of Control meeting establishing such penalty. The
affected member school shall be given an opportunity to be represented at the hearing of its case before the
Representative Council. The decision of the Representative Council in said matter is final.
f.
Notwithstanding anything in these Articles to the contrary, a member shall not be expelled or suspended, and a
membership or memberships in the Association shall not be terminated or suspended unless the member receives: (i)
not
less than fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice (by first class or certified mail sent to the last address of the member
shown
on the Association’s records) of the expulsion, suspension, or termination and the reasons therefore; and (ii) an
opportunity to be heard, orally or in writing, not less than five (5) days before the effective date of the expulsion,
suspension, or termination by the person or persons who has the authority to decide that the proposed expulsion,
termination, or suspension not take place.
g.
Any member or associate member school aggrieved by any ruling or decision of the Association or its officers or
employees, may appeal there from by directing its superintendent of schools to state the basis of its objections in
writing together with a request for oral hearing addressed to the Executive Director of the Association. Within twenty
(20) days, the Executive Director of the Association shall arrange for a special meeting before the Board at which
time the member school shall be given an opportunity to be present and be heard. In the event that the member
school is not satisfied with the decision of the Board, it may appeal there from by notifying the Executive
Director of the
Association in writing who in turn will present said matter to the next scheduled meeting of the
Representative Council. The member school will again be given an opportunity to be represented at such
Representative Council meeting. The
decision of the Representative Council shall be final.
h.
It shall provide suitable awards for the winners of the contests conducted by the Association in accordance with 281 Iowa
Administrative Code Section 36.14(3).
i.
It shall present to the State Department of Education the following items: Articles and Bylaws; current membership lists;
organization policies; minutes of all meetings of organization governing bodies and executive boards thereof;
proposed Article and Bylaw amendments or revisions; general bulletins; other information pertinent to clarifying
organization administration.
Full and detailed reports of salaries, expense accounts and fringe benefits paid
employees of the Association shall be filed with the State Department of Education. All reports of expenditures
and amounts paid full-time or part-time employees of the Association shall be submitted annually to the State
Board of Education.
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The Board shall purchase a blanket fidelity bond from a corporate surety approved by it, conditioned upon the faithful
performance of the duties of the Executive Director of the Association, the members of the Board, and all other
employees of the Association. Such blanket bond shall be in a penal amount set by the Board and shall be the sum of
50% of the largest amount of monies on hand in any 30-day period during the preceding fiscal year, and 20 percent of the
valuation of all assets of the activity organization as of the close of the last fiscal year, but such bond shall in no case
be in an amount less than $10,000.
Upon request, the Board shall make available to the State Department of Education or its delegated representative, all
records, data, written policies, books, accounts, and other materials relating to any or all aspects of their operations. At
the request of the State Board of Education or its Executive Officer, members of the governing boards and
employees of the Association shall appear before and give full accounting and details on the aforesaid matters to the
State Board of Education. It shall submit to the State Board of Education for their approval, detailed eligibility
requirements for students who participate in athletic activities.
Participation in events shall be by school teams only and no selected individuals, with the exception of individual sports
events such as wrestling, track, golf, tennis etc. Out-of-state participation shall be limited to regularly-scheduled
interscholastic activities. Out-of-state participation for students or member schools in other activities must be approved
by
the Board. No financial subsidies shall be paid to any type of insurance company for participants in the Association.
j.
It shall have power to adopt, modify, and rescind rules governing the athletic contests of this Association.
k.
The Board shall present a full report of all official business through the Bulletin distributed to all members of the
Association. The Executive Director of the Association and Treasurer shall present a financial statement to the
Association at the winter meeting of the Representative Council and these accounts shall be audited by a committee
chosen by the Chairperson of the Board for this purpose. The results of this audit shall be published in the IHSAA
Annual Report.
l.
In furtherance of the purposes of the Association, the Board shall have the authority to do any and all things
necessary, the same as natural persons might or could do under the Act, either as principals, agents, or any other
representative capacity; and generally to carry on any other lawful activity which will directly or indirectly promote the
interests and further the objects and purposes of the Association, including the holding of real or personal property by
purchase, devise or gift only as permitted by the Act and by these Articles; and also to
sell, assign, reinvest and
otherwise deal with all the properties held by said Association only as permitted by the Act and by these Articles.
m.
In matters not herein determined, the Board shall have absolute authority until the regular semiannual meeting of the
Representative Council.
n.
The Board may create and place at interest a sinking fund, which shall be used only to pay a deficit in the finances of
the Association.
Section 2. Resignation. Any director of the Association may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the
Chairperson, the Board, or the Association. A resignation is effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice
specifies a later effective date.
Section 3. Removal. A director shall be subject to removal, with or without cause, at a meeting of the members called for
that purpose in the manner prescribed by law.
Section 4. Place of Meetings, etc. The Board may hold its meetings at such place or places within or without the State of
Iowa, as the Board may from time to time determine. A director may participate in any meeting by any means of
communication, including, but not limited to telephone conference call, by which all directors participating may
simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A director participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be
present in person at the meeting.
Section 5. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Board shall be held in June of each year at such place and date as
the Board shall each year fix, or at such other place, time and date as the Board shall fix. Notice of such meeting need not
be given. Such meeting may be held at any other time or place as shall be specified in a notice given
as hereinafter provided
for special meetings of the board of directors or in a consent and waiver of notice thereof signed
by all the directors, at which
meeting the same matters shall be acted upon as is above provided.
Section 6. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at such place and at such times as the Board
shall be resolution fix and determine from time to time. No notice shall be required for any such regular meeting of the
Board.
Section 7. Special Meetings: Notice.
a.
Special meetings of the Board shall be held whenever called by direction of the Chairperson, the Vice- Chairperson,
or
one-third (1/3) of the directors at the time being in office.
b.
Notice of each such meeting shall be communicated to each director at least two days before the date on which the
meeting is to be held. Each notice shall state the date, time, and place of the meeting. Unless otherwise stated in the
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notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting. At any meeting at which every director
shall be present, even without notice, any business may be transacted.
Section 8. Waiver of Notice. A director may waive any notice required by law or these Articles if in writing and signed by a
director entitled to such notice, whether before or after the date and time stated in such notice. Such a waiver shall be
equivalent to notice in due time as required by these Articles. Attendance of a director at or participation in a meeting shall
constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, unless the director at the beginning of the meeting or promptly upon arrival
objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting and does not thereafter vote for or assent to action
taken at the meeting.
Section 9. Director’s Assent Presumed. A director of the Association who is present at a meeting of the Board at which
action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless the director’s
dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless the director shall file a written dissent to such action with the
person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such
dissent by registered
or certified mail to the Vice-Chairperson of the Association immediately after the adjournment of
the meeting. Such right to
dissent shall not apply to a director who voted in favor of such action.
Section 10. Action Without Meeting. Any action required or permitted by law to be taken at any meeting of the Board may
be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all members of the Board and if one or more consents in writing
describing the action so taken shall be signed by each director then in office and included in the minutes or filed with the
corporate records reflecting the action taken. Action taken under this section is effective when the last director signs the
consent, unless the consent specifies a different effective date. Written consents may be delivered to the Association by
electronic transmission. A director’s consent may be withdrawn by a revocation signed by the director and delivered to the
Association prior to the delivery to the Association of unrevoked written consents signed by all of the directors.
Section 11. Loans. No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Association and no evidences of indebtedness shall be
issued in its name unless authorized by a resolution of the Board. Such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances.
ARTICLE X
A director of the Association shall not be liable to the Association or its members for money damages for any action taken,
or any failure to take any action, as a director, except liability for any of the following: (1) the amount of a financial benefit
received by a director to which the director is not entitled; (2) an intentional infliction of harm on the Association or the
members; (3) a violation of the unlawful distribution provision of the Act; or (4) an intentional violation of criminal law. If the Act
is hereafter amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, then the liability of a director
of the Association, in addition to the limitation on personal liability provided herein, shall be eliminated or limited to the
extent of such amendment, automatically and without any further action, to the fullest extent permitted by law. Any
repeal or
modification of this Article shall be prospective only and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the personal
liability
or any other right or protection of a director of the Association with respect to any state of facts existing at or prior to
the time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE XI
The Association shall indemnify a director for liability (as such term is defined in section 504.851(5) of the Act) to any person
for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, as a director, except liability for any of the following: (1) receipt of a
financial benefit by a director to which the director is not entitled; (2) an intentional infliction of harm on the
Association or the
members; (3) a violation of the unlawful distribution provision of the Act; or (4) an intentional violation
of criminal law. Without
limiting the foregoing, the Association shall exercise all of its permissive powers as often as necessary to indemnify and
advance expenses to its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law. If the
Act is hereafter amended to
authorize broader indemnification, then the indemnification obligations of the Association shall be deemed amended
automatically and without any further action to require indemnification and advancement of
funds to pay for or reimburse
expenses of its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law. Any repeal or modification of this Article shall be
prospective only and shall not adversely affect any indemnification obligations of the Association with respect to any state
of facts existing at or
prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE XII
The Association shall have all of the powers given to it by the laws of the State of Iowa; provided, however, only such
powers
shall be exercised as are in furtherance of the tax-exempt purposes of the Association and as may be exercised
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by an organization exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or the
corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
a.
The Association will distribute its income for each tax year at such time and in such manner so that it will not become
subject to the tax on undistributed income imposed by Section 4942 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or corresponding provisions of any later federal tax laws.
b.
The Association will not engage in any act of self-dealing as defined in Section 4941(d) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, or corresponding provisions of any later federal tax laws.
c.
The Association will not retain any excess business holdings as defined in Section 4943(c) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, or corresponding provisions of any later federal tax laws.
d.
The Association will not make any investments in a manner that would subject it to tax under Section 4944 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or corresponding provisions of any later federal tax laws.
e.
The Association will not make any taxable expenditures as defined in Section 4945(d) of the Internal Revenue Code
of
1986, as amended (or corresponding provisions of any of any future federal tax code).
ARTICLE XIII
Upon the dissolution of the Association, assets shall be distributed by the Board for one (1) or more exempt purposes within
the meaning of section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or
shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government for a public purpose. Any such assets not so
disposed of shall be disposed of by the District Court of the county in which the principal office of the Association is then
located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are
organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
ARTICLE XIV
Section 1. Representative Council
. There is hereby created a Representative Council and, for the purpose of
election and
administration of said Representative Council, there shall be five (5) Association districts as at present provided and there
shall hereby be created a Representative Council of five (5) members from each of these districts. (The districts as
established at the time of the adoption of these Articles are as follows:)
The Northwest District, comprising the following counties: Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth, Sioux, O’Brien,
Clay,
Palo Alto, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Pocahontas, Woodbury, Ida, Sac, Calhoun, and Monona.
The Northeast District shall contain the following counties: Winnebago, Worth, Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek,
Allamakee, Hancock, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Chickasaw, Fayette, Clayton, Bremer, Black Hawk, Buchanan, Delaware,
Dubuque, Benton, Linn, Jones, and Jackson.
The Central District shall contain the following counties: Humboldt, Wright, Franklin, Butler, Webster, Hamilton, Hardin,
Grundy, Boone, Story, Marshall, Tama, Dallas, Polk, Jasper and Poweshiek.
The Southwest District shall contain the following counties: Crawford, Carroll, Greene, Harrison, Shelby, Audubon,
Guthrie, Pottawattamie, Cass, Adair, Madison, Warren, Mills, Montgomery, Adams, Union, Clarke, Fremont, Page, Taylor,
Ringgold, and Decatur.
The Southeast District shall contain the following counties: Iowa, Johnson, Cedar, Clinton, Scott, Marion, Mahaska,
Keokuk, Washington, Muscatine, Davis, Van Buren, Lee, Louisa, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Jefferson, Henry, Des
Moines, Wayne, and Appanoose.
Section 2. Representatives. The Class “A” schools in each district shall be entitled at all times to four (4)
representatives each on the Representative Council. The Class “AA” schools in each district shall be entitled at all times
to one (1) representative on the Representative Council.
Section 3. Terms and Vacancies. Members of the Representative Council shall be elected for a five-year term and each
member shall succeed himself but once, the election being based on a numerical application of a five-year rotation plan
with one (1) member from each district retiring each year.
Any office of the Representative Council shall become vacant if the incumbent ceases to be a principal or
superintendent, by removal from the respective Association district or by withdrawals from the teaching profession; by
resignation, suspension, expulsion, or lapse of membership of his school in the Association; by a change of
classification within the district, except that a council member elected to represent a certain class high school, whose school
changes from one class to another by reason of increase or decrease in enrollment, shall continue to serve his term as long
as he remains in the original district.
In case of a vacancy, except during the summer, due to any cause, the Board of Control shall conduct an election in the
prescribed manner and the elected member shall serve during the unexpired term. If the vacancy occurs during the
summer, the new member will be elected the same as is stated in Sections 4 and 5 of this Article for a new member.
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Section 4. Ballots. When an election is to take place, the Executive Director of the Association shall electronically send a
ballot to each member school in the class in which the vacancy occurs by the third Friday in October. The ballot will
contain the incumbent’s name (if an incumbent is eligible for re-election) and a drop- down list of all eligible candidates.
This ballot shall be a secure electronic ballot and shall include a place for the member submitting the ballot to key his/her
name. This keyed name must be on the ballot for the ballot to count. The electronic ballot, when voted, shall be transmitted
to a secure website accessible to the Chairperson of the Board of Control. Any superintendent or principal, not a member of
the Board of Control, from a high school in good standing of the Iowa High School Athletic Association is eligible for
election.
Section 5. Elections. The Chairperson of the Board of Control and the Executive Director of the Association shall
meet by
telephone conference to canvass the ballots the first Friday in November. The individual receiving the highest
number of
votes shall be considered elected. In case of a tie the election shall be decided by lot by the candidates in the presence of
the Board of Control. A list of schools voting shall be made from the returned electronic ballots and, together with the
results of the nomination and election, be certified by the Chairperson of the Board for publication in the next regular
Bulletin.
Section 6. Right to Vote. Only the superintendent or his delegated high school principal shall have the right to vote in the
nomination and election of Representative Council members.
Section 7. Meetings
. The Representative Council shall meet at the time of the annual state basketball tournament
upon call
by the Chairman of the Board, or by petition of a majority of the members of the Representative Council.
Section 8. Quorum. A majority of the members of the Representative Council shall constitute a quorum for
transaction of business.
Section 9.
The Executive Director of the Association shall serve as Secretary of the Representative Council and the
Chairperson of the Board shall serve as Chairperson of the Representative Council.
Section 10. It shall be the duty of the Representative Council to formulate the aims and policies of the Association for the
ensuing year and it shall have power to initiate amendments and new rules for Executive Director of the Association to
submit to the electorate.
Section 11. A school may be expelled from the Association by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire membership of the
Representative Council when so voted at a regular semiannual meeting or a called meeting. When so expelled, it shall not
be reinstated except by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Council at a regular semiannual meeting or a called meeting.
Section 12. No contract between the Board of Control and a candidate for the position of Executive Director of the
Association shall be effective until the proposed contract shall have been read and explained to and approved by the
Representative Council. The Representative Council may, by a vote of not less than seventeen of the twenty-five (25)
members, terminate such a contract before its expiration date for incompetency, inattention to duty, partiality,
influencing or attempting to influence the nominations or elections of members of the Board of Control or the
Representative Council, or for any other cause, after a full and fair investigation made at a meeting of the
Representative Council held for that purpose at which time the Executive Director of the Association shall be permitted to
present and make his/her defense allowing him/her a reasonable time therefore. This action shall be written into and
form a
part of any contract for the employment of an Executive Director of the Association.
ARTICLE XV
Section 1. Facsimile and Electronic Signatures
. In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures
elsewhere
specifically authorized in these Articles, facsimile and electronic signatures of any officer or officers of the Association may
be used whenever and as authorized by the Board or a committee thereof. An “electronic signature”
is any electronic symbol
or process attached to or logically associated with a document sent by electronic transmission and executed or adopted by a
person with the intent to sign such document. “Electronic signature” includes: (i) a unique
password or unique identification
assigned to a person by the Association; (ii) a person’s typed name attached to or part of an electronic transmission
sent by or from a source authorized by such person such as an e-mail address provided by such person as that person’s e-
mail address; (iii) a person’s facsimile signature; and (iv) any other form of electronic signature approved by the Board.
Section 2. Seal. The Association shall not adopt an official seal.
Section 3. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall be from the first day of July through the last day of June.
Section 4. Association Records. The books and records of the Association shall be kept (except that the member list
must also be kept at the places described in Article VII, Section 13 of these Articles) at the principal office of the Association.
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Section 5. Members’ Right to Information.
a.
A member of the Association is entitled to inspect and copy, during regular business hours at the Association’s
principal office, any of the following records of the Association: (i) Articles or restated articles of incorporation and all
amendments currently in effect; (ii) Bylaws or restated bylaws and all amendments currently in effect; (iii) minutes of all
members’ meetings and records of all action taken by members without a meeting, for the past three (3) years; (iv) all
written communications to members generally within the past three (3) years; including the financial statements
furnished for the past three (3) years; (v) a list of the names and business addresses of the Association’s current
directors and officers; and (vi) the Association’s most recent biennial report delivered to the Iowa Secretary of State,
provided the member shall have given the Association written notice of the member’s demand at least (5) business
days before the date on which the member wishes to inspect and copy.
b.
Subject to paragraphs (e) and (f) below, if a member makes a demand in good faith and for a proper purpose, the
member describes with reasonable particularity the member’s purpose and the records the member desires to inspect,
and the records requested, are directly connected with the member’s stated purpose, then the member shall be entitled
to
inspect and copy, during regular business hours at a reasonable location specified by the Association, any of the
following records of the Association provided the member gives the Association written notice of the member’s demand
at
least ten (10) business days before the date on which the member wishes to inspect and copy any of the following;
(i)
excerpts from minutes of any meeting of the Board, records of any actions of a committee of the Board while acting
in place of the Board on behalf of the Association, minutes of any meeting of the members, and records of action
taken by the members of the Board without a meeting to the extent not subject to inspection under paragraph (a)
above; (ii) accounting records of the Association; and (iii) the membership list of the Association.
c.
Upon written request from a member, the Association, at its expense, shall furnish to that member the annual
financial statements of the Association, including a balance sheet and income statement and, if the annual financial
statements are reported upon by a public accountant, that report must accompany them.
d.
The Association may impose a reasonable charge, covering the costs of labor and material, for copies of any
documents provided to the member. The charge shall not exceed the estimated cost of production or reproduction of the
records.
e.
Without the consent of the Board, no Association record may be obtained or used by any person for any purpose
unrelated to the member’s interest as a member.
f.
The Association may, within ten (10) days after receiving a demand for the inspection of the membership list, deliver a
written offer of an alternative method of achieving the purpose identified in the demand without providing access to
or a
copy of the membership list. A reasonable alternative may include a member-prepared communication mailed by
the
Association at the expense of the member.
Section 6. Director’s Access to Records. A director is entitled to inspect and copy the books, records, and documents of
the Association at any reasonable time to the extent reasonably related to the performance of the director’s duties as a
director, including any duties as a member of a committee, but not for any other purpose or in any manner that would
violate any duty to the Association.
Section 7. Electronic Transmissions. “Electronic transmission” or “electronically transmitted” means any
process of
communication not directly involving the physical transfer of paper that is suitable for the retention, retrieval, and reproduction
of information by the recipient. Notice by electronic transmission is written notice. Notices and written consents may be given
by electronic transmission. Each written consent given by electronic transmission shall contain
an electronic signature of the
person giving such written consent.
ARTICLE XVI The Bylaws of the Association shall be as stated in the Association Handbook, and can be found at:
www.iahsaa.org
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I - BYLAWS
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY, PART I, TITLE VI INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION, Chapter 36
EXTRACURRICULAR
INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION
[Prior to 9/7/88, see Public Instruction Department (670) Ch 9]
281-36.1 (280) Definitions
. Whenever the following terms are used, they shall refer to the following definitions: “All-star”
means a secondary student from a high school interscholastic athletic team whose outstanding performance
is the basis for
the student’s selection to compete individually in an all-star contest, or on an all-star high school team to compete with other
all-stars from several other high school teams against another all-star team in a contest created for an all-star contest. An
“all-star” shall not include a 12
th
grade student whose interscholastic athletic season for the sport in question has
concluded. [NOTE, however, that Bylaw 14.6 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (as revised 7/30/10
states that a “student-athlete shall be denied the first year of intercollegiate athletics competition if, following completion
of high-school eligibility in the student-athlete’s sport and prior to the student- athlete’s high-school graduation, the
student-athlete competes in more than two all-star football contests or two all- star basketball contests.]
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“All-star contest” means an event for which admission is charged at which all-stars compete during the school year
against
other all-stars, either individually or as all-star teams. “All-star contests” shall not include non-invitational events
for which
students audition or try-out or the auditions [are] try-outs themselves.
“Associate member school” means a non-accredited nonpublic school that has been granted associate member status by
any corporation, association, or organization registered with the state department of education pursuant to Iowa Code
section 280.13, upon approval by the department based upon proof of compliance:
1.
Iowa Code Section 279.19B, and rules adopted by the Department of Education related to the qualifications of the
affected teaching staff, and
2.
The student eligibility rules of this chapter.
Associate membership is subject to the requirements, dues, or other obligations established by the organization for
which
associate membership is sought.
“Coach” means an individual, with coaching endorsement or authorization as required by Iowa law, employed by a
school district under the provisions of an extracurricular athletic contract or employed by a nonpublic school in a position
responsible for an extracurricular athletic activity. “Coach” also includes an individual who instructs, diagnoses,
prescribes, evaluates, assists, or directs student learning of an interscholastic endeavor on a voluntary basis on behalf
of a
school or school district.
“Compete” means participating in an interscholastic contest or competition, and includes dressing in full team uniform
for
the interscholastic contest or competition, as well as participating in pre-game warm-up exercises with team
members.
“Compete” does not include any managerial, recordkeeping, or other non-competitor functions performed
by a student on
behalf of a member or associate member school.
“Department” means the State Department of Education.
“Dropout” means a student who quit school because of extenuating circumstances over which the student had no
control or who voluntarily withdrew from school. This does not include a student who has been expelled or one who was
doing failing work when the student voluntarily dropped from school.
“Executive Board” means the governing body authorized under a constitution or bylaws to establish policy for an
organization registered under this chapter.
“Executive officer” means the executive director or secretary of each governing organization.
“Member school,” for the purposes of this chapter, means a public school or accredited nonpublic school that has been
granted such status by any corporation, association, or organization registered with the state department of education
pursuant to Iowa Code section 280.13.
“Parent” means the natural or adoptive parent having actual bona fide custody of a student.
“Student” means a person under 20 years of age enrolled in grades 9 through 12. For the purposes of these rules, ninth
grade begins with the summer immediately following eighth grade. The rules contained herein shall apply uniformly to
all students.
“Superintendent” means a superintendent of a local school or a duly authorized representative.
281-36.2(280) Registered organizations. Organizations registered with the department include the following:
36.2(1) Iowa High School Athletic Association (hereinafter Association).
36.2(2) Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (hereinafter Union).
36.2(3) Iowa High School Music Association (hereinafter Music Association).
36.2(4)
Iowa High School Speech Association (hereinafter Speech Association).
36.2(5)
Unified Iowa High School Activities Federation (hereinafter Federation).
281-36.3(280) Filings by organizations
. Each organization shall maintain a current file with the State
Department of
Education of the following items:
36.3(1) Constitution and Bylaws which must have the approval of the State Board of Education.
36.3(2) Current membership and associate membership lists.
36.3(3) Organization policies.
36.3(4) Minutes of all meetings of organization boards.
36.3(5) Proposed Constitution and Bylaws amendments or revisions.
36.3(6) Audit reports.
36.3(7) General bulletins.
36.3(8) Other information pertinent to clarifying organization administration.
281-36.4(280) Executive Board. Each organization shall have some representation from school
administrators,
teachers, and elective school officers on its Executive Board; provided, however, that the membership
shall include the
following:
36.4(1) School board member
. One member who shall be a member of a school board in Iowa, appointed
by the Iowa
Association of School Boards to represent the lay public.
36.4(2) Activity member. One member, who is either a coach, sponsor, or director of an activity sponsored by the
2021-2022 HANDBOOK -29-
organization to which the member is elected and who works directly with the students or the program. This member is to
be elected by ballot of the member schools, the vote to be cast by the school’s designated representative of the
organization involved.
36.4(3) Organization elections. The election procedure for each organization shall be conducted as provided by the
organization’s constitution. All criteria for protecting the voter’s anonymity and ensuring adequate notice of
elections shall be maintained in the election procedures. In addition, there shall be one
representative designated by
the department director present at the counting of all ballots. That representative
shall also validate election results.
281-36.5(280) Federation membership.
The Federation, in addition to conforming to other requirements in
this Section,
shall have in its membership the Executive Board of the Association, Union, Music Association, Speech Association, and
the school administrators of Iowa.
281-36.6(280) Salaries
. No remuneration, salary, or remittance shall be made to any member of an Executive
Board,
Representative Council, or Advisory Committee of an organization for the member’s service.
281-36.7(280) Expenses
. Travel and actual expenses of Executive Board members, Representative Council
members,
Advisory Committee members, and officers shall be paid from organizational funds only when on official business for the
organization. Actual expenses shall be paid for travel for transportation outside the state, along with
necessary and
reasonable expenses which shall be itemized. Itemized accounting of the travel and business expenses
of employees shall be
furnished to the Department in an annual report on a form prescribed by the Department.
281-36.8(280) Financial report. Full and detailed reports of all receipts and expenditures shall be filed annually with
the Department of Education.
281-36.9(280) Bond. The Executive Board of each activity organization shall purchase a blanket fidelity bond from a
corporate surety approved by it, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of the executive officer, the members
of the Executive Board, and all other employees of the activity organization. Such blanket bond shall be in a penal amount
set by the Executive Board and shall be the sum of 50% of the largest amount of moneys on hand in any 30-day period
during the preceding fiscal year, and 20% of the net valuation of all assets of the activity organization as of the close of
the last fiscal year, but such bond shall in no case be in an amount less than $10,000.
281-36.10(280) Audit.
The financial condition and transaction of all organizations shall be examined once each
year, or
more often if directed by the Director of Education, by either a certified public accountant chosen by the organization or
by a committee chosen by the Organization and approved by the Director of Education.
281-36.11 (280) Examinations by auditors. Auditors shall have the right while making the examination to examine all
organization papers, books, records, tickets, and documents of any of the officers and employees of the organizations, and
shall have the right in the presence of the custodian or deputy, to have access to the cash drawers and cash in the official
custody of the officer and to the records of any depository which has funds of the organization in its custody.
281-36.12(280) Access to records. Upon request, organizations shall make available to the State
Department of
Education or its delegated representative all records, data, written policies, books, accounts, and other
materials relating to
any or all aspects of their operations.
281-36.13(280) Appearance before State Board. At the request of the State Board of Education or its
executive officer,
members of the governing boards and employees of the organizations shall appear before and give
full accounting and
details on the aforesaid matters to the State Board of Education.
281-36.14(280) Interscholastic athletics
. In addition to the requirements of Rule 36.15(280), organizations
shall prescribe
and implement the rules described below for participants in interscholastic athletic competition.
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36.14(1) Physical examination
. Every year each student shall present to the student’s superintendent
a certificate
signed by a licensed physician and surgeon, osteopathic physician and surgeon, osteopath, qualified doctor of
chiropractic, licensed physician’s assistant, or advanced registered nurse practitioner, to the effect that the
student has been examined and may safely engage in athletic competition.
Each doctor of chiropractic licensed as of July 1, 1974, shall affirm on each certificate of physical examination
completed that the affidavit required by Iowa Code Section 151.8 is on file with the Iowa Board of Chiropractic
Examiners.
The certificate of physical examination is valid for the purpose of this rule for one calendar year. A grace period not to
exceed 30 calendar days is allowed for expired physical certifications.
36.14(2) Sportsmanship. It is the clear obligation of member and associate member schools to ensure that their
contestants, coaches, and spectators in all interscholastic competitions to practice the highest principles of
sportsmanship and ethics of competition. The governing organization shall have authority to penalize any
member school, associate member school, contestant, or coach in violation of this obligation.
36.14(3) Awards.
a.
Awards from a secondary school or registered organization. A student will be permitted to receive from the
student’s school, another secondary school, a registered organization, or the host of an event sanctioned by
a
registered organization, for participation in an interscholastic athletic program, an award whose value cannot
exceed $50.
b.
Awards for participation in school programs from an individual or organization other than a secondary school
or
registered organization. No student shall receive any award from an individual or outside organization, for high
school participation while enrolled in high school, except that nothing in this subrule shall preclude the giving
of a complimentary dinner by local individuals, organizations, or groups, with approval of the
superintendent, to members of the local high school athletic squad. No student shall accept any trip or
excursion of any kind by any individual, organization, or group outside the student’s own school or the
governing organization, with the exception of bona fide recruiting trips that meet NCAA requirements. Nothing
in
this subrule shall preclude or prevent the awarding and the acceptance of an inexpensive, unmounted,
unframed paper certificate of recognition as an award, or an inexpensive table favor which is given to everyone
attending a banquet.
c.
Awards for participation in non-school programs. If a student participates in an outside school activity, the
student may receive any award provided that the award does not violate the amateur award rule of the amateur
sanctioning body for that sport. In the absence of an applicable amateur award rule, the student may not
receive any award the value of which exceeds $50.
d.
Absolute prohibition on cash. At no time may any student accept an award of cash.
e.
Compliance. The superintendent or designee shall be held responsible for compliance with this subrule.
Questions or interpretation regarding medals or awards shall be referred to the executive board.
36.14(4) Interstate competition
. Every student participating in interstate athletic competition on behalf
of the
student’s school must meet the eligibility rules.
36.14(5) Competition seasons. The length of training periods and competition seasons shall be determined
solely by the governing organization.
36.14(6) Tournaments. The number and type of state tournaments for the various sports shall be
determined
by the organization. In scheduling and conducting these tournaments, the organization shall have the final authority
for determining the tournament eligibility of all participants. Organization bylaws shall provide
for a timely method of
seeking an internal review of initial decisions regarding tournament eligibility.
36.14(7) Ineligible player participation. Member or associate member schools that permit or allow participation in
any event by a person in violation of the eligibility rules or by a student who has been suspended shall be subject to
sanctions the Executive Board may, in the best interests of interscholastic competition, impose, including
forfeiture of contests. The sanctions may include, but are not limited to, the following: forfeiture of contests or
events or both, involving any ineligible student(s); adjustment or relinquishment of
conference/district/tournament standings; and return of team awards or individual awards or both.
If a student who has been declared ineligible or who has been suspended is permitted to participate in an
interscholastic competition because of a current restraining order or injunction against the school, registered
organization, or department of education, and if such restraining order or injunction subsequently is voluntarily
vacated, stayed, reversed, or finally determined by the courts not to justify injunctive relief, the sanctions listed
above
may be imposed.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 280.13.
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281-36.15(280) Eligibility requirements.
36.15(1) Local eligibility and student conduct rules. Local boards of education may impose additional eligibility
requirements not in conflict with these rules. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent a local school board from
declaring a student ineligible to participate in interscholastic competition by reason of the student’s violation of rules
adopted by the school pursuant to Iowa Code Sections 279.8 and 279.9. A member or associate member school shall
not allow any student, including any transfer student, to compete until such time as the school has reasonably
reliable proof that the student is eligible to compete for the member or associate member school under these rules.
36.15(2) Scholarship rules.
a.
All contestants must be enrolled and in good standing in a school that is a member or associate member in good
standing of the organization sponsoring the event.
b.
All contestants must be under 20 years of age.
c.
All contestants shall be enrolled students of the school in good standing. They shall receive credit in at least four
subjects, each of one period or “hour” or the equivalent thereof, at all times. To qualify under this rule, a
“subject”
must meet the requirements of 281—Chapter 12. Coursework taken from a postsecondary institution
and for which a
school district or accredited nonpublic school grants academic credit toward high school graduation shall be
used in determining eligibility. No student shall be denied eligibility if the student’s school program deviates from
the traditional two-semester school year.
(1)
Each contestant shall be passing all coursework for which credit is given and shall be making adequate
progress toward graduation requirements at the end of each grading period. Grading period, graduation
requirements, and any interim periods of ineligibility are determined by local policy. For purposes of this
subrule, “grading period” shall mean the period of time at the end of which a student in grades 9 through 12
receives a final grade and course credit is awarded for passing grades.
(2)
If at the end of any grading period a contestant is given a failing grade in any course for which credit is
awarded, the contestant is ineligible to dress for and compete in the next occurring interscholastic athletic
contests and competitions in which the contestant is a contestant for 30 consecutive calendar days unless
the student has already served a period of ineligibility for 30 consecutive calendar days in another school
sponsored activity. A student shall not serve multiple periods of ineligibility because of a failing grade.
d.
A student with a disability who has an individualized education program shall not be denied eligibility on the
basis of
scholarship if the student is making adequate progress, as determined by school officials, towards the
goals and
objectives on the student’s individualized education program.
e.
A student who meets all other qualifications may be eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics for a maximum
of eight consecutive semesters upon entering the ninth grade for the first time. However, a student who engages in
athletics during the summer following eighth grade is also eligible to compete during the summer following
twelfth grade. Extenuating circumstances, such as health, may be the basis for an appeal to the executive board
which may extend the eligibility of a student when the executive board finds that the interests of the student and
interscholastic athletics will be benefited.
f.
All member schools shall provide appropriate interventions and necessary academic supports for students
who fail
or who are at risk to fail, and shall report to the department regarding those interventions on the
comprehensive school improvement plan.
g.
A student is academically eligible upon entering the ninth grade.
h.
A student is not eligible to participate in an interscholastic sport if the student has, in that same sport,
participated in a contest with or against, or trained with, a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA),
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA),
or
other collegiate governing organization’s sanctioned team. A student may not participate with or against high
school graduates if the graduates represent a collegiate institution or if the event is sanctioned or sponsored
by a collegiate institution. Nothing in this subrule shall preclude a student from participating in a one-time tryout
with or against members of a college team with permission from the member school’s administration and the
respective collegiate institution’s athletic administration.
i.
No student shall be eligible to participate in any given interscholastic athletic sport if the student has engaged
in that
sport professionally.
j.
The local superintendent of schools, with the approval of the local board of education, may give permission to a
dropout student to participate in athletics upon return to school if the student is otherwise eligible under these
rules.
k.
Remediation of a failing grade by way of summer school or other means shall not affect the student’s
ineligibility. All failing grades shall be reported to any school to which the student transfers.
36.15(3) General transfer rule.
A student who transfers from a school in another state or country or from one member or
associate member school to another member or associate member school, shall be ineligible
to compete in
interscholastic athletics for a period of 90 consecutive school days, as defined in 281-Subrule 12.1(256), exclusive of
summer enrollment, unless one of the exceptions listed in paragraph 36.15(3) “a” applies. The period of ineligibility
applies only to varsity level contests and competitions. (“Varsity” means the highest level of competition offered by one
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school or school district against the highest level of competition offered by an opposing school or school district.) The
student will become eligible at 4:00 PM on the 90
th
day. In ruling upon the eligibility of transfer students, the executive
board shall consider the factors motivating student changes in residency. Unless otherwise provided in these rules,
a student intending to establish residency must show that the student is physically present in the district for the purpose
of making a home and not solely for school or athletic purposes.
a.
Exceptions. The Executive Officer or Executive Board shall consider and apply the following exceptions in formally
or informally ruling upon the eligibility of a transfer student and may make eligibility contingent upon proof that the
student has been in attendance in the new school for at least ten school days:
(1)
Upon contemporaneous change in parental residence, a student is immediately eligible if the student
transfers to the new district of residence or to an accredited nonpublic member or associate member school
located in the new school district of residence. In addition, if with a contemporaneous change in parental
residence, the student had attended an accredited nonpublic member or associate member school
immediately prior to the change in parental residence, the student may have immediate eligibility if the student
transfers to another accredited nonpublic member or associate member school.
(2)
If the student is attending in a school district as a result of a whole-grade sharing agreement between the
student’s resident district and the new school district of attendance, the student is immediately eligible.
(3)
A student who has attended high school in a district other than where the student’s parent(s) resides, and who
subsequently returns to live with the student’s parent(s) becomes immediately eligible in the parent’s
resident district.
(4)
Pursuant to Iowa Code Section 256.46, a student whose residence changes due to any of the following
circumstances is immediately eligible provided the student meets all other eligibility requirements in these rules
and those set by the school of attendance:
1.
Adoption.
2.
Placement in foster or shelter care.
3.
Participation in a foreign exchange program recognized by the school of attendance.
4.
Placement in a juvenile correction facility.
5.
Participation in a substance abuse program.
6.
Participation in a mental health program.
7.
Court decree that the student is a ward of the state or of the court.
8.
The child is living with one of the child’s parents as a result of divorce, separation, death, or other change
in the child’s parents’ marital relationship, or pursuant to other court-ordered decree or order of custody.
(5)
A transfer student who attends in a member or associate member school or school that is a party to a
cooperative student participation agreement, as defined in rule 36.20(280), with the member or associate
member school the student previously attended is immediately eligible in the new district to compete in those
interscholastic athletic activities covered by the cooperative agreement.
(6)
Any student whose parents change district of residence but who remains in the original district without
interruption in attendance continues to be eligible in the member or associate member school of attendance.
(7)
A special education student whose attendance center changes due to a change in placement agreed to by
the
district of residence is eligible in either the resident district or the district of attendance, but not both.
(8)
A student who is found by the attending district to be a homeless child or youth as defined in rule 281-
33.2(256).
(9)
In any transfer situation not provided for elsewhere in this chapter, the Executive Board shall exercise its
administrative authority to make any eligibility ruling which it deems to be fair and reasonable. The Executive
Board shall consider the motivating factors for the student transfer. The determination shall be made in writing
with the reasons for the determination clearly delineated.
b.
In ruling upon the transfer of students who have been emancipated by marriage or have reached the age of majority,
the Executive Board shall consider all circumstances with regard to the transfer to determine if it is principally for
school or athletic purposes, in which case participation shall not be approved.
c.
A student who participates in the name of a member or associate member school during the summer following
eighth grade is ineligible to participate in the name of another member or associate member school in the first 90
consecutive school days of ninth grade unless a change of residence has occurred after the student began
participating in the summer.
d.
A school district that has more than one high school in its district shall set its own eligibility policies regarding
intradistrict transfers.
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256.46
INELIGIBLE TRANSFER STUDENTS:
The state board shall adopt rules that permit a child who does not meet the residence requirements for participation
in
extracurricular interscholastic contests or competitions sponsored or administered by an organization as defined in
Section
280.13 to participate in the contests or competitions immediately if the child is duly enrolled in a school, is otherwise
eligible to participate, and meets one of the following circumstances or similar circumstance: the child has been adopted;
the child is placed under foster or shelter care; the child is living with one of the child’s parents as a result of divorce,
separation, death, or other change in the child’s parents’ marital relationship, or pursuant to other
court-ordered decree or
order of custody; the child is a foreign exchange student ,unless undue influence was exerted
to place the child for primarily
athletic purposes; the child has been placed in a juvenile correctional facility; the child is a ward of the court or the state; the
child is a participant in a substance abuse or mental health program; or the child is enrolled in an accredited nonpublic
high school because the child’s district of residence has entered into a whole grade sharing agreement for the pupil’s
grade with another district. The rules
shall permit a child who is otherwise eligible to participate, but who does not meet
one of the foregoing or similar circumstances relating to residence requirements, to participate at any level of
competition other than the varsity level. For purposes of this section and section 282.18, “varsity” means the highest level
of competition offered by one school or school district against the highest level of competition offered by one school or
school district against the highest level of competition offered by an opposing school or school district.
On May 20, 2021, Governor Reynolds signed into law HF847 which impacts Open Enrollment Eligibility Rules.
At the time of this publication, those changes had not yet been reflected in the language in sections of the
Iowa Code listed below. Administrators should refer to guidance provided by the Department of Education
on July 2, 2021 regarding updated eligibility rules for open enrollment students. That guidance can be found
at: https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/2021-07-02_AthleticEligibilityGuidance.pdf . When the
language in Iowa Code is updated, the section below will also be updated.
36.15(4) Open enrollment transfer rule. A student in grades 9 through 12 whose transfer of schools had occurred due to
a request for open enrollment by the student’s parent or guardian is ineligible to compete in interscholastic athletics, during
the first 90 school days of transfer except that a student may participate immediately if the student is entering grade 9 for
the first time and did not participate in an interscholastic athletic competition for another school during the summer
immediately following eighth grade. The period of ineligibility applies only to varsity level contests and competitions.
(“Varsity” means the highest level of competition offered by one school or school district against the highest level of
competition offered by an opposing school or school district.) The student will become eligible at 4:00 PM on the 90
th
day.
This period of ineligibility does not apply if the student:
a.
Participates in an athletic activity in the receiving district that is not available in the district of residence; or
b.
Participates in an athletic activity for which the resident and receiving districts have a cooperative student participation
agreement pursuant to Rule 36.20(280); or
c.
Has paid tuition for one or more years to the receiving school district prior to making application for and being
granted open enrollment; or
d.
Has attended in the receiving district for one or more years prior to making application for and being granted open
enrollment under a sharing or mutual agreement between the resident and receiving districts; or
e.
Has been participating in open enrollment and whose parents/guardians move out of their district of residence but
exercise either the option of remaining in the original open enrollment district or enrolling in the new district of residence.
If the pupil has established athletic eligibility under open enrollment, it is continued despite the parent’s or guardian’s
change in residence; or
f.
Has not been participating in open enrollment but utilizes open enrollment to remain in the original district of residence
following a change of residence of the student’s parent(s). If the pupil has established athletic eligibility, it is continued
despite the parent’s or guardian’s change in residence; or
g.
Obtains open enrollment due to the dissolution and merger of the former district of residence under Iowa Code
Subsection 256.11(12); or
h.
Obtains open enrollment due to the pupil’s district of residence entering into a whole-grade sharing agreement on
or after July 1, 1990, including the grade in which the pupil would be enrolled at the start of the whole-grade sharing
agreement; or
i.
Participates in open enrollment and the parent/guardian is an active member of the armed forces and resides
in
permanent housing on government property provided by a branch of the armed services.
j.
if the district of residence determines that the pupil was previously subject to a founded incident of harassment or
bullying as defined in section 280.28 while attending school in the district of residence.
282.18(13) OPEN ENROLLMENT
A pupil who participates in open enrollment for purposes of attending a grade in grades nine through twelve in a
school district other than the district of residence is ineligible to participate in varsity interscholastic athletic contests
2021-2022 HANDBOOK -34-
and athletic competitions during the pupil’s first ninety school days of enrollment in the district except that the pupil may
participate immediately in a varsity interscholastic sport if the pupil is entering the grade nine for the first time and did
not participate in an interscholastic athletic competition for another school or school district during the summer
immediately following eighth grade, if the district of residence and the other school district jointly participate in the sport,
if
the sport in which the pupil wishes to participate is not offered in the district of residence, if the pupil chooses to use
open enrollment to attend school in another school district because the district in which the student previously attended
school was dissolved and merged with one or more contiguous school districts under section 265.11 subsection 12, if
the pupil participates in open enrollment because the pupil’s district of residence has entered into a whole grade sharing
agreement with another district for the pupil’s grade, of if the parent or guardian of the pupil participating in open
enrollment is an active member of the armed forces and resides in permanent housing on government property
provided by a branch of the armed services. A pupil who has paid tuition and attended school, or has attended school
pursuant to a mutual agreement between the
two districts, in a district other than the pupil’s district of residence for at
least one school year prior to March 10, 1989, is also eligible to participate immediately in interscholastic athletic
contests and athletic competitions under this section but only as a member of a team from the district that pupil
attended. For purposes of this subsection, “school days of enrollment” does not include enrollment in summer school.
For purposes of this subsection, “varsity” means the same as defined in section 256.46.
36.15(5) Eligibility for other enrollment options.
a. Shared-time students. A nonpublic school student who is enrolled only part-time in the public school district of
the student’s residence under a “shared-time” provision or for driver education is not eligible to compete in
interscholastic athletics in the public school district.
b. Dual enrollment. A student who receives competent private instruction, not in an accredited nonpublic or public
school, may seek dual enrollment in the public school of the student’s resident district and is eligible
to compete
in interscholastic athletic competition in the resident school district provided the student meets the
eligibility
requirements of these rules and those set by the public school of attendance.
If a student seeking such
dual enrollment is enrolled in an associate member school of the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union
or Iowa High School Athletic Association, the student is eligible for and may participate in interscholastic
athletic competition only for the associate member school or a school with which the associate
member school is in a cooperative sharing agreement. (Eligibility in such case is governed by 281 IAC
36.1(280).)
Any ineligibility imposed under this chapter shall begin with the first day of participation under
dual enrollment.
Any period of ineligibility applies only to varsity level contests and competitions. (“Varsity”
means the highest level of competition offered by one school or school district against the highest level of
competition offered by an opposing school or school district.)
c.
Competent private instruction
. A student who receives competent private instruction and is not dual-
enrolled in
a public school, may participate in and be eligible for interscholastic athletics at an accredited nonpublic
school if the student is accepted by that school and the student meets the eligibility requirements of
this chapter
and those set by the accredited nonpublic school where the student participates. Application shall
be made to the
accredited nonpublic school on a form provided by the Department of Education.
If a student seeking such participation is enrolled in an associate member school of the Iowa Girls’ High School
Athletic Union or Iowa High School Athletic Association, the student is eligible for and may participate in
interscholastic athletic competition only for the associate member school or a school with which the associate
member school is in a cooperative sharing agreement. (Eligibility in such case is governed by 281 IAC
36.1(280).)
Any ineligibility imposed under this chapter shall begin with the first day of participation with the accredited
nonpublic school. Any period of ineligibility applies only to varsity level contests and competitions. (“Varsity”
means the highest level of competition offered by one school or school district against the highest level of
competition offered by an opposing school or school district.)
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CAMP, CLINIC & NON-SCHOOL COACHING & STUDENT PARTICIPATION REGULATIONS
It is strongly recommended athletic directors have a preseason meeting with all coaches to clarify these rules.
The
coaches should then have a preseason meeting with players to explain the limitations under the rules.
281-36.15(6) Summer camps and clinics and coaching contacts out of season.
School personnel, whether employed or volunteers, of a member or associate member school shall not coach that
school’s student athletes during the school year in a sport for which the school personnel are currently under contract
or are volunteers, outside the period from the official first day of practice through the finals of tournament play. Provided,
however, school personnel may coach a senior student from the coach’s school in an all-star contest once the senior
student’s interscholastic athletic season for that sport has concluded. In addition, volunteer or compensated
coaching personnel shall not require students to participate in any activities outside the season of that coach’s sport as a
condition of participation in the coach’s sport during its season. The IHSAA and IGHSAU have established a “family
week” from Sunday of Week 4 (as per NFHS organizational calendar) through the Sunday of Week 5. During this
period, coaches are prohibited from having any contact of any kind with students.
•
A summer team or individual camp or clinic held at a member or associate member school facility shall
not conflict with
sports in season. Coaching activities between June 1 and the first day of fall sports practices shall not conflict with
sports in season. The associations in their discretion may establish a dead period up to 14 calendar days in
length. During a dead period coaches will not be allowed to have contact with students.
•
PENALTY
. A school whose volunteer or compensated coaching personnel violate this rule is ineligible
to participate in
a governing organization-sponsored event in that sport for one year with the violator(s) coaching.
36.15(7) Non-school team participation. The local school board shall by policy determine whether or not participation in
non-school athletic events during the same season is permitted and provide penalties for students who may be in violation
of the board’s policy.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 256.46, 280.13 and 282.18.
36.16(280) Executive Board Review. A student, parent of a minor student, or school contesting the ruling of a student’s
eligibility based on these rules, other than subrule 36.15(1), or paragraphs 36.15(2) “c”, “d”, “f”, and “k”, or a school
contesting a penalty imposed under subrule 36.15(6), paragraph “b,” shall be required to state the basis of the objections in
writing, and may also request an oral hearing, addressed to the executive officer of the board of the governing organization.
The executive officer shall schedule a hearing before the executive board on or before
the next regularly scheduled meeting
of the Executive Board, but not later than 20 calendar days following the receipt
of the objections unless a later time is mutually
agreeable. The executive board shall give at least 5 business days written notice of the hearing. The Executive Board shall
consider the evidence presented and issue findings and conclusions in a written decision within 5 business days of the
hearing, mailing a copy to appellant.
36.17(280) Appeals to Director. If the claimant is still dissatisfied, an appeal may be made in writing to the Director of
Education by giving written notice of the appeal to the State Director of Education with a copy by registered mail to the
Executive Officer of the governing organization. An appeal shall be in the form of an affidavit and shall be filed within 10
business days after the date of mailing of the decision of the governing organization. The Director of Education shall
establish a date for hearing within 20 calendar days of receipt of written notice of appeal by giving at least 5 business days
written notice of hearing to appellant unless another time is mutually agreeable.
The procedures for hearing adopted by the
State Board of Education and found at 281-Chapter 6 shall be applicable,
except that the decision of the Director is final.
Appeals to the Executive Board and the State Director are not contested cases under Iowa Code Subsection 17A.2(2).
281-36.18(280) Organization policies
. The constitution or bylaws of organizations sponsoring contests for
participation by
member schools shall reflect the following policies:
36.18(1) Expenditure policy. It shall be the expenditure policy of each organization, after payment of costs incurred in
36.6(280) to 36.9(280) and legitimate expenses for housing, equipment, and supplies
including by agreement with other
organizations having a mutual interest in interscholastic activities, to use all
receipts to promote and fiscally sponsor those
extracurricular interscholastic contests and competitions
deemed by it to be most beneficial to all eligible students enrolled
in member schools. Organizations with large
revenues may provide assistance in staff, space, equipment, and the transfer of
funds to other organizations whose contests or competitions do not generate sufficient moneys to carry out an adequate
program in their areas of service. Each organization shall make an annual payment to the Federation to cover the
necessary expenditures of the Federation. The amount of this payment shall be determined by the Federation.
36.18(2) Federation survey. A survey shall be made at least biennially, using a sampling procedure selected by the
Executive Committee of the Federation to determine in what extracurricular interscholastic
contests or competitions
students of member secondary schools would like to participate. The organizations
shall put high priority on the findings of
the survey in the determination of what interscholastic activities are to be sponsored.
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36.18(3) Calendar of events. The Federation shall establish yearly in advance a calendar of events for the interscholastic
contests and competitions sponsored by the organizations.
36.18(4) Information to local member schools
. The Federation shall distribute to member schools
the yearly calendar of
events and other information believed by officers of the Federation to be helpful to local school officials in providing a
comprehensive program of extracurricular interscholastic contests or competitions.
36.18(5) “All-star” contests. A student enrolled in a member or associate member school will be ineligible for 12
calendar months in the sport in which the violation occurred if the student participates in an all-star contest.
36.18(6) Team participation
. Participation in interscholastic contests or competitions shall be by school teams only and not
selected individuals, with the exception of individual sports events such as wrestling, track,
cross country, golf, tennis, and
music and speech activities.
36.18(7) Contests outside Iowa
. Out-of-state contest participation by a member school shall be limited
to regularly
scheduled interscholastic activities.
36.18(8) Promoting interstate contests.
No activity organization shall sponsor interstate contests or
competition between
individuals, teams, or groups.
36.18(9) Chaperones. It is the responsibility of all school districts to see that all teams or contestants are properly
chaperoned when engaged in interscholastic activities.
36.18(10) Membership. Membership in an organization shall be limited to schools accredited by the Department or
approved by the Department solely for purposes of associate membership in a registered organization.
281-36.19(280) Eligibility
in situations of district organization change. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this chapter,
in the event eligibility of one or more students is jeopardized or in question as a result of
actions beyond their control due
to pending reorganization of school districts approved by the voters under Iowa Code
Chapter 275; action of the district
boards of directors under Iowa Code Section 274.37; or the joint employment of personnel and sharing of facilities under
Iowa Code Section 280.15 and the result is a complete discontinuance of the
high school grades, or discontinuance of the
high school grades pursuant to Iowa Code Section 282.7, first paragraph,
the boards of directors of the school districts
involved may, by written agreement, determine the eligibility of students
for the time the district of residence does not provide
an activity program governed by this chapter. When the respective
boards have not provided by written agreement for the
eligibility of students whose eligibility is jeopardized or questioned four weeks prior to the normal established time for
beginning the activity, students or parents of students involved may request a determination of eligibility from the
governing body of the organization involved. All parties directly interested shall be given an opportunity to present their
views to the governing board.
A determination of eligibility by the governing board shall be based upon fairness and the best interests of the
students.
In the event that one or more parties involved in the request for determination before the governing board are
dissatisfied with the decision of the governing board, an appeal may be made by the dissatisfied party to the Director of the
Department under the provisions of 36.17(280). A decision of the Director in the matter shall be final.
The above provisions shall apply insofar as applicable to changes of organization entered into between two or more
nonpublic schools.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code Section 280.13.
281-36.20(280)* Cooperative student participation
. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,
in the event a
member or associate member school does not directly make participation in an interscholastic activity available to its
students, the governing board of the member or associate member school may, by formally adopted policy if among its
own attendance centers, or by written agreement with the governing board of another member or associate member
school, provide for the eligibility of its students in interscholastic activities provided by another member or associate
member school. The eligibility of students under a policy, insofar as applicable, or a written agreement is conditioned
upon the following:
36.20(1) All terms and conditions of the agreement are in writing;
36.20(2)
The attendance boundary of each school that is party to the agreement is contiguous to or contained
within the
attendance boundary of one of the other schools, unless the activity is not offered at any school contiguous to the party
district, or all schools that are contiguous refuse to negotiate an agreement with the party district, in which case the
contiguous requirement may be waived by the applicable governing organization. For the purposes of this rule, a
nonpublic school member will utilize the attendance boundaries of the public school in which its attendance center is
located;
36.20(3) Any interscholastic activity not available to students of the schools participating in the agreement may be
included in the agreement. A school’s students may be engaged in cooperative activities under the terms of only one
agreement;
However, if several schools are in a consortia cooperative agreement for a specific activity, they are not precluded from
2021-2022 HANDBOOK -37-
having a separate agreement with one or more of the same schools for a different activity as long as all schools of the
consortia agree to such a separate agreement.
36.20(4)
Agreements shall be for a minimum of one school year. Amendments may be made to agreements, including allowing
additional member schools to join an existing agreement, without necessarily extending the
time of existence of the
agreement.
36.20(5) All students participating under the agreement are enrolled in one of the schools, are in good standing, and
meet all other eligibility requirements of these rules;
36.20(6) A copy of the written agreement between the governing boards of the particular schools involved, and all
amendments to the agreement, shall be filed with the appropriate governing organization(s) no later than April 30 for the
subsequent year, unless exception is granted by the organization for good cause shown.
The agreements and amendments
shall be deemed approved unless denied by the governing organization(s)
within ten calendar days;
36.20(7) It is the purpose of this rule to allow individual students’ participation in interscholastic competition in
activities not available to them at the school they attend, through local policy or arrangements made between the
governing boards of the schools involved, so long as the interscholastic activities of other schools are not substantially
prejudiced. Substantial prejudice shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, situations where a cooperative sharing
effort
may result in an unfair domination of an activity, or substantial disruption of activity classifications and
management. In
the event an activity organization determines, after investigation, that an agreement between schools
developed under the
terms of these sub-rules results in substantial prejudice to other schools engaged in the activity, or the terms of the
agreement are not in conformity with the purpose and terms of this rule, the activity organization may give timely notice to
the schools involved that the local policy or agreement between them is null and void for the
purposes of this rule, insofar as
cooperative student participation is concerned with a particular activity. Determinations
are appealable to the Director of
Education under the applicable terms of 36.17(20). For notice to be timely, it must be given at least 45 calendar days prior
to the beginning of the activity season.
This rule became effective on January 8, 1986. However, prior written agreements in existence at the time of this rule’s
adoption shall continue in force and effect until terminated by the parties or by the terms of the existing agreement.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 280.13.
[Filed 12/13/66; amended 12/15/72, 10/12/73, 7/25/75]
[Filed 1/12/76, Notice 10/20/75 - published 1/26/76 effective 3/1/76]
[Filed 2/28/77, Notice 12/15/76 - published 3/23/77,
effective 4/27/77]
[Filed emergency 4/25/80 - published 5/14/80, effective 5/1/80]
[Filed 7/24/81, Notice 4/15/81- published 8/19/81, effective
9/25/81]
[Filed 5/20/82, Notice 2/17/82 - published 6/9/82, effective 8/1/82, 7/1/83]*
[Filed 11/14/85, Notice 7/31/85- published
12/4/85, effective 1/8/86] [Filed 11/14/86, Notice 8/27/86 - published 12/3/86, effective 1/7/87]** [Filed 11/14/86, Notice
9/10/86 - published 12/3/86, effective 1/7/87]** [Filed 8/19/88, Notice 6/29/88 - published 9/7/88, effective 10/12/88]
[Filed 5/12/89, Notices 2/8/89, 4/5/89 - published 5/31/89, effective 7/5/89]***
[Filed 9/15/89, Notice 7/26/89 - published
10/4/89, effective 11/8/89]
[Filed 1/17/92, Notice 10/2/91- published 2/5/92, effective 7/1/92]
[Filed 10/9/92, Notice 6/24/92 - published 10/28/92,
effective 12/2/92]
[Filed 2/12/93, Notice 9/16/92 - published 3/3/93, effective 4/7/93] [Filed 3/11/94, Notice 12/8/93 -
published 3/30/94, effective 5/4/94] [Filed emergency 5/20/94 - published 6/8/94, effective 5/29/94]
[Filed 9/9/94, Notice 6/8/94 - published 9/28/94, effective 11/2/94]
[Filed 11/17/94, Notice 9/28/94 - published 12/7/94,
effective 1/11/95]
[Filed emergency 2/26/96 - published 3/13/96, effective 3/13/96]
[Filed 9/13/96, Notice 7/17/96 - published
10/9/96, effective 11/13/96] [Filed emergency 11/25/96 - published 12/18/96, effective 11/25/96]
[Filed 2/13/97, Notice 12/18/96 - published 3/12/97, effective 4/16/97]***
[Filed 8/8/97, Notice 6/4/97 - published 8/27/97,
effective 10/1/97] [Filed 8/10/98, Notice 5/6/98 - published 9/9/98, effective 10/14/98] [Filed 4/19/02, Notice 2/6/02-
published 5/15/02, effective 6/19/02] [Filed 8/2/02, Notice 6/26/02-published 8/21/02, effective 9/25/02] [Filed 3/3/06,
Notice 12/7/05-published 3/29/06, effective 7/1/06]
*See Rule 36.20, last paragraph **See Education, Department of [281], IAB ***Two ARCs
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CHAPTER 17
OPEN ENROLLMENT
Open enrollment transfers are addressed in 281 IAC 36.15(4). In the event there is a question or concern that arises in
reference to the eligibility status of a student athlete due to open enrollment, kindly refer your questions to the Iowa High
School Athletic Association. The complete text of Open Enrollment is contained in Chapter 17; however, for student
eligibility purposes, applicable portions are mirrored in 36.15(4).
CHAPTER 37
EXTRACURRICULAR ATHLETIC ACTIVITY CONFERENCE FOR MEMBER SCHOOLS
281-37.1(280) Policy and purpose. It is the purpose of this chapter to provide a procedure ensuring that a
school desiring
to be a member of a conference providing extracurricular athletic contests and competitions for students
is granted this
opportunity. Membership shall be with other schools of comparable size and within reasonable geographic proximity.
For purposes of this chapter, member school means a school or school district granted such status by any corporation,
association, or organization registered with the state department of education pursuant to Iowa Code section 280.13, and
includes associate members.
37.2(280) Initial responsibility. The initial authority and responsibility for conference development, membership, and
alignment rests with the Board of Directors of each public school district and the authorities in charge of each nonpublic
school.
37.3(280) Complaint to the Director, Department of Education.
A member school that believes
it has been unfairly
excluded or prevented from obtaining membership in an athletic activity conference that would provide the opportunity for
participation of its students in athletic events or contests with students from other member schools of comparable size and
within reasonable geographic proximity may file a complaint stating this concern with the Director of the Department of
Education. The complaint shall set forth in a plain and concise manner the reasons the member school believes the
Director should intervene in conference
alignment decisions and the specific relief requested by the member school. The
complaint shall be signed by
the President of the Board of Directors of a public school district or a representative of the
officials in charge of an accredited nonpublic school. The Director or the director’s designee shall, within 10 days,
acknowledge to the member school receipt of the complaint in writing.
37.4(280) Mediation.
The Director of the Department of Education shall require that the Executive Director of the Iowa High
School Athletic Association (hereinafter Association) and the Executive Secretary of the Iowa
Girls High School Athletic
Union (hereinafter Union) organizations recognized in 281-Chapter 36, or their
designees, form a mediation team to meet
with the complainant and representatives of other affected member
schools. If the complaint involves conference alignment
for athletic activities represented by only one of the organizations, only that organization shall be involved in the mediation.
A copy of all materials filed with the Director by the complainant member school shall be provided to the mediation team.
The mediation team shall meet with administrators or board members of schools potentially affected by changes in
conference alignment related to the complaint. Schools shall send representatives who have knowledge of the impact of
a conference realignment and full authority to respond on behalf of their member
school. Factors to be weighed in reaching
resolution will include, but not be limited to, school enrollment figures (current and projected), travel distances, comparability of
instructional programs, traditional rivalries, number
of existing and proposed schools in the conference, and comparability of
athletic programs and other school- sponsored programs.
37.5(280) Resolution or recommendation of the mediation team. If mediation results in resolution of the
complaint, no further action shall be necessary on the part of the Director, and the implementation of the mediation
agreement shall be left with the boards of directors of school districts and the
authorities in charge of nonpublic schools. If no
resolution is reached within 50 days of the start of the mediation
process, the mediation team shall make a recommendation
to the Director as to the best resolution of the complaint. Copies of this recommendation shall be given to all affected
member schools. The Director shall establish a time for a hearing on this recommendation within 45 days of the receipt of
the mediation team’s recommendation. The Director or director’s designee shall conduct the hearing at which time all
affected
parties shall be given the opportunity to provide oral or written testimony or submit other evidence. The Director
or
director’s designee shall reserve the right to establish time limits on appearances at the hearing.
37.6(280) Decision. In reaching a decision on the complaint, the Director shall consider information gathered by the
mediation team and its recommendation as well as the written and oral testimony from the hearing. In addition, the
Director or director’s designee may consult with other individuals, organizations, or conference representatives able to
provide input on a decision. If a designee of the Director conducts the hearing and review process, the findings of the
designee shall be reviewed by the Director. A final decision on the complaint shall be made by the Director. The decision
may affect conference realignment or direct other appropriate relief to remedy the complaint. The Director shall make a
decision within 60 days of the hearing, and copies of the decision shall be provided to all affected parties.
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37.7(280) Effective date of the decision
. If the decision requires conference realignment, the date of
this change shall be
made with deference given to existing contracts and commitments. Alignment changes shall be made for 4-year periods
with automatic review by the Director after 2 years so that further necessary
changes take effect at the conclusion of the 4-
year period, unless agreement exists that implementation of the
changes can occur at an earlier date.
UNIFORM SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS, SECTION 280.13
280.13 Requirements for interscholastic contests and competitions. A public school shall not
participate in or allow
students representing a public school to participate in any extracurricular interscholastic contest or competition which is
sponsored or administered by an organization as defined in the section unless the organization
is registered with the
Department of Education, files financial statements with the Department in the form and at the intervals prescribed by the
Director of the Department of Education, and is in compliance with rules which the State
Board of Education adopts for the
proper administration, supervision, operation, adoption of eligibility requirements, and scheduling of extracurricular
interscholastic contests and competitions and the organizations. For the purposes of this section “organization” means a
corporation, association, or organization which has as one of its primary purposes
the sponsoring or administration of
extracurricular interscholastic contests or competitions, but does not include an agency of this state, a public or private
school or school board, or an athletic conference or other association whose interscholastic contests or competitions do
not include more than twenty schools.
280.13A Sharing Interscholastic Activities.
If a school district does not provide an interscholastic activity
for its students,
the Board of Directors of that school district may complete an agreement with another school district to provide for the
eligibility of its students in interscholastic activities provided by that other school district. A copy of
each agreement
completed under this section shall be filed with the appropriate organization, as organization is defined
in Section 280.13, not
later than April 30 of the school year preceding the school year in which the agreement takes
effect, unless an exception is
granted by the organization for good cause. An agreement completed under this section
shall be deemed approved unless
denied by the governing organization within ten days after its receipt. A governing
organization shall determine whether an
agreement would substantially prejudice the interscholastic activities of other
schools. An agreement denied by a
governing board under this section may be appealed to the State Board of Education under Chapter 290.
For the purpose of this section, substantial prejudice includes, but is not limited to, situations where shared
interscholastic activities may result in an unfair domination of an interscholastic activity or substantial disruption of activity
classifications and management.
It is not necessary that school districts that are parties to an agreement under this section must be engaged in sharing
academic programming and receiving supplementary weighting under Section 442.39.
INTERNAL REVIEW OF INITIAL DECISION OF ELIGIBILITY OF TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS
This procedure complies with 281 IAC 36.14(6).
1.
Any school or participant who objects to any initial decision of eligibility of continued participation of any participant
in an
IHSAA-sponsored tournament contest shall immediately, and no more than one hour thereafter, present to the
designated tournament contest manager a statement in writing setting forth said objections.
2.
If the initial decision of eligibility has been determined by any local tournament manager without consultation with
the
Executive Director, the final decision of eligibility shall then be vested in the Executive Director of the Association
or his
designated Assistant Executive Director.
3.
If the initial decision of eligibility has been made by the Executive Director or his Assistant, the final decision shall be
made by three or more Board of Control members present at the site of the tournament. If such number of Board of
Control members are not present at the tournament site, at least three members of the Board appointed by the
President or Vice-President of the Board shall be engaged in a telephone conference to hear and decide such
eligibility objection.
4.
The appeal decision made under either paragraph 2 or 3 above shall be based upon the written objections and the facts
related by the tournament manager.
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ARTICLE II- BYLAWS
PART II,
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
Section 15: Every student participating in athletic contests, whether held in or out of the state, must qualify for each
participation under Rules and Regulations of the Iowa High School Athletic Association without regard to any other
requirement.
Section 16: The use of undue influence by any person or entity directly or indirectly associated with any member school to
secure or encourage the enrollment of a student, or the residency of a student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) within the district
of a member school, shall result in the imposition of a sanction by this Association upon said member school. The
determination of said sanction shall be made by the Board of Control, but shall in no event be more severe
than the denial of
the member school’s participation in Iowa High School Athletic Association-sponsored tournament
competition for a period
of one year.
“Undue influence” shall be deemed to include, but not be limited to, offer(s) or acceptance of financial aid, reduced or
waived tuition fees, or any special privilege or recruiting procedure not generally available to all students upon the same
terms and conditions; transportation allowances; preference or assistance in acquisition of employment; and room, board,
or clothing.
Section 17:
It is the clear obligation of contestants, coaches, faculty members, principals, superintendents, boards of
education, and all official representatives of member schools in all interscholastic relationships to practice the highest principles
of sportsmanship and the ethics of competition. The Board of Control shall have full authority to penalize any
member school
whose representatives may be, in the opinion of the Board of Control, guilty of the violation of this obligation.
Section 18: There shall be no “all-star” contests. Participation by member schools, by their school officials, by their
teachers or coaches, directly or indirectly in the officiating, management, organization, supervision, player
selection,
coaching, or promotion of “all-star” high school teams, high school championship teams, or similar teams in
contests or
exhibitions in any sport, shall be a violation of the rules of the IHSAA. Violation of the rule by a school official, a teacher,
or coach shall cause that school where said school official, teacher, or coach is employed, to be suspended from
membership of IHSAA. Approved officials shall be suspended for promoting or officiating such
contests. Any student
participating in an unsanctioned contest mentioned in this rule automatically becomes ineligible
for contests under the rules of
this Association. [Note: School personnel may coach a senior student from the coach’s school in an all-star contest once the
senior student’s interscholastic athletic season for that sport has concluded.]
Section 19:
Whenever the superintendent makes local rules supplementary to, but not inconsistent with the rules
of this
Association, the superintendent has the authority to exclude a contestant from participation in contests for violation of
the local rules. The power of the superintendent to exclude in such case is absolute, and such cases shall not be reviewed
by the Board of Control.
ARTICLE III
BYLAWS ANNUAL MEETING
Section 1. Members’ Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the members shall be held on the second Monday in June
of each year at such place as the Board shall each year fix, or at such other place, time and date as the Board shall fix,
which date shall be within the earlier of the first six (6) months after the end of the Association’s fiscal year or fifteen (15)
months after the members’ last annual meeting.
Section 2. Board’s Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Board shall be held on the second Monday in June of each
year at such place as the Board shall each year fix, or at such other place, time, and date as the Board shall fix. Notice of
such meeting need not be given. Such meeting may be held at any other time or place as shall be specified in a notice
given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the board of directors or in a consent and waiver of notice
thereof signed by all the directors, at which meeting the same matters shall be acted upon as is above provided.
ARTICLE IV
BYLAWS
DUTIES OF ADMINISTRATORS
Section 20: The rules of the National Federation of State High School Associations shall govern the athletic contests of
this Association unless the Board of Control adopts other rules or modifies the National Federation rules. The Board of
Control has final authority for the playing rules of this Association.
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Section 21: No contest shall be held with any school not a member in good standing of this Association or an Association
member of the National Federation of State High School Associations.
Section 22: IHSAA Guidelines for INTRASTATE Competition
**The following guidelines will be adhered to for intrastate events requiring a sanction.
1.
Any event in which more than two member schools participate and is not sponsored, organized, or managed by a
member school shall require an intrastate sanction.
2.
No same sport events will be sanctioned on the date of state governing organizations sponsored events.
3.
All rules, regulations, and playing rules of the IHSAA shall apply.
Schools choosing to participate in intrastate events not sponsored, organized, or managed by a member school are
responsible for making certain the event is properly sanctioned by the IHSAA. Sanctioning forms are available for
intrastate events not sponsored, organized, or managed by a member school by contacting either the IHSAA.
**The following guidelines must be adhered to for competition in INTERSTATE contests:
1.
When competing against a school outside of Iowa, you must adhere to whichever state association rules are more
restrictive.
2.
Competition is allowed in states contiguous to Iowa and in the state of Kansas. Participating schools for events held in
Iowa must be from a state contiguous to Iowa or in the state of Kansas. Loss of school time decisions shall be made by the
administration of the participating schools. No sanction form is required (unless required by another state).
3.
No out of state competition is allowed on the date(s)of state association sponsored events. The IHSAA will not allow any
contest at a time when a state association sponsored contest is on the same day.
Section 23:
The superintendent of schools or his/her delegated high school principals shall be responsible for the
athletic
policy of the school and no contest shall be arranged with any team without his/her sanction. The superintendent or
his/her authorized faculty representative shall accompany teams on trips away from home.
Section 24: Official contracts furnished by the Board of Control must be used for all contests between schools. Any school
violating the contract may be suspended from membership for one year. No school suspended shall be reinstated until the
superintendent shall make personal or written application to the Board of Control.
Section 25: Expenses shall be arranged mutually between the participating school authorities for all games or contests
between members of this Association.
Section 26: Any coach of an athletic team or teams must hold a valid Iowa teacher’s certificate or practitioner license and
coaching endorsement. (See Article III, Section 3)
Section 27:
Neither coaches nor anyone else connected with the competing schools shall officiate in any contests.
All officials
used in interscholastic contests must be on the approved list of the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Note:
Interpretation found under “Registered Officials” in the Supplement.
Section 28: Contestants shall not be trained by member schools prior to the legal starting date or after the completion
of their sport season. Any violation of these rules shall cause the student to lose eligibility for all interscholastic
athletics.
ARTICLE V
BYLAWS (AMENDMENTS)
Section 1:
Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and rules shall be adopted by a referendum vote of member
schools by
electronic ballot in which the executive head of the school shall cast and electronically sign the vote of the school.
An amendment or rule may be initiated by (1) the Board of Control; (2) a petition signed by a minimum of 100 member
schools; (3) a majority vote of Representative Council.
The amendments to the Constitution and rules adopted by any referendum shall be made when voted for by a
majority of the membership on the day the ballots are electronically sent from the office of the Executive Director or by a 60%
vote of the ballots received.
SUPPLEMENT
OFFICIAL BOARD OF CONTROL INTERPRETATION OF THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
AND BYLAWS OF THE
IOWA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
The Board of Control is providing the following interpretations and clarifications with questions and answers on
various phases of the Constitution and Bylaws. If you do not find the answer to your exact situation, then you are
requested to contact the Association Office for an official ruling.
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HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES NOT PERMITTED TO PRACTICE OR
PARTICIPATE WITH OR AGAINST HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENT ATHLETES
High school graduates cannot practice with or against a high school team, or a student representing his/her high
school team, during the given sport season. Only coaches, students in good standing at the school, or students from
another school participating through an enrollment option provided for within the rules can participate in a school’s
practice sessions. This rule does not prohibit high school students from participating with or against high school
graduates through the Non-school Team Participation Rule (36.15(7).
This rule does not prohibit the local school district from allowing high school graduates to use their facilities for
practice purposes, but not for the purpose of practicing with or against a high school team, or a member of a high school
team, during the given sport season.
Scholarship Rule 36.15(2)h prohibits high school students from participating, and/or training, with or against college
athletes who are representing their collegiate institution or as part of an event sanctioned or sponsored by a collegiate
institution. Nothing in the rules prohibits a high school student from participating in a one-time tryout with or against
members of a college team with permission from the member school’s administration and the respective collegiate
institution’s athletic administration.
STUDENT CONDUCT
The local boards of education can make rules and regulations on good conduct. They can make rules and
regulations with regard to alcoholic beverages and dangerous drugs. Most school boards across the state have
adopted a good conduct rule. These rules apply to those students involved in extracurricular activities, most typically
athletics. They set up the disciplinary procedures which will be applied with regard to the students’ extracurricular activity
in the event of poor conduct. In order for a good conduct rule to be in force and effect, an individual school board must
adopt its own good conduct rule.
RECOMMENDED: BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY WHICH WOULD PREVENT A STUDENT FROM TRANSFERRING
INTO THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND BECOMING ELIGIBLE IMMEDIATELY IN
ORDER TO CIRCUMVENT ANOTHER
SCHOOL’S GOOD CONDUCT RULE
The Athletic Association recommends Boards of Education consider having a policy that would prevent a student
transferring into their school district and becoming eligible immediately in order to circumvent another school’s good
conduct rule. The Athletic Association, the Iowa Association of School Boards, and their legal counsels have agreed that
the following wording could be used for those Boards of Education who desire to have such a policy:
“Any student declared ineligible under the prior school district’s Good Conduct Rule and then, without having
completed the full period of ineligibility at that school, transfers to High School, will not be eligible for
interscholastic competition at High School until the full period of ineligibility has been completed. Once that time period
of ineligibility has been completed, the student is then immediately eligible for interscholastic competition at
High School as far as any Good Conduct Rule is concerned.”
Please remember the above is only a recommendation for Boards of Education to consider, and not mandatory.
INELIGIBILITY FOR USE OF ANABOLIC STEROIDS
A.
Steroid use is unsportsmanlike conduct in that it can give unfair athletic advantage to the user.
B.
Any athlete who uses anabolic steroids is subject to a ONE CALENDAR YEAR period of ineligibility from ALL high
school athletics.
C.
The only exception to an athlete who uses anabolic steroids being declared ineligible for one calendar year will be
if a
medical doctor signs an affidavit that they have prescribed anabolic steroids for the student-athlete. Information
regarding such usage must be filed with the high school principal or athletic director prior to the athlete taking part in
high school athletics.
SCHOOLS DESIRING TO PLAY UP IN CLASSIFICATION
The Board of Control will grant permission to any school to participate in a higher classification than their enrollment
places them in a sport with classifications. If a school requests and is granted permission, they will remain in the higher
classification for a two-year period. At the end of the two years, they could exercise their option again if they so desire.
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A school may play in a higher class in one sport and stay in their regular class in other sports. Each sport is treated
individually. Each sport will be classified based on BEDS enrollment. After the classes have been determined, any school
requesting to play in a higher classification will be ADDED to that class. EXAMPLE: Class 4-A has 48 schools; Class 3-A has
64 schools; if a 3-A school desires to play in the 4-A class, that school will be added to the 48 making the 4-A class 49
schools. The 3-A class will then become 63 schools. When this policy is used it will only affect the school desiring to
change classification.
STARTING NEW SPORTS
The Board of Control will not consider starting a new sport until at least 15% of the IHSAA’s members participate in that
sport and, at that time, the Board of Control will determine whether a tournament series will be sponsored by the IHSAA in
that sport.
LATE SCHEDULING OF GAMES
No football game may be scheduled after the start of the season without the approval of the Board of Control. Member
schools desiring to add games to their schedule should write to the IHSAA to request such permission. The Board of
Control will determine whether or not such games may be scheduled.
NON-VARSITY TEAMS PLAYING VARSITY TEAMS IN VARSITY COMPETITION
The following clarifies permissible interscholastic competition between varsity and non-varsity teams. Varsity teams
represent the highest level of competition offered by a school. Varsity teams may compete only against other varsity teams
in the following sports: football; basketball; and baseball; unless permission is granted by the IHSAA. When permission is
granted to permit varsity teams in football, basketball, or baseball to play non-varsity teams, the IHSAA individual athlete
participation rules apply. (Example: basketball has a 21 game limitation. A school may have 21 varsity games, 21 junior
varsity games, 21 sophomore games, and 21 freshmen games, however, a student cannot participate in more than 21
games combined.)
A student who is ineligible to compete in a varsity sport(s) for a period of 90 school days as a result of his/her transfer
between member schools is eligible to compete in non-varsity sports. However, if a non-varsity team is competing
against a varsity team, the competition shall be considered varsity competition for the purposes of the transfer rule
eligibility. As a result, a student who is ineligible to compete in varsity sports cannot compete against another school’s varsity
team in addition to the prohibition for competition for his/her own school’s varsity team.
Varsity teams may compete against non-varsity teams in the following sports without permission of the IHSAA: cross
country; bowling; swimming; track and field; soccer; tennis; golf; and wrestling.
PUBLIC ADDRESS ANNOUNCEMENT POLICY
The public address system at an IHSAA postseason event is not to be used as an open public forum for the
expression of views by individuals or organizations concerning political, philosophical, religious, or other matters
unrelated to the conduct of the event, or the management and safe use of the event site. For example, conducting a prayer
over the public address system is prohibited at IHSAA postseason or sponsored events
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
FOR ATHLETIC TEAMS AND CHEERLEADING SQUADS
The Iowa High School Athletic Association has a recognition program for academic achievement by athletic teams
and
cheerleading squads. We recognize those teams/squads which collectively have excelled in the classroom.
There are two awards: (1) Excellence in Academic Achievement. This award is given to the teams/squads who
achieve a combined grade point average of 3.00-3.24. (2) Distinguished Academic Achievement. This award is given
to the
teams/squads who achieve a combined grade point average of 3.25-4.00.
The “team/squad” is made up of all team/squad members, grades 10-12, or if your school has ninth-grade students
who
are part of the high school team/squad, their grades will be included with the team/squad average. The team/squad
average is
computed at the conclusion of a competition season. Managers are included as team members.
We ask that your grade point average be figured on the 4.00 system: A = 4.00; B = 3.00; C = 2.00; D = 1.00. The
following is the suggestion of grading periods to be used in each sport in making teams/squads eligible for academic
awards:
First Quarter: Boys - cross country; football; fall golf.
Third Quarter: Boys - basketball; bowling; wrestling; swimming.
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Fourth Quarter: Boys - golf; tennis; track; baseball.
If you are not on the quarter grading system or the school administrator desires to use the semester grades, the school
may adjust accordingly.
Awarded schools will receive a certificate for each team/squad recognized. Each team/squad member will also receive a
certificate of recognition. Please indicate on the application form the total number of team/squad members. Cheerleading
squads will be awarded for each sport season.
Special Education Students: Special education students will not be included in grade averages, but will be award
recipients.
Special education students must be verified as progressing in their individual program at the expected rate.
Teams/Squads: Team/squad includes all team members in grades 10 through 12 and any 9th-grade student
included
as part of the high school team at the conclusion of the season in that interscholastic sport.
EXAMPLE: There is one high school basketball team, not a JV team, not a sophomore team, not a freshman team, but all
students out for high school basketball are on the high school team.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COACHING AUTHORIZATION
Applicants for the coaching authorization should refer to the Department of Education’s guidelines. These may be found at
the Board of Educational Examiners website at www.boee.iowa.gov
.
DEFINITIONS: (as per Department of Education memorandum--April 12, 2004)
•
A coach is a person who holds a coaching authorization or coaching endorsement from the Iowa Board of
Educational Examiners, and who diagnoses, prescribes, evaluates, assists, or directs student learning of an
interscholastic athletic endeavor at a practice session or on the field of competition.
•
A volunteer coach is a person who holds a coaching authorization or coaching endorsement from the Iowa Board of
Educational Examiners, and who diagnoses, prescribes, evaluates, assists, or directs student learning of an
interscholastic athletic endeavor at a practice session or on the field of competition, but does not receive
compensation from a school or school district for his or her efforts.
•
An aide is a person who performs managerial duties (such as timing students, retrieving equipment, recording
statistical
information, etc.), but does not instruct, diagnose, prescribe, evaluate, assist, or direct student learning of an
interscholastic athletic endeavor at a practice session or on the field of competition. An aide does not hold a
coaching authorization or coaching endorsement from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.
Whether a person is an aide or a coach is dependent solely on the duties assumed by that person and not on the
person’s title or pay or whether the person is under contract to the school or school district. The duty about which there exists
the most concern is supervision.
An aide may supervise solely in the sense of passively observing students to ensure, for instance, that no injuries
are sustained. An aide may not supervise with a critical eye as students run through drills for the purpose of evaluating
their skills. After a coach has demonstrated a given technique, an aide may not observe for the purpose of ensuring that the
students are following the coach’s instructions correctly. To do so crosses the line from acting as an aide to performing as
a coach.
All coaches, whether paid or volunteer, are subject to all coach-athlete contact rules, as prescribed by Coach-
Athlete
Contact guidelines under 36.15(6).
Board of Educational Examiners Statement Regarding Student-Teachers/Practicum Students:
A student-teacher/practicum student from a college or university who does not have his/her respective coaching
authorization/endorsement is not allowed to perform the duties of a coach. They can only provide the duties described
and defined as an “aide.”
GIFT LAW ISSUES: WHAT COACHES AND A.D.S NEED TO KNOW
The Scenario: A clothing company contacts an activities director and coaching staff with a deal for their school. To get the
AD and coaches to recommend the company to the superintendent and school board members, the company wants to give
clothing to the AD and coaches.
The Reality: Iowa’s gift law (Iowa Code Chapter 68B) prohibits the above conduct.
The law applies to all public employees, which includes administrators, teachers, and coaches at school districts. The
gift law
prohibits a public employee or that person’s immediate family member from accepting or receiving, directly or indirectly, any
gift or series of gifts from a “restricted donor.”
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A restricted donor is defined in the law as a person or company who is or is seeking to be a party to a sale, purchase, lease,
or other type of contract with the employer of the public employee. Thus, in the above scenario the clothing company and
all of its representatives are restricted donors. They want a contract with the school district. They want to sell goods to the
district.
There are some exceptions to the prohibitions in the gift law. The ones that would most commonly occur regarding school
employees are as follows:
•
Non-monetary items with a value of three dollars or less that are received from any one donor during one calendar year
•
Informational material relevant to a public employee’s official functions, such as books, pamphlets, reports,
documents,
periodicals, or other information that is recorded in a written, audio, or visual format.
•
Anything available or distributed free of charge to members of the general public without regard to the official status
of the recipient.
The consequences for violating the gift law are severe. A person who knowingly and intentionally violates the gift law may
be punished in ALL of the following three ways:
•
Both donor and recipient are guilty of a serious misdemeanor. Serious misdemeanors are punishable by up to one year
incarceration and a fine between $250 and $1500, plus surcharge and court costs.
•
The gift law specifically gives the public employer permission to fire the employee who takes a gift in violation of
this law.
•
Finally, violation of the gift law is a violation of the Board of Educational Examiner’s Code of Ethics. Therefore, the
public employee who is also licensed by the BOEE could lose his or her license.
JUNIOR HIGH MEMBERSHIP
All junior high schools in the state of Iowa are automatically members if a high school of the same school system
subscribes to membership in the Association. These junior high schools will pay no dues and will be provided a Junior
High
Manual with rules and regulations which they must follow.
7th and/or 8th grades are referred to as a junior high school. Even if the 9th grade is located in the same building with
the 7th and 8th grades, the 7th and 8th grade organization will now be referred to as junior high school, and the 9th grade
students are regarded as high school students. Students in grades 7 and 8 may not compete interscholastically
against students in grade 9. For clarification of all junior high school regulations, please refer to the Junior High Sports
Manual, a separate publication mailed to each junior high school.
CLASSIFICATIONS
The Articles of Incorporation provides for two classifications of schools; the Class AA schools which comprise the 64
largest member schools, and the remaining member schools which are classified as Class A schools.
These classifications should not be confused with the various classifications which the Board of Control has
established in various activities, such as Classes 4-A 3-A, 2-A, and 1-A.
FILING A PROTEST
Filing a protest against another member school involving alleged violation of the Constitution and its provisions must
be in
writing to the Executive Director and the charges stipulated within four weeks after the alleged violation occurs. The
Executive Director will then give notice to the interested schools as to the time and place of the hearing before the Board of
Control.
Q 1: What is the procedure to follow in filing a protest to the Board of Control?
A: Article IX, Section 1, Item D states, “Charges of such protests shall be made in writing to the Executive Director
within four weeks after the alleged violation has taken place. The Executive Director will then give notice to the
interested schools of the place and time of the hearing before the Board of Control.”
GAME PROTESTS NOT UPHELD
The Board of Control will not uphold any protest by a member school arising from any interscholastic contest
involving the question of rules interpretation by any of the contest officials. This provision should not be confused with
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that as provided in Article IX, Section 1 as outlined above, which does provide for protests by member schools when
another member school might violate regulations such as the playing of ineligible athletes, failure to comply with
contract agreements, questionable conduct on the part of players, coaches, administrators, and fans, etc.
REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL
The legislative body of the Association is the Representative Council which is composed of 25 school administrators.
The state
of Iowa is divided into five districts and from each of these five districts, five school administrators are elected to serve on this
governing body.
Q 1: Where can we secure the names of the Representative Council members from our district?
A: The heading of your activities wall calendar carries a list of Representative Council members of the various
districts. Any change in personnel of this Council as a result of the fall elections will be published in the November or
December Bulletin of the Association and on our website.
Q 2: How many terms may Representative Council members serve?
A: Members of the Representative Council, according to Article XIV, Section 3, may succeed him/herself but once.
If completing an unexpired term, a Council member may be elected to a five-year term.
GUIDELINES FOR EJECTION OF PLAYERS
Penalty: Any student disqualified from an interscholastic contest by game officials for flagrant, violent, or verbal
misconduct will be ineligible for the *next regularly scheduled game/meet/date at that level of competition and all other
games/meets/dates in the interim at any level including IHSAA postseason tournaments in addition to any other
penalties the IHSAA or the school may assess.
The second violation carries a four *regularly scheduled game/meet/date ineligibility including IHSAA postseason
tournaments.
Subsequent violations will result in penalties determined by the local school district and the Iowa High School Athletic
Association.
If penalties are imposed at the end of the sport season and no contest remains, the penalty is carried over in that
particular sport until the next school year. The penalty is NOT imposed from one sport program to the next sport
program. Exception: If a senior (12th grade) athlete is ejected from the last contest of the season in a given sport, the
penalty is carried over to the next sport program the athlete participates in.
If a student-athlete is ejected from a junior varsity contest and the next junior varsity game/meet/date is not
scheduled within 10 days, contact the IHSAA for a ruling regarding the length of supervision. Anytime a student-athlete
is
ejected from a game/meet, he/she does not participate the remainder of that day. The student is also suspended
from the
next scheduled, rescheduled, or contracted date at that level of competition and all games/meets in the interim
at other levels
of competition.
Any school that does not enforce this policy will be placed on probation and will not be permitted to participate in any
IHSAA-sponsored events for one calendar year.
This policy is in effect in all interscholastic contests, grades 7-12.
*The “next regularly scheduled game/meet” is defined as the next scheduled, rescheduled, or contracted date.
EXAMPLE:
“Player A is ejected from the first game of a doubleheader baseball game. What is the penalty?” Ruling:
Player A
must sit out the second game of the doubleheader and is suspended from the next scheduled date at that level of
competition and all games in the interim at any level. This ruling would also apply to double-dual or dual team wrestling
meets and junior varsity/varsity contests. The suspended player must adhere to suspended/ineligible student/athlete
policy.
Suspended/ineligible student athlete.
The suspended/ineligible player may not sit on the team bench, enter
the locker
room, or be affiliated with the team in traveling to or from, or during the contest from which he has been
made ineligible.
NOTE: A player ejected from a contest must remain under the supervision of a coaching staff member
the remainder of the
contest from which he was ejected.
Additional Penalty:
Any student-athlete at any level grades 7-12 who is ejected from an IHSAA sanctioned sport
will be
required to take the NFHS Coach Education/Certification Program elective course “Sportsmanship- It’s Up to You.” The
course must be viewed prior to being able to return and participate in an interscholastic contest and the certificate of
course completion must be sent to the IHSAA office. This mandate is in addition to missing the next regularly scheduled
game/meet which is defined as the next scheduled, rescheduled, or contracted date. There is not cost for this course.
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Reporting procedures.
It will be the responsibility of the game/meet official to report any disqualifications to the
IHSAA the
day following the game/meet. If the game/meet is held Friday or Saturday, the report should be made the Monday following
the game/meet.
It is the coach’s responsibility to inform his/her administrator of any disqualification(s). The administrator will file an official
report form with the IHSAA. These forms will be provided to each member school.
GUIDELINES FOR EJECTIONS OF COACHES
Penalty: Any coach disqualified from an interscholastic contest by game officials for flagrant, violent, or verbal
misconduct will be ineligible for the *next regularly scheduled game/meet at that level of competition and all
games/meets/dates in the interim at any level including IHSAA postseason tournaments in addition to any other
penalties the IHSAA or the school may assess.
The second violation carries a four *regularly scheduled game/meet/date ineligibility including IHSAA postseason
tournaments.
Subsequent violations will result in penalties determined by the local school district and the Iowa High School Athletic
Association.
If penalties are imposed at the end of the sport season and no contest remains, the penalty is carried over in that
particular sport until the next school year. The penalty is NOT imposed from one sport program to the next sport
program.
This policy is in effect in all interscholastic contests, grades 7-12.
Any school that does not enforce this policy will be placed on probation and will not be permitted to participate in any
IHSAA-sponsored events for one calendar year.
Anytime a coach is ejected from a game/meet, s/he does not coach the remainder of that day. The coach is also
suspended from the next scheduled, rescheduled, or contracted date at that level of competition and all games/meets
in the
interim at other levels of competition. The coach is NOT to be at the competition site while suspended.
The IHSAA does not determine whether the coach’s salary is affected if he/she cannot coach. It is left to the
discretion of the local school administration. Any contest in which a coach cannot perform his/her duties, he/she will not be
permitted to attend the contest.
At the conclusion of each season, a list of the coaches ejected will be sent to all member schools. This list will be
published in the next official IHSAA Bulletin. The name of the coach and his/her school will be reported.
*The “next regularly scheduled game/meet” is defined as the next scheduled, rescheduled, or contracted date.
EXAMPLE: “Coach A is ejected from the first game of a doubleheader baseball game. What is the penalty?” Ruling:
Coach A must sit out the second game of the doubleheader and is suspended from the next scheduled date at that level of
competition and all games in the interim at any level. This ruling would also apply to double-dual or dual team wrestling
meets and junior varsity/varsity contests.
Additional Penalty: Any coach at any level, grades 9-12 who is ejected from an IHSAA sanctioned sport is
required to
take the NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching elective course entitled “Teaching and Modeling Behavior.” This
course must be
viewed prior to being able to return and coach an interscholastic contest and the certificate of completion must be sent
to the IHSAA office. This mandate is in addition to missing the next playing date at the level of competition he/she was
ejected from all games in the interim. The cost of the course will be the responsibility of the individual coach.
TAUNTING
DEFINITION:
Taunting includes any actions or comments by coaches, players, or spectators which are intended
to bait,
anger, embarrass, ridicule, or demean others, whether or not the deeds or words are vulgar or racist. Included is conduct
that berates, needles, intimidates or threatens based on race, gender, ethnic origin or background, and conduct that
attacks religious beliefs, size, economic status, speech, family, special needs, or personal matters.
Examples of taunting that would lead to ejection include, but are not limited to, ‘trash talk’; physical intimidation outside
the spirit of the game; reference to sexual orientation; ‘in the face’ confrontation by one player to another; standing
over/straddling a tackled or fallen player.
ALL SPORTS:
In all sports, officials are to consider taunting a flagrant unsportsmanlike foul that disqualifies the
offending
bench personnel or contestant from that contest/day of competition (and the next contest/day of competition).
ALL IHSAA TOURNAMENTS: At all IHSAA tournament venues, tournament management may give spectators one
warning for taunting. Thereafter, spectators who taunt others are to be ejected by security.
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In addition, it is recommended a policy/rule be established for when the athlete becomes involved in a fighting or
bench clearing incident.
BENCH AREA RESTRICTION RULE
Any player/athlete on the bench as a substitute or in uniform who is involved in the breaking up, participating in, or
initiating a fighting incident will be automatically ejected from that contest and the PENALTY of the student athlete
ejection rules will be invoked.
GUIDANCE ON THE AWARDS RULE
EXAMPLES
1)
A group of students enters a basketball tournament after the season has been completed, the last day of state
tournament, which has cash prizes for the winning teams.
Ruling: First of all, the students need to check with their athletic director as to the local school district’s board of
education policy as it pertains to non-school team participation. Secondly, they could not receive any award
of more than $50 in value. The award might be a statuette trophy, cup, or plaque. Thirdly, if they accepted the cash
prize, it would make each of them ineligible to compete in interscholastic basketball.
2)
A student enters an amateur golf tournament and wins merchandise or merchandise gift certificate valued at
$150. Ruling: If this is not in violation of the amateur award rule for golf, he could accept the award if:
a.
In golf, from the first day of school to the last day of school, a student may accept an award of no more than $50 in
value.
b.
During the summer months, after the last day of school to the first day of school, any student can enter a golf
tournament, accept any prize any other amateur golfer can accept according to the Amateur Golf Association rules.
c.
Money can never be accepted in amateur golf.
QUESTIONS
Q 1: Our Booster Club is very anxious to award rings to the students who participated in the state basketball
tournament. Is this a violation?
A: Yes, this is a direct violation. The superintendent is held responsible to make certain that no organization or group
outside the school makes an award to a member of your team, and that no member of the team accepts any award for his
participation except the unattached letter or insignia of his school.
Q 2: Our school desires to give each member of our championship basketball team a gold basketball appropriately
engraved. Is this a violation?
A: No, this is not a violation, provided the award does not exceed $50 in value.
Q 3: Our Booster Club desires to award a large plaque to the school in recognition of our basketball team’s outstanding
performance this year. Is this a violation?
A: No, this is not a violation. The award is being given to the school and not the individual. It remains the property of the
school.
Q 4: A former coach of our school desires to give the school a large cup and each year have engraved upon the cup the
name of the student who has the best record for free throws during the basketball season. Is this a violation?
A: No, it would not be a violation for your school to accept the cup. The cup would remain the property of the school.
Q 5: Our Booster Club wants to send our football team to a college football game in recognition of their outstanding
performance in football this fall. Is this a violation?
A: Yes. The offer of the service club is a violation; however, your school could accept money from the service club and
sponsor and supervise such a project.
Q 6: Can a local businessman, on behalf of his business or as an individual, give an Outstanding Wrestler of the
Tournament Award or Outstanding Player of the Game Award during the week?
A: Yes. However, the award would be limited to an unframed, unmounted paper certificate.
Q 7: Can a host school award an outstanding wrestler award of a tournament or an outstanding player of an invitational
basketball tournament?
A: Yes, provided the award does not exceed $50 in value.
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GUIDANCE ON THE SCHOLARSHIP RULE
DEFINITIONS:
D-1. What is passing?
There is no statewide definition of passing; this is a locally controlled decision. In the absence of a local rule to
address this, passing means any grade that is other than “F.”
If a school has an option whereby students may take a course “pass or no pass,” a grade of “no pass” is a failing grade.
D-2. How about Incompletes? Withdrawals?
Again, this is left to local control. However, local control means taking affirmative action to clarify for students just
what an “I” or “W” means. In the absence of a local rule to address this, an “I” or “W” will be considered failure.
D-3. May an Incomplete be changed to a passing grade?
The answer depends on local policy. If a school has a policy that an “I” is failure, the “I” may not be changed to a
passing grade for purposes of avoiding ineligibility.
D-4. What is a grading period?
A “grading period” is the period of time at the end of which a student receives a final grade and course credit is
awarded for passing grades. Each school determines its own grading periods.
D-5. What is a final grade?
A final grade is that grade that goes on the student’s transcript. If a school offers block scheduling, a final grade might
occur at the end of nine weeks if the grade is recorded on the student’s transcript. A final grade is NOT the grade on
the progress report that goes to students and their families.
D-6. What is credit coursework or a credit subject?
If the student’s transcript includes a letter grade (other than “F,” “I,” or “W”) for the subject or course, this is credit
coursework. The most typical example of non-credit coursework is Driver Education. It is a local decision (to be made
about the course as it applies to all students, and not to be made on an individual student basis) whether a certain
subject or course is one for which credit is awarded.
D-7. Why is a definition of “compete” included in the rules?
There have been instances where member and associate member schools inadvertently played ineligible
students, forcing the executive board to determine an appropriate penalty to impose against the school. Adding
a
definition of “compete” and including dressing in full uniform and taking part in pre-game warm-ups is meant to assist
member and associate member schools to know what is and is not acceptable.
9
TH
Graders (Freshmen)
F-1. Is an incoming 9
th
grader affected by the rule if s/he did not pass all credit coursework on his/her final 8
th
grade report card?
Not under the state rule. Unless the local policy states otherwise, all incoming 9
th
graders have immediate
eligibility, at least under the scholarship rule.
F-2. What is the result for a 9
th
grader who did not play softball/baseball and does not pass all after the first
grading period as a 9
th
grader?
The student is ineligible for the first 30 consecutive calendar days of competition of the next sport (or current sport if
in season) in which s/he competes. This is the same result as for any other secondary student.
F-3. What is the result for a 9
th
grader who played softball/baseball immediately after 8
th
grade and does not pass
all after the first grading period as a 9
th
grader?
Again, this is now the same result as for any other secondary student. The student is ineligible for the next 30
consecutive calendar days of competition of the next sport (or current sport if in season) in which s/he competes.
If the
student is participating in basketball at the time, s/he sits out the first 30 consecutive calendar days of basketball. If
the student is not in basketball, but goes out for track, the 30 consecutive calendar days applies to track. If the student
competes solely in softball or baseball, that is the season affected, and the period of ineligibility is 30
consecutive calendar days.
F-4. If a 9
th
grader does not go out for any sports and does not pass all at the end of a final grading period
during the student’s freshman year, what is the period of ineligibility if that student wants to go out for one or
more sports sophomore year? Junior or senior year?
The student is ineligible for the first 30 consecutive calendar days of the first sport s/he goes out for in the
student’s sophomore year. If the student passes all during sophomore year, and does not compete in any
athletics until the student’s junior or senior year, the student may participate with no period of ineligibility (unless local
rule provides some ineligibility). This is because the student will have satisfied the one full year “look back” period of
time (having a full academic year of all passing grades during which time the student does not compete in any
interscholastic athletics).
10
TH
- 12
th
Grade Students (Upperclassmen)
2021-2022 HANDBOOK -50-
U-1. What is the result for a student who is competing in basketball and does not pass all after the first
grading period?
The student is ineligible for the next 30 consecutive calendar days of competition in basketball. The period of
ineligibility starts no sooner than the first day of the next grading period and the day after the athletic administrator
has
been notified that a student has received a failing grade. The school shall have up to three school days after the end of
the grading period to notify the athletic administrator of the final grade for an eligible grading period. If at the end of
the third school day the athletic administrator has received no notifications then it is the responsibility of the
athletic administrator to find out what the grades are. In any case, the period of ineligibility starts no later than the
fourth school day after the grading period. The administration has the responsibility to immediately notify the
athletic administrator of a failing grade. Local school districts should, to the maximum extent possible, start the
period of ineligibility on the same day for all of its students.
U-2. Same as above, but the student has a hunch that she failed a course, so she never picks up her report card.
The student cannot postpone her ineligibility. She is out for the next 30 consecutive calendar days of competition
in
basketball, whether or not she receives the report card. The same is true for report cards that get lost in the mail or
destroyed without the student seeing them. The period of ineligibility starts no sooner than the first day of the next
grading period and the day after the athletic administrator has been notified that a student has received a failing
grade. The school shall have up to three school days after the end of the grading period to notify the athletic
administrator of the final grade for an eligible grading period. If at the end of the third school
day the athletic
administrator has received no notifications then it is the responsibility of the athletic administrator
to find out what the
grades are. In any case, the period of ineligibility starts no later than the fourth school day
after the grading period.
The administration has the responsibility to immediately notify the athletic administrator
of a failing grade. Local school
districts should, to the maximum extent possible, start the period of ineligibility on the same day for all of its
students.
U-3. When there is no doubt that a student is going to receive an “F” as a final grade, can the school let the
student know before the athletic administrator is notified of the failing grade so that the period of ineligibility
starts sooner?
The school may let the student know about the failing grade, but the period of ineligibility starts no sooner than the
first day of the next grading period and the day after the athletic administrator has been notified that the
student
has received a failing grade. In this instance if the school administration knows of the failing grade before
the beginning
of the new grading period and notifies the student of this grade, the school should also notify the athletic
administrator of the grade. Thus, the period of ineligibility would start the first day of the next grading
period. A
school may not move up the period of ineligibility for a student by giving the student advance knowledge
of the student’s
final grades. If a school has an ineligible student start his/her period of ineligibility earlier than the first day of the next
grading period, the ineligibility will NOT end any sooner than the 31
st
day after the first day of the next grading period.
Local school districts should, to the maximum extent possible, start the period of ineligibility on the same day for all of
its students.
U-4. What is the result for a student whose only sport is wrestling (or any fall or winter sport) and he does not
pass all after the final grading period (e.g., second semester)?
The student is ineligible for the first 30 consecutive calendar days of competition in wrestling the next year.
However, if the student decides to go out for cross country (or any other sport) for the first time the next year, the
student’s period of ineligibility will be applied to that sport.
U-5. What is the result for a student whose only sport is football (or any fall sport) and he does not pass all on his
first semester report card but gets all “A”s on the second semester report card?
The student is ineligible for the first 30 consecutive calendar days of competition in football the next year.
U-6. What is the result for a student who competes in wrestling or boys swimming and he does not pass all on
his first semester report card?
The student is ineligible for the next 30 consecutive calendar days of competition in his sport (wrestling or
swimming). If the season ends before 30 consecutive calendar days expire, the extra days carry over to the next sport
in which the student competes.
Example 1: The first semester ends on a Friday. Second semester starts on the next Tuesday. A student has an “F”
as a final grade. His ineligibility starts no sooner than the first day of the next grading period and the day after the
athletic administrator has been notified that the student has received a failing grade, but no later than the first Friday
of the second semester. The season ends on the Saturday of the state tournament. If the season ends before 30
consecutive calendar days expire, the extra days carry over to the next sport in which the student competes.
U-7. What is the result for a student who competes in spring golf and does not pass all on the second semester
report card?
The student is ineligible for the next 30 consecutive calendar days of competition in her sport (golf), and any
“unexpired” days of ineligibility carry over to the next sport in which the student competes.
2021-2022 HANDBOOK -51-
Example 1: The second semester ends and a golfer does not pass all. She is ineligible in golf no sooner than the
first day of the next grading period and the day after the athletic administrator has been notified that the student
has received a failing grade. Because the school year is over, the ineligibility can start no later than four calendar days
after the grading period ends through the state coed golf meet. The extra days carry over to the next sport in which
the student competes.
U-8. What is the result for a senior whose only sport has been volleyball (or any fall sport that concludes
before end of first semester) and she does not pass all on her first semester report card?
The student is ineligible for the first 30 consecutive calendar days of any interscholastic sport in which she
competes. If the student does not compete in any interscholastic sport following the issuance of the failing grade,
there
is no season in which to apply the penalty.
U-9. If a student competes in two sports simultaneously (cross country and volleyball; golf and track; etc.)
and
becomes ineligible during or for the season, is the student ineligible for 30 consecutive calendar days for
both
sports?
Yes. The student is ineligible for all sports during the 30 consecutive calendar day period of ineligibility, but it is the
same 30 consecutive calendar day period (i.e., a total of 30 consecutive calendar days, not 60).
U-10. If a student competed solely in track as a 9
th
grader, did not pass all coursework at the end of second
semester, and decides not to compete in track again but to go out for golf, is the student eligible for golf?
No. The period of ineligibility applies to any interscholastic sport in which the student seeks to compete.
U-11. A student participates in both speech and track and did not pass all coursework at the end of first
semester. The student served a 30 consecutive calendar day period of ineligibility in speech. Must the
student also serve a 30 consecutive calendar day period of ineligibility in track?
No. A student shall not serve multiple periods of ineligibility because of a failing grade.
College Coursework, AP Courses
C-1. If a student takes an Advanced Placement (AP) course and fails that course, but passes all other
coursework, does the “F” in the AP course count under rule 36.15(2)?
Yes it does.
C-2. If a student takes a course under PSEO (postsecondary enrollment option), does this coursework count
under
rule 36.15(2)?
Yes it does. The rule provides that PSEO coursework shall be used to determine eligibility. Students are not
allowed to audit PSEO coursework.
Example: A student uses PSEO to take Advanced Astronomy at ISU. He also takes four other courses at his high
school, all for credit. He fails the PSEO course, passes the other four courses, but the “F” in the PSEO course
renders him ineligible under the rule.
C-3. If a student takes a concurrent enrollment course from a community college (contracted course for
supplementary weighting), does this coursework count under rule 36.15(2)?
Yes. Any course taken for both secondary and postsecondary credit counts under rule 36.15(2).
C-4. If a student takes a college credit course on her own, and will receive no secondary credit for the course, does
this coursework count under rule 36.15(2)?
No. It counts neither for nor against the student.
Example 1: A student enrolls in a culinary course at DMACC and attends the course at night. She receives only
postsecondary credit for the course, no secondary credit. She gets an A. This course does not count as one of the
four credited subjects she must take to be eligible under 36.15(2). Therefore, if she is enrolled in only three credit
courses at her high school, she is not eligible.
Example 2: A student enrolls in a culinary course at DMACC and attends the course at night. She receives only
postsecondary credit for the course, no secondary credit. She gets an F in the DMACC course. She also takes and
gets passing grades in four credit courses at her high school. She remains eligible.
2021-2022 HANDBOOK -52-
Summer School/Summer Sports
S-1. How is ineligibility imposed for students whose only sport is softball or baseball?
The period of ineligibility is 30 consecutive calendar days, starting no sooner than the first day after the grading period
ends and the day after the athletic administrator has been notified that the student has received a failing grade.
Because the school year is over, the ineligibility can start no later than four calendar days after the grading period
ends. If the ineligibility was because of an earlier “F,” the time starts with the first allowable date of competition for
softball or baseball.
Example 1: A student competes in baseball and gets an “F” on his final report card for the year. His ineligibility starts
no sooner than the first day after the grading period ends and the day after the athletic administrator has been notified
that the student has received a failing grade and ends 30 consecutive calendar days later.
Example 2: A student competes only in baseball. He received an “F” on his first semester report card. His
ineligibility starts on the first legal playing date for baseball and ends 30 consecutive calendar days later.
Example 3: A Student competes only in baseball. He received an “F” on his first semester report card. He also
received an “F” on his second semester report card. His ineligibility for the first semester “F” starts on the first legal
playing date for baseball. His ineligibility for the second “F” starts no sooner than the first day after the grading
period ends and the day after the athletic administrator has been notified that the student has received a failing grade.
The two periods of ineligibility run concurrently with each other. The student does not have 60 consecutive calendar
days of ineligibility. The days remaining from his first period of ineligibility run at the same time as his new 30
consecutive calendar day period.
S-2. How is ineligibility imposed for a senior who gets an “F” on his/her final report card?
The final grades for seniors are almost always issued several days, if not weeks, before final grades are issued for
freshmen – juniors. However, the period of ineligibility is 30 consecutive calendar days, starting no sooner than the
first day after the grading period ends and the day after the athletic administrator receives notification of grades for
ALL students. By local policy, a school may choose to have the student sit out sooner, but the official 30
consecutive calendar day period imposed by the state rule will not start early. By having a senior start his/her
ineligibility early, a school does not start the 30 consecutive calendar day clock any earlier.
S-3. May a student who received an “F” on his second semester report card re-take that class over the
summer to change the grade?
Not for purposes of changing his eligibility. Students should always be encouraged to remediate subjects they did not
master the first time around. If the school has a policy that it will change the student’s grade on his transcript if this
occurs, that does not change the fact that the student is ineligible under rule 36.15(2). Also, note
that schools are now
required to report all original failing grades (even those remediated for purposes other than
athletic eligibility) to any
school to which the student transfers. So, if a student’s transcript does not reflect that an “F” was originally earned in a
certain course (because the student remediated the grade to a passing mark), the school must still let the next
secondary school know that the student originally failed the course.
S-4. When is the ineligibility period for a student who participate in football and baseball and who does not pass
all coursework at the end of first semester but passes all at the end of second semester?
If the student goes out for baseball, his ineligibility will apply to this sport.
Students with Disabilities
SD-1. How does the rule affect a student with an IEP?
A student with an IEP (Individualized Education Program) is not subject to “pass all.”
The student is not to be denied eligibility on the basis of grades if the student is making adequate progress, as
determined by school officials, towards the goals and objectives on the student’s IEP.
SD-2.
May a school set higher requirements for students with disabilities, such as by holding students with
disabilities to the “pass all” rule applicable to students without disabilities?
No. So long as the student is making adequate progress toward goals, on the student’s IEP, as determined
by
school officials, the student “shall not be denied eligibility” based on scholarship. What constitutes adequate
progress
will vary based on the facts of each student’s case.
SD-3. Who determines “adequate progress” for a student with an IEP?
“School officials” make that determination, not the student’s IEP team and not the student’s parents.
2021-2022 HANDBOOK -53-
SD-4. What happens after school officials determine what progress a student with disabilities is required to
achieve to be eligible for competition?
Those officials must immediately communicate what “adequate progress” constitutes to the student and the
student’s parents, teachers, and others who assign grades to or monitor the progress of the student.
SD-5. Are students with IEPs required to attain their goals to be eligible?
The rule requires adequate progress toward goals, not goal attainment. In some cases, a student may make
adequate progress toward a goal without necessarily attaining it. In other cases, goal attainment might be the only
outcome that would constitute “adequate progress.” Whether goal attainment constitutes the required “adequate
progress” depends on the facts of each case.
SD-6. What if a student with an IEP fails a class for which there are no express IEP goals and no specially
designed instruction?
Examine the relationship between the IEP goals and the failed course. If there is a close relationship between the
IEP goal(s) and the failed course, and the student made adequate progress on the IEP’s goal(s), then the student is
eligible. If there is a close relationship and the student did not make adequate progress toward an IEP goal, then
the student is not eligible. If there is little or no relationship between an IEP goal and the course failed, the student is
not eligible.
SD-7. What if a student with an IEP passes all classes yet does not make “adequate progress” on IEP goals?
In this extremely unlikely event, the competitor is eligible.
SD-8. What if an ineligible student’s IEP provides for “participation” in interscholastic activities?
An ineligible student may participate (e.g., practicing, serving as team manager) without competing. An IEP team
has no authority to provide that a student with an IEP, who otherwise would be academically ineligible for
competition, must be allowed to compete in interscholastic competition.
SD-9. What if a student is being currently evaluated for special education?
Until the evaluation is complete, the student must meet requirements applicable to students without IEPs. Once
the evaluation is complete and an IEP is developed, apply this rule to determine the student’s eligibility.
SD-10. What happens if a student with a disability is not eligible under this rule?
As is true of non-disabled students, the student may practice, but may not participate in competition or dress
for
competition. A local district may provide, however, that ineligible competitors are not permitted to practice.
SD-11. Does the rule providing exceptions for students with disabilities (36.15(2)(d)) apply to students who only
have Section 504 accommodation plans?
No. The purpose of a 504 accommodation plan is to put the student on equal footing with the student’s non-
disabled peers, whereas an IEP is for students for whom a level playing field is not the expected outcome.
SD-12. Does the rule providing exceptions for students with disabilities (36.15(2)(d)) apply to an ELL (English
Language Learner) student who may have difficulty with school work because of lack of proficiency in
English?
No. An ELL student is to be receiving services designed to make the student proficient in the English language
including specialized instruction and assessments to provide equal access to content. An ELL student is not
considered a student with a disability because of their ELL status.
Miscellaneous
M-1. After the student has sat out her 30 consecutive calendar days of ineligibility, is there a requirement that her
grades be re-checked before she may compete?
No. Absent local policy to the contrary, students are immediately eligible again after serving their full period of
ineligibility.
M-2. What does it mean that a student “receive credit” in at least four subjects?
Example 1: A student is enrolled in only four subjects. One is physical education and his school does not award
credit for P.E. The student is not eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics until he is enrolled in and
receiving credit for four subjects.
M-3. If a student audits a course (doesn’t receive a grade), how is the student affected by the rule?
This student is only affected if s/he otherwise is not enrolled in and receiving credit in four other courses.
Example: A student audits a course and is enrolled in four other subjects. She gets no credit for the course she
audits. To maintain eligibility, she must pass the other four subjects.
M-4. If a high school has a local policy that it will check grades every two weeks and impose five days’
ineligibility for not passing all courses at any checkpoint, if a student still has an “F” on the report card
may the five days be subtracted from the 30 consecutive calendar days of ineligibility?
2021-2022 HANDBOOK -54-
No. Local policy may only impose a more stringent rule. This would make the state rule less stringent. Ideally, if a
school checks grades often and provides appropriate interventions (and if the parents cooperate with the
school), a student’s exposure to failing at the end of a grading period should be greatly reduced.
M-5. Does the scholarship rule just apply to varsity sports?
It applies to students who compete at any level.
M-6. Does the scholarship rule just apply to sports? What about speech, music, drill team, etc.?
The State Board of Education, which adopts all the rules in chapter 36, only has authority from the Iowa
Legislature to adopt eligibility rules for students who compete in interscholastic athletics. (See Iowa Code section
280.13.) The IHSSA (speech – www.ihssa.org) and IHSMA (music – www.ihsma.org) set their own rules.
Competitive dance, drill teams, cheer squads, etc., are not “sports” sanctioned by either the IHSAA or the
IGHSAU; therefore, local policy alone dictates the eligibility requirements of participants in those activities.
M-7. Could a local requirement that a student must have a 2.0 GPA override or supersede the state rule?
Local policy may only impose a more stringent rule. A 2.0 GPA rule may not be more stringent in all cases. For
instance, a 2.0 GPA could include 4 Bs and 1 F, which is not as stringent. However, 5 Ds is eligible under the state
rule, but not under a 2.0 rule. Therefore, a local 2.0 requirement would have to work in combination with the state
rule of “pass all.” A student must meet the stricter of the two rules to be eligible.
M-8. When does the ineligibility period of 30 consecutive calendar days start for a student who is not presently
in a
sport when the student receives an “F?”
The period of ineligibility starts with the first legal playing date, not the first day of practice and not the first date on
which the student’s team has a competition.
M-9. If a fall sport student does not pass all coursework in the first grading period of a school year, but does not
compete in any sports the rest of that school year and all next school year – and passes all coursework in all
other grading periods – will the student be ineligible in his or her fall sport two years (or more later)?
No. The guidance here is that a student who has a full academic year in which the student did not fail any
coursework is eligible. The “look back” period is one full academic year only.
Example 1: A cross-country runner who competes in nothing else, fails a course first semester. He passes all his
courses second semester. If he goes out for cross country again the next year, he is ineligible for the first 30
consecutive calendar days of competition in cross country.
Example 2: A cross-country runner who competes in nothing else, fails a course first semester. He passes all of his
courses second semester. He does not go out for any sports the next year, and he continues to pass all of his
courses. If he goes out for cross country after taking a year off from the sport, he is immediately eligible.
M-10. Does the period of ineligibility include intra-squad scrimmages?
No. The period of ineligibility does not include an intra-squad scrimmage.
M-11. What is the penalty if a school allows an ineligible contestant to compete?
If a school permits or allows participation in any event by a person in violation of the eligibility rules, the
penalties may include, but are not limited to, the following: forfeiture of contests or events or both, involving
any
ineligible student(s); adjustment or relinquishment of conference/district/tournament standings; and return
of team
awards or individual awards or both.
M-12. If a student’s 30
th
consecutive calendar day is on Friday, may the student participate on Friday night? What
if the 30
th
consecutive calendar day is a Saturday and there is a competition that day? That night?
Ineligibility under this rule terminates at 12:01 a.m. on the 31
st
consecutive calendar day, whether that day is or is
not a school day. This interpretation is different from that given a transfer student who is sitting out 90
consecutive school days from varsity competition. The transfer student is eligible at the conclusion of the
afternoon of the 90
th
consecutive school day because all transfer students are impacted equally. The 90th
consecutive school day for transfer students is always a school day. However, because the period of
ineligibility under the “pass all” rule is measured in calendar days, for some students the 30
th
consecutive
calendar day is a school day and others not, it is necessary to wait until the next (31
st
) consecutive calendar day
before the student is eligible. Therefore, if the 30th consecutive calendar day is a Friday, the student does NOT
participate Friday night, but may participate the next day. If the 30th consecutive calendar day is a Saturday,
the student does NOT participate at any time that Saturday but may participate the next day.
2021-2022 HANDBOOK -55-
M-13.
If a student is academically ineligible, but is injured and not cleared to participate when the season
starts,
when does the student’s 30 days start?
The student’s 30 consecutive calendar days start when he is medically cleared to participate.
M-14. Appeals – what may be appealed and to whom?
If a student wants to contest the validity of a failing grade, the student may do so only to the student’s local
school, and not to the IHSAA or IGHSAU. On the other hand, if a student concedes the validity of the “F,” but wants
to dispute some other aspect of the scholarship rule, the student may appeal to the executive director and then to
the governing board of the IHSAA or IGHSAU.
Example 1: A student receives an “F,” but is sure that the grade is a mistake. He must appeal to his local school
administrators and then to his local school board. Local administrators and board have authority to change a
grade under any of the following circumstances:
a.
The grade was the result and a clerical, mathematic, or mechanical mistake.
b.
The grade was the result of incompetence by the teacher.
c.
The grade was the result of bad faith on the part of the teacher.
d.
The grade was the result of fraud on the part of the teacher.
Example 2: A student fails French I, the successful completion of which is a prerequisite to taking French II. Her
school allows her to enroll in French II, which she also fails. Her claim that she should not have been enrolled in
French II must start with the local school, which may allow her to withdraw with no adverse consequences
(assuming she received credit for four courses) if the school officials or board finds that the student indeed should
not have been enrolled in French II.
Example 3: A student must sit out 30 consecutive calendar days in golf because of an “F” that he admits is the
correct grade. On day 15 of golf season, he breaks his left ankle, and is not physically able to finish the golf
season. He goes out for cross country the next fall to strengthen the ankle and believes that he should not be
ineligible for 15 consecutive calendar days for cross country because the broken ankle was outside of his control.
The student’s appeal goes to the IHSAA or IGHSAU for initial ruling, then to the IHSAA Board of Control or
IGHSAU Board of Directors, and finally to the Director of the Department of Education.
M-14. If a student transfers from another state or country how is their academic eligibility determined?
The student’s eligibility is determined by the final grades received from the last grading period (semester,
trimester, block, etc.) before enrolling into an Iowa school. Any final, failing grades issued during that grading period
by the prior school will result in the student being ineligible according the Scholarship Rule
36.15(2). Failing
grades received during grading periods prior to the final grading period will not be considered.
BOTH APPEAL PROCESS CAN TAKE 1-6 MONTHS
During an appeal, the ineligibility period is not delayed.
MAY AN INELIGIBLE ATHLETE
PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE SESSIONS?
Athletes of member schools may be ineligible for various reasons such as for failure in academic studies, being out of
school the previous semester, having transferred to another school system without a like transfer of the parents, violation
of good conduct regulations, etc. However, the Board of Control recommends that member schools permit
such ineligible
athletes to participate in regular practice sessions. There may be situations where local administrators
and coaches would
deny such opportunity to its ineligible athletes for the benefits of all concerned, but the local school may determine and
permit such participation in its practice sessions.
EIGHT-SEMESTER RULE
A student who meets all other qualifications may be eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics for a maximum of
eight consecutive semesters upon entering the 9th grade for the first time. Extenuating circumstances, such as health,
may be the basis of an appeal to the Executive Board which may extend the eligibility of a student when it finds
the interest of
the student and interscholastic athletics will be benefited. When a student receives his diploma from high
school, he is still
considered an undergraduate until the subsequent semester starts. If a student attends high school at least 20 days or
participates in an interscholastic contest, he is charged with a semester of interscholastic eligibility. Any student who is
scholastically eligible at the end of a semester is scholastically eligible until the subsequent semester starts. When a
student reaches 20 years of age, he is ineligible to compete in interscholastic competition. Likewise, no student below the
9th grade may compete in high school athletics. A student is not considered a high school athlete until he enters the 9th
grade and carries at least 20 semester hours of work. (Exception: An 8th-grade student is eligible for summer baseball.)
2021-2022 HANDBOOK -56-
In summary, once the student enters the 9th grade for the first time, he is permitted a maximum of eight consecutive
semesters of eligibility. It really makes no difference whether he is in attendance or not. It is simply eight consecutive
semesters of eligibility participation permitted from the time he first enters the 9th grade.
Q 1: We have a student who, at the end of his 7th semester, had enough credits to graduate but chose to remain in school
and take additional subjects during the second semester. He is not regarded by our school as doing postgraduate
work but rather as a regular student in the 12th grade. He will graduate in June. Is he eligible for interscholastic
competition during his 8th semester?
A:
The student is regarded as an undergraduate and is eligible for interscholastic athletics competition provided he
is
carrying 20 semester hours or the equivalent thereof.
Q 2: We have a student who is past 20 years of age. He was forced to drop out of school during his junior year due to serious
illness and hence was unable to finish with his regular class. He did not have the opportunity of playing four years of high
school basketball because of his illness. Is there any way we can regard him as eligible during the present basketball
season?
A: No. The student is ineligible since he is 20 years old, however, the student could have his circumstances reviewed
by the Board of Control.
Q 3: We have a student who was not in school during his 5th semester; however, he re-entered at the beginning of his 6th
semester. Does this semester (5th) he was not in school count toward his eligibility?
A: Yes. The semester counts as one of the eight consecutive semesters of eligibility participation he is permitted. It really
makes no difference whether he was in school or not. It is eight consecutive semesters of eligibility participation a student
athlete is permitted after he first enters the 9th grade.
STUDENT GRADUATING AT MIDYEAR
Many students are on an accelerated program now and have sufficient credits to graduate at midyear. Students
graduating at midyear then forfeit their eligibility for the subsequent semester including the remainder of the winter sports
season, spring sports season and the summer baseball season. If a student wants to compete in spring activities, the student
must be enrolled in four courses
that they can receive credit in.
GENERAL TRANSFER RULE
ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY
IS THE STUDENT ELIGIBLE AS A RESULT OF A CHANGE IN RESIDENCE?
Iowa Administrative Code (“IAC” or “Code”) Section 281-36.15(3), the general transfer rule ( the “General Transfer
Rule” or “Rule”) provides that a student who transfers is ineligible or a period of 90 school days unless one of the listed
exceptions applies. Subsection a(1) of this Code section provides for an exception to the General Transfer Rule in cases
of contemporaneous change in parental residence. If this occurs, the student is immediately eligible.
The General Transfer Rule itself is concerned not just with the residence of the student, but a “change” in the residence.
This contemplates that the residency will change from one to another district. The Iowa Code defines a “resident” for
purposes of determining when a child is “physically present in a district, whose residence has not been established in
another district.” Again, this clearly implies that there can be only one residence. Interpreting the term “residence” to
allow
for multiple residences would render the General Transfer Rule meaningless and this is not permitted as a tenant
of statutory
construction. One cannot interpret a part of statute in such a manner so as to render another part, and certainly the
statute as a whole, meaningless.
Even with these seemingly clear requirements, proving residency for purposes of eligibility is not so clear-cut. Because
there can only be one residence, the IHSAA must determine that the family in fact has only one residence. Inquiry must
be made as to what was the disposition or impending disposition of the former residence. Next, the Rule requires that the
student be in the district for the purpose of “making a home.” Again, this specific language should not be disregarded.
The Code did not simply require the student to be living in the district. As such, the IHSAA must consider the various indicia of
a residence being a home. These indicia should include, but not necessarily limited to: 1)voter
registration; 2) driver’s
licenses; 3) homestead tax credit election; 4) nature of property rights in the district, lease versus
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ownership, long term lease or month to month; 5) removal of personal property to the new residence. Is the student
physically present in the district for the purpose of making a home?
The General Transfer Rule also provides that in order to prove residency, the student must show that he or she is
“physically present in the district for the purpose of making a home and not solely for school or athletic purposes.” Again,
under basic tenants of statutory construction, one must give meaning to all of the provisions, terms and words. Clearly, the
phrase “not solely” indicates that school and athletics can be a factor in making the home within the district.
However, “not
solely” does require that there be another reason for changing the residence and becoming immediately
eligible for athletics.
Given these provisions and the language used, in order for a transfer to fall within the exception and become
immediately eligible, the following must be determined:
1.
Is the student physically present in the district for the purpose of making it his home? Is there evidence
the student and his
family are indeed physically present (e.g. rental agreement, purchase agreement,
etc.)
2.
Is this home a change in the parents’ residence? (e.g., see above. Is there evidence the family has only one
residence?)
3.
Was the change in the residence for some purpose other than school or athletic purposes? (e.g. is
there evidence
indicating a reason for the change in residence other than school or athletic reasons?)
Bottom line--don’t let a student participate solely because he lists an address in your district. Verify the information
indicated above to ensure the student and his parents (or custodial parent in the case of a split family) have indeed
completed a bona fide change in residence into your district before he is allowed to participate at the varsity level.
INTERPRETATION PERTAINING TO ESTABLISHING A RESIDENCY
The Board of Control approved an interpretation relative to one aspect of the transfer rule whereby the use of
discretionary consideration be given to transfer cases where information is known to be factual and, without a doubt, the
family is planning to make a bona fide move. The Board of Control will assert discretionary power to rule on transfer cases that
are a result of a move on the part of the parents after all of the following items have been submitted and substantiated in
writing to the Iowa High School Athletic Association Office:
1.
A letter from the new renter or owner verifying the previous home is sold or rented.
2.
A letter of verification of purchase/rental possession of new home.
3.
A letter from new/previous employer verifying move.
4.
A letter from the receiving school indicating, to the best of their ability, a bona fide move has transpired.
5.
Notification of the date of transfer (move).
If the move is not planned within 45 days of the time the student(s) start school (classes), the Board of Control will not
honor said request.
EXAMPLE
Superintendent from school X takes a new job in school Y. He is now working in school Y. He has sold his home in
school X district. He bought a home in school Y district but cannot get possession until October 1. The children are going to
school Y and they are driving back and forth from town X and Y each day. If the above items are confirmed and
documented, there is no reason eligibility may be approved.
ELIGIBILITY FOR TRANSFERS
A transfer could involve either a student who has eligibility remaining for the next school year, or one who has
completed his eligibility for consecutive semesters of participation. The principal or superintendent of the receiving school
must assume all responsibilities in establishing eligibility of the incoming student, as described below. Before any
consideration should be given, it must be certain that the parents have made a bona fide change of residence, meaning
that all of their household goods have been removed from their previous residence and transferred to their new residence;
that the parents actually reside day and night in their new home; that no attempts are made in any way to circumvent the
meaning of the transfer rule.
For the high school student transferring, but who has not completed eight semesters of attendance, the principal or
superintendent of the receiving school shall:
a.
Secure a written transcript of all high school credits.
b.
Make certain that the student is eligible in all other respects.
c.
Complete his registration for the first semester of the next year.
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For the high school student transferring who has completed his 8th semester of attendance and who may or may not
have graduated, the principal or superintendent of the receiving school shall:
d. Comply with requirements a, b, and c above.
Any student involved in a transfer under the above conditions shall be ineligible in his new school district until all
requirements have been fulfilled. If there is any doubt about a transfer complying with any phases of any requirement, the
administrator is urged to contact your Association Office.
Q 1: A student transfers to a school because his parents have moved to the community in which the school is located.
His scholastic and athletic records are satisfactory. May such a student be allowed to participate?
A: If the conditions in a, b, c, and d above have been met, the student is eligible at the close of his first day of
attendance.
Q 2: We have a student this semester who attended school A last semester while his parents lived in school district
A. During the summer, they moved into our school district. Is he eligible for interscholastic competition at our school this
fall?
A: Yes, he is eligible.
Q 3: We have a student enrolled this fall who last year attended school H. He lived with his parents on a farm three miles
west of the town of H. During the summer, the parents moved into a house across the road from their former home and in
the same school district. The student decided to come to our school this fall. Is he eligible for athletics at our school during
the present semester?
A: No, the student is ineligible at your school during the present semester.
Q 4: We have a student who entered our school this fall who had been living in California with his mother and
stepfather. The whereabouts of his father are unknown. The child and his stepfather were unable to agree and the
stepfather has ordered the boy out of his home. He has come to live with an uncle in our school district. Is he eligible for
interscholastic athletics immediately?
A: The student is ineligible since there has not been a like change of residence. However, the Board of Control has the
authority to rule a student eligible after considering factors as outlined in Eligibility Rule 36.15(3)“a”(8)
Q 5: We have a student who entered our school this fall but who attended school last semester in a neighboring town.
Previous to last semester, he had been a regular student at our school. About the first of January, the parents separated
and he went to live with his mother who was employed in a neighboring town. The mother’s work at the present time is
such that it is impossible for her to maintain a home and supervision for the child. He has returned to our town to make his
home with an older brother. Is he eligible immediately?
A: Same as for question 4.
Q 6: We have a student attending our school whose parents were divorced last year. In the divorce decree, the court
ordered the child to live with his mother last year in the town of K and to live this year with his father in our town. He is to
alternate each year until he finishes school. Is he eligible for athletics at our school?
A: Yes, he is eligible for interscholastic athletics at your school during the current semester.
Q 7: We have a student who lives in our school district with his parents. Each day he drives to a neighboring
community and attends school in a different school district. He has decided that he would like to go to school in the district
in which his parents are now living. Is he eligible?
A: No, he is ineligible for 90 school days at the varsity level.
Q 8: We have a student living in our school district who has been attending a private school in our district. He would now like
to attend the public school in the district in which he and his parents live. Would he be eligible?
A: No, he is ineligible for 90 school days at the varsity level.
Q 9: We have a student who has attended our school for a period of three years. He is a senior this year and a good
basketball player. During the past summer, his parents moved from our school district to the town of N. He has decided to
stay here and live with friends and attend our school this year where he expects to graduate this spring. Is he eligible for
interscholastic athletics at our school?
A: Yes, he is eligible at your school.
Q 10: We have a student who attended our school as a freshman. He attended school at the town of P during his
sophomore and junior years. He made his home there with his grandparents. His parents have lived in our school district
for the last 15 years and are still residents of this district. He has now decided to return to the home of his parents and
he has entered our school this fall to complete his senior year. Is he eligible for interscholastic athletics?
A: Yes, he is eligible. A student may always return to the home of his parents and be eligible immediately providing his
parents live in your school district.
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Q 11: We have a student who entered our school this fall, having attended school in the town of T for the past two years. His
parents lived on a farm two miles north of the town of T and in the T school district until March 1st last year, when they moved
on a farm in our school district. He finished out the school year at T last year, making his home with friends in the town of T.
This fall he has entered our school. Is he eligible?
A: Yes, he is eligible at your school during the current semester.
Q 12: We have a student who entered our school this fall having attended a school in the town of T for the past two years. His
parents have not made a change of residence. He is 18 years old. Is he eligible for interscholastic athletics?
A: No, he is not eligible for interscholastic athletics for a period of 90 school days at the varsity level.
Q 13: We have a student who entered school this fall. The student’s parents were killed in an automobile accident this
summer and he has come to live with his grandfather who lives in our school district. His grandfather has been appointed
his legal guardian by the courts. Is the student eligible for interscholastic athletics?
A: Yes, the student is eligible.
Q 14: We have a student attending our school this fall whose parents separated during the summer. The student’s uncle,
who is a resident of our school district, was appointed his legal guardian by the courts. The student has come to live with
his uncle and is attending our school. Is he eligible?
A: The student is ineligible. The creation of legal guardianship does not answer the question as to why the student is not
living with a parent.
Q 15: We have a student attending our school this fall whose parents have been divorced for several years. The student
has lived with his biological mother in our school district for many years. The student now wants to go live with his biological
father in Town X and attend high school in Town X. Will he have immediate eligibility there?
A: Unless there has been a change in the marital status of the student’s biological mother, or a change in the
divorce
decree granting the biological father custody, the student will be ineligible for 90 school days at the varsity level
at X High
School.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
The Executive Officer or Executive Board is empowered to consider and apply the following exception, formally or
informally, in ruling the eligibility of a transfer student.
In ruling upon eligibility of foreign exchange students, the Executive Board is authorized to make any ruling regarding
the
student’s eligibility deemed to be fair and reasonable.
In accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Iowa High School Athletic Association, the Board of Control has
established three (3) guidelines which they feel are fair and reasonable in helping to determine the eligibility of a foreign
exchange student. The following three guidelines will aid the administrative staff and Board of Control in determining
the eligibility status of the foreign exchange student.
GUIDELINES
1. A student who has not reached 20 years of age.
2. There is no evidence of recruiting or other improper conduct on the part of the school officials, employees, or
community persons attempting to get this student in your school.
3. Athletic participation is not a major factor in the student’s decision in becoming a foreign exchange student.
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SUMMER CAMPS AND CLINICS, COACHING CONTACT OUT OF SEASON
AND NON-SCHOOL TEAM PARTICIPATION
DEFINITIONS
1.
Who is a “volunteer” as used in 36.15(6)?
A volunteer is an unpaid person who holds a coaching authorization or a coaching endorsement and who is acting
under the direction of an employed coach and with the knowledge and approval of the school administration.
2.
Who is a “coach” as used in 36.15(6)?
“Coach” means an individual, with coaching endorsement or authorization as required by Iowa law, employed
by a school
district under the provisions of an extracurricular athletic contract or employed by a nonpublic
school in a position
responsible for an extracurricular athletic activity. “Coach” also includes an individual who
instructs, diagnoses,
prescribes, evaluates, assists, or directs student learning of an interscholastic athletic endeavor on a voluntary basis
on behalf of a school or school district.
3.
What is covered by the term “coaching”?
Can a school’s coach have his/her spouse or friend serve as the “declared coach” of a non-school team while the
school’s coach is providing instruction in the background?
A coach diagnoses, prescribes, evaluates and directs student learning and supervises assistant coaches and volunteers
in the performance of coaching objectives. If a coach is “directing” student-athlete learning through another person,
“prescribing” who should play, at what position, “evaluating” skills and determining who needs
to work on certain skills,
then the coach is coaching.
4.
What does “conflict with sports in season” mean?
If a student-athlete has to make a choice between participating in a practice, game or other team activity for a sport in
season or participating in an activity for a sport that is not in-season held at a member or associate member school
facility, or supervised or sponsored by an out-of-season school coach, a conflict exists. The sport in season takes
precedence. In cases of emergency or rescheduling, the priority is with the sport in season.
5.
What is “summertime” as defined in 36.15(6)?
Summertime is defined as June 1 until the first day of fall sports practices.
6.
What is “participating” as defined in 36.15(7)?
If a student is a member of the school team, she is “participating” in that sport. A student is “participating” on a non-
school team when the team is involved in a competition. Practice with a non-school team does not constitute
participation.
7.
What is covered by the term “school facility”?
Any facility on campus or off-campus that represents a practice or competition site that is directly affiliated with
a school-
based activity.
GENERAL INTERPRETATIONS
Can a school impose stricter guidelines on its coaches and/or students than those imposed by these rules?
Yes. Stricter policies than outlined by these rules are the prerogative of the local district.
Who is covered by these rules? Students in grades 9-12 and personnel under contract to coach or who serve as
volunteer coaches of a school team involving students in grades 9-12. Students and coaches in seventh and eighth grade
are NOT covered by the provisions of these rules. However, local school districts may choose to extend non- school
participation rules to junior high school students.
9-12
COACHING CONTACT INTERPRETATIONS
1.
Is a team meeting during the school year, outside the season legal?
Each coaching staff is allowed one preseason team meeting during the school year, outside the season.
2.
If a player works as an instructor at a grade school camp run by their coach during the school year, outside
the season, is the coach violating the coaching contact?
During the school year, outside the sport season, each student may work at a one-time, one-day clinic for
elementary/middle school students run by their coach without their coach violating the coaching contact rule.
3.
Can coaches officiate their athletes outside the sport season, during the school year or during the summer?
Yes. Officiating does not constitute coaching contact.
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4.
During the school year, outside the sport season, can a coach practice or compete with or against his/her
students in the sport(s) he/she coaches?
No. Practicing or competing with or against students on a coach’s team constitutes coaching.
5.
During the softball season and after May 31, a softball player has enrolled in an off-campus basketball
camp in
which her basketball coach is a member of the camp staff. Can the softball player still attend the camp?
Yes. The student can participate in any camp, clinic, etc. s/he chooses. However, the student’s basketball coach
shall not require his/her students to participate in the camp.
6.
Does transportation during the school year, outside the season count as contact?
No. The act of transporting students to non-school competitions, camps, clinics, etc. is permissible during the
school
year, outside the season as long as no coaching occurs. If school transportation is used it must be used subject to
Iowa Code 285.10 (9) and (10).
7.
Softball practice is scheduled from 1-3 p.m. A student is attending an on-campus camp that causes her to
miss softball practice.
If a potential conflict exists when an on-campus summer camp, clinic, workout, or other team activity is scheduled
at the same time as a baseball or softball practice or game, the student athlete shall go to the in- season sport activity,
unless released by the in-season coach. The in-season sport has priority. Local school administration shall determine
how to avoid conflicts.
8.
The high school football coach has a film session for a group of football players who also play baseball
on a day
during the summertime. Baseball practice is also scheduled at this time. Is this a violation? Coaching activities
between June 1 and the first day of fall sports practices shall not conflict with sports in season. If a potential conflict
exists, the student athlete shall go to the in-season sport activity. The in-season sport always has priority. Local school
administration shall determine guidelines on how to avoid conflicts.
9.
Can the coach of the high school basketball team coach a club or AAU volleyball team during the
school year outside the volleyball season?
Yes, as long as the high school basketball coach is not also serving as a high school volleyball coach (paid or volunteer)
for his/her school.
10.
Can the coach of the high school baseball team coach the high school softball players during the school
year?
Yes, as long as the high school baseball coach is not also serving as a softball coach (paid or volunteer) for that
school.
11.
Can the coach of a high school basketball team coach an all-star team that includes a player from his own
team?
Yes, as long as that player is a senior whose interscholastic athletic season for that sport has concluded.
12.
Can the coach of a high school girls’ or boys’ team coach a junior high team or club team in that same sport
during the school year, outside the season, if that team does not include any of his/her high school student-
athletes?
Yes, the coaching contact rule is specific to 9-12 coaches and their 9-12 student-athletes.
13.
During the school year, outside the season, can the coach of the high school girls swim team coach the youth
girls swim club program practice (all students under the 9
th
grade) at the same time the high
school girls’ club
program is practicing? The youth program practices in lanes 1-3 and the high school
girls are practicing in
lanes 4-6.
No. This is a violation of the coaching contact rule and would apply to all sports where the same facility is being used
at the same time for students in grades below the 9
th
grade and 9
th
grade and above.
14.
During the summer can an out-of-season high school coach require attendance at any workouts, camps,
clinics, or other activities?
No, attendance at any out-of-season activities must be totally voluntary and cannot be required. Coaches cannot
punish or reward student-athletes based on attendance at any out-of-season activities.
15.
May a high school coach of an out-of-season sport require a player to attend an out-of-season camp in that
sport during the school year?
No. A high school coach may not require his/her students to attend a camp outside the high school season at any time.
16.
During the school year outside the season, can a coach of a high school team coach his/her student athletes
in a sport in which he/she is under contract (paid or volunteer) with the school district?
No, during the school year outside the sport season, coaching contact is illegal. However, a coach may supervise
a workout or open facility with approval of the local school administration. This is for supervision purposes only and
no coaching can occur.
17.
During the school year outside the baseball season, can the baseball coach supervise open facility with
baseball players at the batting cage.
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Yes, the coach may supervise but may not coach his/her student athletes.
18.
Can the high school basketball coach open and supervise the weight room for his/her basketball players
for strength and conditioning during the school year?
Yes, but the basketball coach shall not coach sport specific drills or techniques.
19.
During the school year outside the season, can the coach of a high school team coach a non-school team if
there are no members of his or her high school team on the non-school team, but they are competing
against a non-school team comprised of members of the coach’s high school team?
Yes, because the coach is not coaching the student athletes from his/her high school team.
20. During the designated “Family Week,” may a coach conduct “voluntary” workouts?
No. Coaches are to have no contact with students during the “Family Week.”
21. During the designated “Family Week,” may a school’s fitness center/weight room be available for use by
students?
No. This is considered a school sport activity.
22. During the designated “Family Week,” may a coach conduct “leadership training” with students?
No. Coaches are to have no contact with students during the “Family Week.”
23. During the designated “Family Week,” may students assist at community events?
Yes, as long as it is not organized by the school or the coach and as long as the coach is not present.
NON-SCHOOL PARTICIPATION INTERPRETATIONS
1.
What procedure must be followed if a student wishes to participate in a non-school event in the same sport
during the school team season?
The local school board shall by policy determine whether or not participation in non-school athletic events during the
same season is permitted and provide penalties for students who may be in violation of the board’s policy.
2.
May the high school coach of a summer sport give a player permission to miss a practice, contest or team
activity:
a.
To attend an out-of-season camp on his/her own in a different sport?
Yes. No violation occurs because permission was given.
b.
To attend a camp in an out-of-season sport in which the student’s out-of-season sport will have contact?
Yes, the in-season coach may give permission, but does not have to give permission.
3.
May a high school coach of a sport not in season require a player to attend an out-of-season camp in that
sport?
No. A high school coach may not require his/her students to attend a camp outside the high school season.
4.
When does the school team season begin and end?
The first legal date of practice defines the start of the school team season, and the school season ends on the final day
of the state tournament.
5.
Do the non-school participation rules prohibit any participation in sports that are not currently in season?
No. The only non-school sports prohibited by this rule are those that are concurrent with the school team season.
FAMILY – COACH CONTACT
1.
I’m a coach and my son or daughter plays basketball for me on the high school team. Is it permissible for me to
have contact at any time of the school year or between June 1 and the first day of fall sports practices?
Yes. At no time is contact with a son or daughter a violation of any rule. However, during the school year
outside the
basketball season, if other members of the high school team are present, this becomes a violation.
2.
A team’s head coach and assistant coach each have a daughter playing for the school’s volleyball team. May
the head coach and the assistant coach be in the gym giving instruction to their respective daughters at the
same time?
Yes. Coaches may work with their family members at any time without being assessed contact. If other members
of the team are in the gym, contact occurs.
COLLEGE TRYOUTS
Scholarship Rule 36.15(2) h prohibits high school students from participating and/or training with or against college
athletes who are representing their collegiate institution or as part of an event sanctioned or sponsored by a collegiate
institution. Nothing in the rules prohibits a high school student from participating in a one-time tryout with or against
members of a college team with permission from the member school’s administration and the respective collegiate
institution’s athletic administration.
PERMIT SCHOOL-COMPENSATED PERSONNEL TO COACH AND/OR INSTRUCT
7TH & 8TH GRADE STUDENTS IN NONSCHOOL TEAM PARTICIPATION OUTSIDE THE SEASON
School-compensated personnel are permitted to coach or instruct any of their 7th and 8th-grade athletes outside the sport
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season during the school year.
Please keep in mind the rule restricting school- compensated personnel coaching or
instructing any of their high school athletes during the school year remains unchanged.
FAMILY - COACH CONTACT
Q1: I’m a coach and my son or daughter plays basketball for me on the high school team. Is it permissible for me to have
contact at any time of the school year or summertime?
A: Yes. At no time is contact with a son or daughter a violation of any rule.
Q2: Some of his/her friends want to participate in a tournament. May I transport them to the site of the tournament, but not
coach them?
A: Yes, so long as your son or daughter is a participant in the tournament.
Q3: A team’s head coach and assistant coach each have a child playing for the school’s basketball team. May the head
coach and the assistant coach be in the gym giving instruction to their respective children at the same time?
A:
Yes. Coaches may work with their family members at any time without being assessed contact. If other members
of the
team are in the gym, contact occurs.
WHAT IS AN AMATEUR?
To determine whether or not a student is an amateur can be explained as follows: If a student were asked to play on
the town baseball team and if the student accepted $5 for playing in the game, this would make him a professional baseball
player and he would lose his eligibility in high school baseball. Likewise, if he were asked to play on this team
and he accepted
money for expenses to provide for his transportation and meals, he would be ineligible for high school
baseball because the
acceptance of any money is a violation. If a student plays on a town team and the manager
furnishes him transportation
and purchases his meals, such student takes no money whatsoever and is considered an
amateur, and thus he would not
lose his eligibility in high school baseball.
UNDUE INFLUENCE
Q 1: A local businessman is very interested in having our high school basketball team be successful. He has a very
profitable business and employs many people. During the summer he went to a neighboring town and hired a man to
work for him with the understanding that the man would move his family to our town and send his child to our school. The
student has enrolled this fall and is an outstanding athlete. We do not approve of this practice and wonder
if there is any rule in
the Association that would make this student ineligible for interscholastic competition at our school
during the present
semester?
A: No, the student has not violated the transfer rules.
Q 2: The basketball coach was in Germany last summer as part of a basketball exchange program. Since his return
to the
states, our coach has received correspondence from a boy he made an acquaintance with while on the exchange
program.
The young man expressed a desire to enroll in our school and play basketball. What is the eligibility status of this young
man? Could he attend our school and play basketball?
A: The student will be ineligible to play basketball at the varsity level for 90-school days.
Q 3: Would the following be regarded as undue influence? School personnel (to include coaching staff members) entice a
student to attend their high school because the chances of getting to the state tournament is better than where the student
currently attends school.
A: Yes, this undue influence.
Q 4: School personnel encouraged a student athlete to attend their school, acknowledging the greater potential to be
recruited and obtaining an athletic scholarship at the collegiate level.
A: Yes, this is undue influence.
Q 5: School personnel offers transportation, assistance in employment, or waive the cost of school related
expenditures.
A: Yes, this is undue influence.
Q 6: School personnel offers certain favors to the student or student’s family members in hopes the family will make the move
to enroll their child in the given school district.
A: Yes, this is undue influence. COMMENT: Coaches, if a student athlete or parent(s) of an athlete contacts you as
to a
possible transfer, refer them to the building administrator. This will help to eliminate any potential problems relative
to
recruitment or undue influence.
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SPORTSMANSHIP OF SCHOOL PERSONNEL
Any person affiliated with a school involved in a contest is responsible to conduct their actions in such a manner as to
represent the high ideals and principles of their school. The same is expected of the athletes, to demonstrate only
the finest
sportsmanship. The adherence to good sportsmanship and good conduct by all personnel is the responsibility of each member
school. Any coach who cannot assume these responsibilities should not have the privilege and honor
of coaching students
in interscholastic athletics.
The coach has the responsibility of having the team appear for and complete the contest, and then return the team to its
home school.
Penalty- For failure to appear or compete in a contracted game/meet, the school’s athletic schedule for that sport will be
automatically terminated at the end of the calendar week following the incident.
Q 1: Our coach was very disturbed with the officiating of a basketball game and, therefore, took the team to the locker
room and refused to play. I am wondering whether or not this is a violation of the Association rule.
A: Yes, this is a violation and the Board of Control will not tolerate such action.
This violation will be reported immediately to the Association by the school administrator. The school’s administrative
staff
(superintendent, principal, or athletic director) may request a hearing on the matter at the Association Office, Boone,
Iowa, within five days of the incident.
The purpose of the hearing is to provide the school with an opportunity to explain the circumstances involved and to
satisfy the Association’s administrative staff that the problem has been taken care of at the school level.
If the school is dissatisfied with the penalty provisions prescribed by the administrative staff of the IHSAA, they may
appeal the decision to the Board of Control of the IHSAA in writing within 10 days of the written decision of the
administrative staff.
The appeal decision of the Board of Control will be final.
PUBLIC CONDUCT ON SCHOOL PREMISES
School sponsored or approved activities are an important part of the school program and offer students the
opportunity to participate in a variety of activities not offered during the regular school day. School sponsored or
approved activities are provided for the enjoyment and opportunity for involvement they afford the students.
Spectators will not be allowed to interfere with the enjoyment of the students participating, other spectators, or with the
performance of employees and officials supervising the school sponsored or approved activity.
Upon recommendation of the superintendent, the board shall cause a notice of exclusion from sponsored or
approved activities to be sent to the spectator involved. The notice shall advise the spectator of the school district’s
right to
exclude the individual from school district activities and events and the duration of the exclusion. If the spectator
disobeys the
school official or district’s order, law enforcement authorities may be contacted and asked to remove the spectator. If a
spectator has been notified of exclusion and thereafter attends a sponsored or approved activity, the
spectator shall be
advised that his/her attendance will result in prosecution. The school district may obtain a court order
for permanent exclusion
from future school sponsored activities.
LOCAL RULES AND FORFEITURE OF CONTEST
Local Boards of Education may adopt regulations which are more restrictive than those of the IHSAA. The
superintendent has the authority to exclude any athlete from participation in a contest for violation of such regulations.
The
superintendent’s authority is absolute and the Board of Control shall not review such action. A school forfeiting a contest
due to the use of an ineligible player may appeal to the Board of Control.
Q 1: Regarding a forfeiture, does it make any difference if a student plays one minute or the entire game?
A: It makes no difference. The situation will be reviewed by the Board of Control.
AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
Q 1: Are there any other athletic associations that have affiliated arrangements with the IHSAA?
A: Yes. The state athletic associations of the various states belonging to the National Federation of State High School
Associations are regarded as affiliated organizations and any school, being a member of a state athletic association, may
engage in athletic activities with the member schools of the IHSAA.
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CONTEST WITH OUT-OF-STATE SCHOOLS
Whenever a member school participates in a contest with a school outside the state of Iowa, that school must be a
member in good standing of the state association of that particular state. When you participate against any school
outside the state of Iowa, every student must be eligible in every respect. In other words, you could not use a student
who
was ineligible because of the IHSAA regulations yet might be eligible according to the regulations of another state
association.
If a student is not eligible to compete against another high school in Iowa, the student is also ineligible when you play an
out-of-state opponent.
When you compete against a school outside Iowa, you must adhere to whichever state association’s rules are more
restrictive. Example: If you compete against a state having a rule that a student can only participate in 3 track events, one of
which may be greater than 400 meters, you then would have to adhere to that state’s regulation which would be more
restrictive than your own association’s regulations.
MULTIPLE MEETS OR TOURNAMENTS
Multiple meets involving only Iowa schools do not require a sanction unless the event is not sponsored, organized, or
managed by a member school. The administration of the member school hosting the multiple meet shall be
responsible for participating schools adhering to the rules and regulations of the IHSAA. The National Federation has
regulations relative to sanctioning.
INTRASTATE ATHLETIC EVENT
IHSAA Guidelines for Intrastate Competition
The following guidelines will be adhered to for intrastate events requiring a sanction.
1. Any event in which more than two member schools participate and is not sponsored, organized, or managed by a
member school shall require an intrastate sanction.
2. No same sport events will be sanctioned on the date of state governing organizations sponsored events..
3. All rules, regulations, and playing rules of the IHSAA shall apply.
Schools choosing to participate in intrastate events not sponsored, organized, or managed by a member school are
responsible for making certain the event is properly sanctioned by the IHSAA. Sanctioning forms are available for intrastate
events not sponsored, organized or managed by a member school by contacting either the IHSAA.
Q 1: The McLeod Center at the University of Northern Iowa holds an eight team basketball event. All participating
schools are from Iowa. Each school only plays one game. Does this event require an intrastate sanction?
A: Yes. The event is not organized by a member school.
Q 2: Two member schools choose to play a regular season baseball game at Principal Park in Des Moines. Does this game
require an intrastate sanction?
A: No. The event does not involve more than two member schools.
Q 3
: A local civic organization sponsors an eight team soccer tournament. The tournament is organized and managed
by a
member school. Does this tournament require an intrastate sanction?
A: No. The event has a sponsor, however, the organization and management of the event is the responsibility of a
member school.
Q 4: A professional group put together an eight team basketball event. Member schools are invited to move one of their
regular season games to the event venue and be played as part of the event. Does this event require an intrastate sanction?
A: Yes. The event is not organized and managed by a member school.
INTERSTATE ATHLETIC EVENT
IHSAA Guidelines for Interstate Competition
The following guidelines must be adhered to for competition in interstate contests:
1.
When competing against a school outside of Iowa, you must adhere to whichever state association rules are more
restrictive.
2.
Competition is allowed in states contiguous to Iowa and in the state of Kansas. Participating schools for events held
in
Iowa must be from a state contiguous to Iowa or in the state of Kansas. Loss of school time decisions shall be made by
the administration of the participating schools. No sanction form is required.
3.
No out of state competition is allowed on the date(s)of state association sponsored events. The IHSAA will not allow
any contest at a time when a state association sponsored contest is on the same day.
Q1: Our school attends a track meet held in a neighboring state. We have been notified individuals can compete in six
events. Iowa’s event limit is four. What limitations apply?
A: Your athletes must adhere to the Iowa limitation. Even though the host school state limitation is more liberal than Iowa,
you are restricted by the Iowa limitation.
Q2: Our school desires to attend a basketball tournament held at a Nebraska school located within 50 miles. Is it
necessary that we secure permission before attending this tournament?
A: No, but you must be certain the tournament has been approved by Nebraska. The approval process begins with the
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host school and is initiated through the host state association office.
Q3: An Arizona school wishes to participate in a sanctioned event in Iowa. Is this legal?
A: No, only schools from states contiguous to Iowa and in the state of Kansas can participate in Iowa events.
Q4:
An Iowa team wishes to attend a tournament in Minneapolis. The tournament has teams from North Dakota which
is not
contiguous to Iowa. Can the Iowa team participate?
A: Yes, the tournament is allowed because Minnesota is contiguous to Iowa. The rule limits where Iowa teams can travel
and limits where teams traveling to Iowa can be from.
# of Schools
# of State
Associations
State Association Sanction
Required?
National
Federation
Sanction Required?
Any Number
Iowa only
NO
NO
Any Number
Up to 8
(Contiguous states and
Kansas)
NO
NO
- unless Kansas is
included
ATHLETIC POLICIES OF EACH MEMBER SCHOOL
The superintendent or his/her delegated high school principal shall be responsible for athletic policies governing the
school. It is their responsibility to schedule all the contests and no contest can be played without the superintendent or
principal approving the same. Any time a school’s team is involved in an interscholastic contest, it must be chaperoned by an
authorized member of the school’s faculty. This authorization is solely the responsibility of the superintendent or
his principal.
Q 1: Is it necessary that I, as superintendent, accompany our teams on all out-of-town games?
A: No. The team must be accompanied by a coach who holds a coaching endorsement or a coaching authorization.
Q 2: Our golf team is participating in an invitational high school golf meet next Saturday. Our coach is taking Saturday
classes at the University and will be unable to accompany the team. May the mother of one of the golfers accompany the
team?
A: No. The team must be accompanied by a coach who holds a coaching endorsement or a coaching authorization.
GAME CONTRACTS MUST BE USED FOR ALL INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION
The Board of Control furnishes game contract blanks for all member schools. Whenever a member school is involved
in a
game or contest, there must be signed contracts. If it becomes necessary for two schools to resolve a contract issue and
they cannot mutually agree, then the Board of Control shall act as a mediator and resolve the matter in a fair and equitable
manner. If an administrator signs a game contract between two member schools and subsequently moves to another
school or to another position, the new administrator must honor the contract signed by his predecessor.
Q 1: My predecessor last year entered into a contract with a neighboring school for a basketball game to be played in our gym
on January 13 of this year. None of the members of our school board, nor do I as the present superintendent, want to play this
school in basketball. Are we bound by the contract signed by a man who is not now associated with this school?
A: Yes, the contract which was made last year for a game this year is binding upon your school.
Q 2: A conference wants to know if they can make a master contract for all games. Is this legal?
A: Yes, as long as the minutes of your conference reflect approval by the school administrators.
REGISTERED OFFICIALS
When member schools participate in a contest, meet or tournament, registered officials must be used. If only one
official is available who is registered by the IHSAA, then only the registered official should be used. Under no condition will the
Association permit a contest to be played using officials who are not registered by the IHSAA. The use of non- registered
(registered) IHSAA officials will result in sanctions which may include forfeiture of the contest.
EXCEPTION: At the
junior high school level (grades 7-8), only one licensed official is required. It is not the prerogative
of any member school to
agree to set aside this rule. Such schools would be in violation of the Constitution if they decided by mutual agreement to
use officials not registered. Administrators should realize the liability a school must assume if nonregistered officials are
employed. It is very important for each school administrator and coach to read the game contract signed between member
schools. In this contract is stated the method by which both schools agree
to the selection of registered officials.
Placement on the Approved List constitutes certification by the IHSAA that
an official has passed the requisite
exam, demonstrating knowledge in the official contest rules and
proficiency in their application, and has
participated in all required Rules Meetings. Certification constitutes
no further reference or guarantee.
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POLICY WHEN REGISTERED OFFICIALS FAIL TO APPEAR FOR A CONTEST
OPTIONS:
1.
Play with one registered official. (Football two)
2.
Play with registered officials who are not quite as experienced as the original officials hired.
3.
Reschedule the contest