2005-2006 OSAA Handbook
1. Article 1 – Name of Organization
1.1. This organization shall be known as the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA).
2. Article 2 – Object and Authority of the Organization
2.1. Object. The object of the Association is to protect the interests of member schools and to regulate interscholastic activities that involve member schools from the State of Oregon.
2.2. Authority. The administration of rulings by the Executive Board shall be final, except for hardship eligibility appeals as provided in Rule 8.9.1.
1. Q. Is the Oregon School Activities Association a relatively new organization?
A. No. The Association has had a continuous existence since 1918.
2. Q. Is Oregon unique in having an organization to supervise the interscholastic programs of high schools?
A. No. All states in the United States and several of the Canadian provinces have organizations with a similar objective. All states in the United States and several Canadian provinces have banded together and formed the National Federation of State High School Associations with an executive office in Indianapolis, Indiana, that serves the entire United States through its press service, publication of Rules Books, distribution of video materials and in many other ways.
3. Article 3 – Membership and Dues See Executive Board Policy, “Membership in the OSAA” for additional information.
3.1. Membership. The membership of the Association shall be high schools within the State of Oregon, public or private, that meet the following qualifications:
3.1.1. Subscribe to the Articles, Rules, Board Policies, Board Interpretations, Participation Limitations, Sports Seasons and Officials Fees (collectively, the Regulations) of the Association.
3.1.2. Pay general membership dues and participation fees annually as established by the Executive Board.
3.1.3. Offer a comprehensive curriculum, which meets Oregon graduation requirements.
3.1.4. Serve a minimum of 10 students in grades 9-12 or 10-12. A school with fewer than 10 students may be eligible for Associate Membership.
3.1.5. Participate in at least one OSAA Activity each year.
3.1.6. Participate only against schools that are members of the OSAA or schools affiliated with member associations of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) if the activity is sponsored by the OSAA, unless an exception is granted in writing by the Executive Director.
EXCEPTION: Schools for which application of these rules is inappropriate may apply to the Executive Board for an exemption from one or more of the qualifications by providing written justification for the exemption with the “Full Membership Application.”
3.2. Dues. The Executive Board shall establish procedures relative to payment of membership dues and special fees for championships.
3.3. Member Obligation. Members of this Association shall be bound by the Regulations, standards, rulings and position papers of the Association and other decisions made by the Delegate Assembly and/or the Executive Board, and shall be bound to self-report any violations of the Regulations to the Executive Director.
Each full member school shall be a member of and subject to the rules of the district/league/conference to which it is assigned. Such rules shall not supersede or conflict with the Regulations. When there is such a conflict, the Regulations shall prevail.
Members of this Association have a responsibility to educate student participants, coaches and other appropriate persons about Association Regulations that could affect them.
3.4. Associate Membership. A private school may be granted Associate membership if it meets the requirements of Article 3.1. other than Articles 3.1.4., 3.1.5., and 3.1.6. Associate member schools may not enter teams or individuals in OSAA events except as provided in Rule 8.5.1.(d).
1. Q. What are the dues of the Association?
A. The dues are $500 for each full member school or $100 for each associate member school, plus $50 for each OSAA sponsored activity in which the school participates, payable on or before October 15 of each school year.
2. Q. May a full member school participate against a school that is not a member of the Association?
A. No, unless the contest is sanctioned by the NFHS and OSAA.
3. Q. May a student or a team of a member school participate in an organized practice or contest against a student or a team of a college, university, community college, non-high school club, or alumni in contact sports (football, wrestling and soccer)?
A. No.
4. Q. May a student or a team of a member school participate in an organized practice or contest against a student or a team of a college, university, community college, non-high school club, or alumni in non-contact sports?
A. No, unless approval is granted in writing by the Executive Director.
5. Q. Are home schools eligible for membership in the Association?
A. No. NOTE: Home schooled students may be eligible at the public school or the private school in whose district their parents reside. See Executive Board Policy, “Eligibility – Home School Students.
6. Q. May an associate member school form a team and participate against a team from another associate member school?
A. Yes.
7. Q. May an associate member school form a team and participate against an OSAA full member school?
A. No. If an associate member school wishes to participate against OSAA full member schools, the associate member school would need to apply for and be granted full membership prior to competition.
8. Q. May an associate member school participate against a non-member school in OSAA activities?
A. Yes. Unlike full member schools that may not participate against non-member schools, associate member schools are permitted to participate against non-member schools.
4. Article 4 – Delegate Assembly
4.1. Composition. The Delegate Assembly shall be composed of 35 representatives:
4.1.1. Thirty representatives elected by the members of regular athletic districts.
4.1.2. An athletic director representative elected by the Oregon Athletic Directors Association.
4.1.3. An activities director representative selected by the OSAA Student Activities Advisory Committee.
4.1.4. A school boards representative elected by the Oregon School Boards Association.
4.1.5. A non-voting advisory coach representative elected by the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association.
4.1.6. A non-voting advisory official representative selected by the Oregon Athletic Officials Association.
4.1.7. The Executive Director shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Delegate Assembly.
4.2. Qualifications. The athletic district representatives shall be superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, or assistant principals of high schools, which are members of the Association. The athletic director representative shall be a member of the Oregon Athletic Directors Association. The activities director member shall be a superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal or the equivalent of an OSAA member high school. The school board representative shall be a member of the Oregon School Boards Association. The advisory coach representative shall be a member of the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association. The advisory official representative shall be a member of the Oregon Athletic Officials Association.
4.3. Authority.
4.3.1. The Delegate Assembly shall adopt Regulations, elect the President and the Executive Board of the Association, and determine membership dues. The Delegate Assembly may adopt policies and positions for the Association.
4.3.2. The Delegate Assembly may adopt or amend Articles of this Constitution, adopt or amend Rules of this Constitution, and amend or revoke Executive Board Policies, Participation Limitations, Sports Seasons Limitations, and/or Board Interpretations, according to Article 10, Amendments.
4.4. Elections. Each Association regular athletic district (Article 7.1.) shall elect one representative to the Delegate Assembly.
4.4.1. Each regular athletic district shall determine its own nominees who meet the qualifications of this office.
4.4.2. The election shall be conducted by the superintendent chair of the regular athletic district committee. The superintendent shall report the name of the representative to the executive director in writing by September 15.
4.4.3. In case a vacancy arises in any regular athletic district following the election, the district shall elect a replacement within 30 calendar days.
4.4.4. Any regular athletic district that has a representative on the Executive Board shall not conduct an election for the Delegate Assembly.
4.5. Term of Office. The term of office members of the Delegate Assembly shall begin on September 15 and shall be for three years. Members shall not serve more than two consecutive terms, except for a member who is elected to the Executive Board who may then serve until his/her term on the Executive Board expires. The term of office for the President of the Association shall be one year. A President shall not serve more than one term.
A duly elected member of the Delegate Assembly whose position changes during the second half of the three-year term is eligible to complete the term of office if the new position retains some responsibility for secondary education and is at least equal in rank to the position of high school assistant principal and is within the same athletic district from which originally elected.
4.6. Meetings.
4.6.1. Regular Meetings. The Delegate Assembly shall meet in October and in April. Election of Executive Board members shall be held in April.
4.6.2. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called when one-third (11) of the voting members of the Delegate Assembly petition for a special meeting of the Delegate Assembly. The Executive Director shall poll all the Delegate Assembly members, and if two-thirds (22) of the voting Delegate Assembly members approve, a special meeting shall be called.
4.6.3. Quorum. A quorum shall consist of a majority (17) of the total voting membership of the Delegate Assembly.
4.6.4. Voting Body. Only voting members of the Delegate Assembly in attendance shall be entitled to vote. Proxy voting is not permissible.
4.6.5. Presiding Officers. The Delegate Assembly shall be presided over by the President of the Association, who shall be a member of the Executive Board. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President of the Executive Board shall preside.
4.6.6. Public Testimony. Any representative (administrator, athletic director, coach/activity supervisor) from a member school shall have a voice without a vote at the Delegate Assembly and shall be recognized by the chair according to procedures established by the chair.
1. Q. May an assistant superintendent serve as a member of the Delegate Assembly and/or as a member of the Executive Board?
A. Yes.
2. Q. May an assistant principal serve as a member of the Delegate Assembly and/or as a member of the Executive Board?
A. Yes. The term “assistant principals” includes all licensed, serving high school assistant and vice principals.
5. Article 5 – Executive Board
5.1. Composition. The Executive Board shall be composed of 12 elected members and shall consist of three 4A, two 3A, two 2A-1A school representatives, and a representative of the Oregon School Boards Association, a representative of the Oregon Athletic Directors Association, an activities director representative, a non-voting advisory coach representative of the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association, and a non-voting advisory official representative of the Oregon Athletic Officials Association.
5.1.1. One 4A member shall be elected from Districts 1, 2, and 3.
5.1.2. One 4A member shall be elected from Districts 4, 8 and 9.
5.1.3. One 4A member shall be elected from Districts 5, 6 and 7.
5.1.4. One 3A member shall be elected from Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4.
5.1.5. One 3A member shall be elected from Districts 5, 6, 7 and 8.
5.1.6. One 2A-1A member shall be elected from 2A, Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4 and from 1A, Districts 1 and 5.
5.1.7. One 2A-1A member shall be elected from 2A, Districts 5, 6, 7, and 8 and from 1A, Districts 2, 3 and 4.
5.1.8. The representative of the Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) shall be elected by his/her organization.
5.1.9. An athletic director representative shall be elected by the Oregon Athletic Directors Association (OADA).
5.1.10. An activities director representative shall be selected by the OSAA Student Activities Advisory Committee.
5.1.11. A coach representative shall be elected by the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association (OACA).
5.1.12. An officials' representative shall be selected by the Oregon Athletic Officials Association (OAOA).
5.1.13. The Executive Director shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Executive Board.
5.2. Qualifications.
5.2.1. To serve as a member of the Executive Board, a person shall be employed as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, high school principal or high school assistant principal of a member school within the state of Oregon, except for the Oregon School Boards Association representative, the Oregon Athletic Directors Association representative, the advisory Oregon Athletic Coaches Association representative and the advisory Oregon Athletic Officials Association representative, who shall each be members of their respective organizations.
A duly elected member of the Executive Board whose position changes during the second of his/her three-year terms is eligible to complete the term of office if the new position retains some responsibility for secondary education and is at least equal in rank to the position of high school assistant principal and is within the same classification and geographical area from which originally elected.
5.2.2. If a member of the Executive Board is an elected member of the Executive Committee of the NFHS and his/her term on the Association Executive Board has expired, the member shall remain on the Executive Board as a non-voting, member-at-large, as long as he/she remains a member of said National Executive Committee.
5.2.3. To be elected President of the Association by the Delegate Assembly, a person shall be a member of the Executive Board.
5.3. Authority.
5.3.1. The Executive Board shall manage the business and affairs of the Association and shall have the power and duty to:
(a) Establish operational guidelines and determine the investments for the Association.
(b) Exercise control over all activities and contests between schools that are members of the Association.
(c) Exercise control over all state championships and approve contest officials for such.
(d) Approve invitational meets, contests, and activities.
(e) Determine penalties for violations by member schools, their employees, representatives, and/or students of Association Regulations.
(f) Determine penalties for violations by certified officials of the Regulations. See Rule 2.4, “Prohibited Conduct” for additional information.
(g) Make rulings applicable to eligibility requirements.
(h) Administer the rules contained in each sport's athletic plan.
(i) Administer the Regulations, which shall govern each student who represents his/her school in any interscholastic activity and the conduct of each official.
(j) Make investigations relative to the violation of the Regulations. If charges are brought against any school for violation of the Regulations, or violation of the spirit of fair play and good sportsmanship, the Executive Board shall consider such charges and determine and assess penalties in case of conviction. Any school or official charged with a violation of the Regulations shall be given an opportunity to be represented at the hearing of its case before the Executive Board.
(k) Appoint special committees to assist in the arrangements and supervision of various activities and contests.
(l) Approve or deny applications for membership in the Association.
(m) Adopt or amend Board Policies, Participation Limitations, Sports Seasons Limitations, Board Interpretations and the OSAA Athletic Officials Handbook all of which shall have the binding force and effect of Rules adopted by the Delegate Assembly, but which may be adopted and amended without reference to Article 10 of this Constitution.
(n) Divide the state into athletic districts and assign member schools to said athletic districts for the purpose of administration, championships, and meets.
(o) Adopt interim Regulations in the event the Legislature or a court ruling invalidates a portion of the OSAA Handbook.
(p) Approve the annual operating budget of the Association.
(q) Take any other action authorized by the Delegate Assembly.
1. Q. Are protests against the decision of an official in a game reviewed by the Executive Board?
A. No. The Executive Board will not review the decisions of officials whether due to ignorance of the rules or errors in judgment. The competing schools must accept, without protest, the rulings of the officials who have been approved by the competing schools to have full charge of the contest.
2. Q. Will the Executive Board hear protests based upon the application of the rules of any particular sport or protests that involve judgment on the part of game official?
A. No.
3. Q. Will the Executive Board hear protests based upon the conduct of an official that violates the Regulations or the Prohibited Conduct?
A. Yes.
5.4. Election. Members shall be elected to the Executive Board by a majority vote of the Delegate Assembly members present and voting at the regular April meeting. Members shall assume office June 15 following their election.
5.5. Terms of Office. The term of office for a member of the Executive Board shall be three years. A member shall not serve more than two terms. A member who is appointed or elected to fill an unexpired term shall be eligible for up to two full three-year terms starting with the first meeting attended. The term of office for the President and for the Vice President shall commence on June 15 following their election and shall be for one year only.
5.6. Meetings. The Executive Board shall meet at least four times per year, as follows: September, December, February, and May. In addition, the Board shall meet in October once every four years to approve or disapprove revisions proposed by the Classification and Districting Committee. The Executive Board may confer and take action by telephone conference call, by other media or by mail ballots.
5.6.1. Six affirming votes (a majority of the voting members of the full Board) shall be required in order for the Executive Board to take action on a main motion regardless of the number of Board members in attendance at that meeting.
5.6.2. Any representative, i.e., administrator, athletic director, coach/activity supervisor, from a member school shall have a voice without a vote at an Executive Board meeting and shall be recognized by the chair according to procedures established by the chair, unless the Executive Board determines that it is appropriate to meet in executive session.
5.7. Summer Meeting Attendance. Executive Board members are immediately eligible upon election to attend NFHS Summer Meetings representing the Association. Individual Board member eligibility for NFHS Summer Meeting attendance expires when the member vacates his/her Board position.
5.8. Vacancy.
5.8.1. A vacancy shall be declared by the Executive Director when any member of the Executive Board resigns, moves from the area or classification he/she represents, no longer serves in a position described in Article 5.1., dies or becomes incapacitated, withdraws or otherwise becomes disqualified from the teaching profession, or when there is a lapse of membership or suspension of the school employing said member.
5.8.2. A vacancy may be filled, if it occurs more than 90 days prior to the next regularly scheduled Delegate Assembly meeting, by appointment by the remaining members of the Executive Board. Such appointment shall be temporary, and the appointee will serve until the next meeting of the Delegate Assembly, at which time all temporary appointments shall be filled by election for the unexpired term. The order of rotation for election area representatives on the Executive Board shall remain the same.
5.9. Presiding Officers. The President of the Association also shall serve as President of and preside over the Executive Board. A Vice President shall be elected by the Executive Board from its own membership, and shall preside over the Executive Board in the absence of the President of the Association.
5.10. Executive Director. The Executive Board shall have the authority to hire the Executive Director, to determine the salaries, employment conditions, and location of the office. The Executive Director's duties shall be to:
5.10.1. Supervise and evaluate employees of the Association.
5.10.2. Collect and disburse the funds of the Association.
5.10.3. Supervise the Association business.
5.10.4. Interpret and implement the Regulations of the Association.
5.10.5. Perform other duties as defined by the Executive Board.
5.10.6. Adopt reasonable policies and rules to conduct Association business.
1. Q. How many terms may a member of the Executive Board serve?
A. A member shall serve no more than two three-year terms. A member who is appointed or elected to fill an unexpired term shall be eligible for one additional full term. The term of the President and for the Vice President shall be one year only.
2. Q. Do Executive Board members represent athletic districts?
A. No, they represent all schools but are selected based upon their classification and region.
6. Article 6 - Classification of Schools. See Executive Board Policy, “Classification – Emergency Transfer” for additional information.
6.1. Computation of Average Daily Membership (A.D.M.) for the purpose of assignment of schools to a classification for a four-year time block.
6.1.1. Public High Schools. Public high schools shall be classified for activities based upon the Average Daily Membership (A.D.M.) shown on the Annual Report submitted by the Department of Education to the Superintendent of Public Instruction at the close of the previous school year. Students attending charter schools shall not be counted in determining the A.D.M. for any school other than that charter school.
6.1.2. Private High Schools. Private high schools shall be classified for activities based upon the Average Daily Membership (A.D.M.) computed by the OSAA. The OSAA shall compute private school A.D.M. by determining the average of the actual enrollment reported to the OSAA by private schools for four dates (September 30, December 31, March 31, last day of school) during the previous school year.
6.1.3. Associate Member Schools. Associate member schools shall be neither classified nor assigned to an athletic district.
6.1.4. Other A.D.M. computation procedures.
(a) Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 shall be used as a base to determine the classification figure.
(b) The coeducational school shall be used as a base. For a non-coeducational school, the A.D.M. shall be doubled to determine the classification figure.
6.1.5. Enrollment Limits. The following A.D.M. limits are used in classifying and assigning schools to district competition:
4A: 901 or more
3A: 326 to 900
2A: 116 to 325
1A: 1 to 115
6.2. Assignment of schools to classifications and districts for a four-year time block.
6.2.1. A Classification and Districting Committee shall be established to gather information and make recommendations to the Executive Board regarding classifications and districts for the four-year time block. See OSAA Constitution, Article 9.2., “Classification and Districting Committee” and Executive Board Policy, “Classification – Emergency Transfers” for additional information.
6.2.2. A school may petition for a change in its assigned classification.
6.2.3. A school may choose to compete outside its assigned classification in any sport but will not be eligible for district or state honors outside its assigned classification in that sport.
6.2.4. When initially assigning a school to a classification at the beginning of a four-year time block, the Executive Board may consider evidence submitted by that school concerning its potential enrollment during the four-year time block, in addition to the above criteria.
6.2.5. The Executive Board shall approve or disapprove all classification changes at its quadrennial October Classification and Districting meeting. Classification changes will become effective September 1, 2002 and every four years thereafter.
6.3. Changes in classification during the four-year time block.
6.3.1. The Executive Board may make what it considers a necessary change or changes in classification either up or down.
6.3.2. After placement in a classification for a four-year time block and a school exceeds the upper enrollment limit for its classification, the school shall be subject to review by the Executive Board with possible placement in the next higher classification for the remainder of the time block.
6.3.3. After placement in a classification for a four-year time block and a school falls below the lower enrollment limit for its classification, the school may petition the Executive Board for placement in the next lower classification for the remainder of the time block.
6.3.4. The Executive Board shall consider classification changes during the four-year time block only at the annual December Board meeting.
6.4. Cooperative Sponsorship. Cooperative sponsorship of an activity by two or more schools may be considered following procedures established by the Executive Board. See Executive Board Policy, “Cooperative Sponsorship” for additional information.
6.4.1. Only full member schools may apply for cooperative sponsorship. Schools requesting cooperative sponsorship should make every effort to co-sponsor an activity with the nearest school that also has difficulty sponsoring the activity by itself. Cooperative sponsorship shall be considered only for 1A, 2A, and 3A schools. Classification placement for the requested activity will be determined by the total combined A.D.M. in grades 9 through 12 of the schools involved. EXCEPTION: The Executive Board also may approve cooperative sponsorship involving 1A, 2A, or 3A schools with a 4A school if the 1A, 2A, or 3A schools are located in an isolated area or are unable to find a closer 1A, 2A, or 3A school willing to enter into a cooperative sponsorship agreement.
1. Q. If a school is interested in changing classifications, how should it proceed?
A. The school should petition the Executive Board for a change in its placement on or before November 1 of the school year prior to the year in which the change would take effect.
2. Q. May a school qualify for district and state honors outside its assigned classification in selected activities?
A. No.
7. Article 7 – Representative Districts
7.1. Regular and Special Athletic Districts. The high schools of the state shall be divided into nine regular athletic districts for 4A, and eight regular athletic districts for 3A, and eight regular athletic districts for 2A and five regular athletic districts for 1A as follows:
7.1.1. 4A: Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
3A: Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
2A: Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
1A: Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
7.1.2. Special athletic districts may be established or changed by the Executive Board for activities wherein not enough schools participate. See Executive Board Policy, “Special Athletic District Placement” for additional information.
7.2. Assignment of schools to a district for a four-year time block.
7.2.1. A school may petition for a change from its assigned regular athletic district at the end of a four-year time block.
7.2.2. The Executive Board shall approve or disapprove all changes in regular athletic districts at its quadrennial December meeting. Each application shall be voted upon individually. Regular athletic district changes shall become effective September 1, 2002 and every four years thereafter.
7.3. Changes in district assignments during a four-year time block.
7.3.1. The Executive Board may, at its discretion, make what it considers a necessary change or changes to district assignments during a four-year time block.
7.3.2. The Executive Board shall establish special athletic districts. A written application shall be submitted to the Executive Director not later than October 15 preceding the school year in which the change is to become effective.
7.4. The Executive Board shall define the districts for competition in activities other than athletics.
1. Q. May a school assigned to a district compete in an independent schedule in a particular sport?
A. Yes, but the school would be ineligible for district or state honors in that sport.
8. Article 8 – Parliamentary Authority
8.1. The Delegate Assembly shall determine the parliamentary authority that will govern it in all parliamentary situations that are not provided in law or the Regulations of the Association.
9. Article 9 – Standing Committees
9.1. Budget Committee
9.1.1. Charge. The Committee shall prepare a yearly Association budget for presentation to the Executive Board for approval at the May Board meeting.
9.1.2. Composition. The Committee shall consist of one 4A, one 3A and one 2A-1A school member from the Delegate Assembly; one 4A, one 3A and one 2A-1A school superintendent, assistant superintendent, high school principal or high school assistant principal not a member of the Delegate Assembly; one athletic director representative; one activities director representative; one coach representative; one officials representative; one representative of the Oregon School Boards Association; and the Executive Director of the Association. In addition, the Board shall appoint a chair.
9.1.3. Term. Members of the Committee shall serve three-year non-renewable terms. The Chair shall also serve a three-year term, but may be a former committee member. A membership rotation schedule for the committee shall be established in which approximately one-third of the members shall be replaced each year.
9.1.4. Meetings. The Committee shall meet annually in April.
9.2. Classification and Districting Committee
9.2.1. Charge. The Committee shall make recommendations to the Executive Board regarding classifications and districts for the upcoming four-year time block. The duties and responsibilities of the Committee shall be:
(a) To hold public hearings and provide correspondence to interested parties regarding classifications and districts for the upcoming four-year time block.
(b) To hear testimony from any school or other interested party, including information on the numbers of students currently enrolled in grades 8, 7 and 6.
(c) To make recommendations to the Executive Board regarding classifications and districts and enrollment limits for the upcoming four-year time block.
(d) To consider the following criteria, among any other they deem relevant, for recommending placement of schools in athletic districts:
(1) geographic location;
(2) cost of travel;
(3) scheduling problems;
(4) athletic district balance;
(5) athletic district history;
(6) move as few schools as possible;
(7) enrollment;
(8) maintain schools within the same school district in the same league;
(9) Loss of class time.
NOTE: The above list is not in any priority order.
9.2.2. Composition. Committee membership shall mirror the OSAA Executive Board. Each classification, region, and interest group represented on the Executive Board shall be represented by an appointment to the Committee.
The Vice President of the Executive Board shall serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Committee.
9.2.3. Term. Members of the Committee shall serve for a "process cycle" which includes meetings conducted two years prior to the change of four-year time block. The Committee recommendations shall be made to the Executive Board within the school year prior to the changes being implemented. The Committee shall schedule meetings during the 2004-2005 school year to make recommendations for the 2006-2010 time block, and during the 2008-2009 school year for the 2010-2015 time block.
9.2.4. Meetings. The Committee shall adopt a schedule of meetings based upon the issues under consideration. The schedule shall include an appropriate number of meetings in which to conduct the business of the Committee and may include travel to several venues.
9.3. Medical Aspects of Sports Committee
9.3.1. Charge. The Committee is a joint committee of the OSAA and the Oregon Medical Association (OMA). Its primary purpose is to ensure the health and safety of student-athletes who participate in OSAA sponsored activities.
9.3.2. Composition. The Committee membership includes physicians from various fields of practice (orthopedic, cardiology, family practice, internal medicine, sports medicine), athletic trainers, and OSAA staff. Members are selected based upon interest and expertise, with geographic representation a consideration.
9.3.3. Term. Committee members serve at the request of the OSAA Executive Director and have no predetermined term limits.
9.3.4. Meetings. The Medical Aspects of Sports Committee meets quarterly (four times during each school year).
9.4. Sportsmanship Committee
9.4.1. Charge. The Committee shall serve in an advisory capacity relative to the issue of sportsmanship. The priority of this guidance is insuring the opportunity for students, coaches, and officials to perform in safe, civil environments, and to demonstrate the educational values inherent in high school activities. Additionally, the Committee shall review school plans of correction as related to the ejection policies of the OSAA.
9.4.2. Composition. The Committee shall consist of representatives to include one member of the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association, two athletics directors, two activities directors, one officials representative, one principal/superintendent, and one Oregon School Boards Association representative.
9.4.3. Term. Members of the Committee shall serve a three-year non-renewable term. Attention will be paid to the term limit rotation to insure balance between experienced members and new members.
9.4.4. Meetings. The Committee shall convene twice yearly in October and April to address concerns and make recommendations to the Executive Board.
9.5. State Championships Committee
9.5.1. Charge. It shall be the duty of the Committee to review championship formats, participation policies, and issues relative to the administration of OSAA State Championships. The Committee may forward recommendations for modifications to the OSAA Executive Board.
9.5.2. Composition. Committee membership shall mirror the OSAA Executive Board. Each classification, region, and interest group represented on the Executive Board shall be represented by an appointment to the Committee.
9.5.3. Term. Members of the Committee shall serve through one review cycle, and may be reappointed to subsequent committees at the discretion of the Board.
9.5.4. Meetings. The Committee shall convene every four years to address issues of championships format. Within the meeting year, the Committee shall meet as needed but at a minimum three times to receive public testimony. The Committee shall meet in 2003, 2007 and 2011 to make recommendations for 2004, 2008 and 2012 respectively.
The Executive Board may convene the Committee at other times if, in the opinion of the Board, the need arises.
9.6. Student Activities Advisory Committee
9.6.1. Charge. The purpose of the Committee shall be to serve as a conduit for open communication among representatives of the activities and the school representatives and staff of the OSAA. The Committee shall not be a policy making body, but shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Executive Board, Delegate Assembly and staff of the OSAA. Support from the Committee for recommendations of the respective Student Activities coach and advisor associations shall be required prior to consideration of those recommendations by the OSAA Executive Board.
9.6.2. Composition. The Committee shall be composed of two representatives of each of the OSAA sponsored activities- cheer, dance, music, and speech.
Committee members shall be current high school employees. The Activities Representative to the OSAA Executive Board shall be an ex-officio member of the Committee.
9.6.3. Term. Members of the Committee shall serve a three-year renewable term in a cycle such that approximately one-third of the Committee members shall be replaced each year.
9.6.4. Meetings. The OSAA shall establish a calendar for the Committee to meet a maximum of three times yearly, generally in October, mid-January and near the end of May.
10.1. The Articles of the Constitution of this Association may be amended by three-fourths vote of the Delegate Assembly members present and voting or by written mail-in ballot, provided the following conditions are met:
10.1.1. The proposed Article amendment is signed by four school superintendents, assistant superintendents, high school principals, and/or high school assistant principals. Each signee must be a member of a different Delegate Assembly district from any other signee. The Executive Board also may sponsor Article amendments.
10.1.2. The proposed Article amendment is submitted by superintendents, assistant superintendents, high school principals or high school assistant principals whose schools are members of the Association, or by the Executive Board.
10.1.3. The proposed Article amendment is received by the Executive Director not later than 45 calendar days prior to the meeting of the Delegate Assembly. The Executive Director shall receive all proposals and distribute them to all member schools at least 15 calendar days prior to a meeting of the Delegate Assembly.
10.1.4. The proposed Article amendment contains the exact wording.
10.1.5. A statement setting forth its merits accompanies said proposal.
10.2. Any amendment to a proposed amendment for an Article of the Constitution requires a two-thirds favorable vote for approval by the Delegate Assembly members present and voting or by written mail-in ballot.
10.3. The Articles of the Constitution may also be amended effective immediately without prior notice to member schools if the amendment is adopted by a unanimous vote of the Delegate Assembly members present and voting, or by unanimous written consent.
10.4. Amendments to the Articles of the Constitution shall become effective August 1 following their adoption unless a specific date is included in the amendment.
10.5. The Rules of the Constitution of this Association may be amended by a majority vote of the Delegate Assembly members present and voting or by written mail-in ballot, provided the following conditions are met:
10.5.1. The proposed Rule amendment is signed by four school superintendents, assistant superintendents, high school principals, and/or high school assistant principals. Each signee must be a member of a different Delegate Assembly district from any other signee. The Executive Board also may sponsor amendments.
10.5.2. The proposed Rule amendment is submitted by a superintendents, assistant superintendents, high school principals or high school assistant principals whose schools are members of the Association, or by the Executive Board.
10.5.3. The proposed Rule amendment is received by the Executive Director no later than 30 calendar days prior to the meeting of the Delegate Assembly. The Executive Director shall receive all proposals and distribute them to all member schools at least 15 calendar days prior to a meeting of the Delegate Assembly.
10.6. An amendment to a proposed amendment of a Rule of the Constitution shall require a majority favorable vote of the Delegate Assembly members present and voting or by written mail-in ballot in order to be approved.
10.7. Amendments to the Rules of the Constitution may be approved without prior notice to member schools by a two-thirds vote of the Delegate Assembly members present and voting, or by written mail-in ballot.
10.8. Amendments to the Rules of the Constitution shall become effective immediately unless a specific date is included in the amendment.
10.9. The Delegate Assembly may amend or revoke Executive Board Policies, Participation Limitations, Sports Seasons Limitations and/or Board Interpretations using the same procedures and satisfying the same timelines as listed in this Article for amendment of the Rules of the Constitution.
10.10. The Executive Board may authorize non-substantive editorial changes in the wording of the Articles and Rules without review by the Delegate Assembly.
1. Q. When are proposed amendments to the OSAA Constitution due in the OSAA office for consideration by the Delegate Assembly?
A. If the proposed amendment is to change an Article, it is due 45 days prior to the Delegate Assembly meeting. If the proposed amendment is to change a Rule, it is due 30 days prior to the Delegate Assembly meeting.
2. Q. When do amendments to the OSAA Constitution become effective after being passed by the Delegate Assembly?
A. An amendment to the Articles in the Constitution becomes effective the following August 1, unless otherwise specified. An amendment to the Rules in the Constitution becomes effective immediately upon adoption unless another date is specified.
2005-2006 AMENDMENT DEADLINE DATES
In order to be considered at the October 24, 2005, Delegate Assembly Meeting, proposed amendments must be received by the OSAA by:
Articles September 9, 2005
Rules September 23, 2005
In order to be considered at the April 3, 2006, Delegate Assembly Meeting, proposed amendments must be received by the OSAA by:
Articles February 17, 2006
Rules March 3, 2006
RULES – Athletic, Cheerleading and Dance / Drill
In accordance with its rule making authority under Article 4.3. of the OSAA Constitution, the Delegate Assembly has adopted the following Rules, which shall govern each official, athletic district and student who represents his/her school in any interscholastic activity sponsored by the Association.
It should be noted that these Rules are intended to relate only to the regulation of interscholastic activities sponsored by the Association. The Association does not promulgate and takes no responsibility for the adoption of Rules concerning the safety of individual participants in interscholastic activities. The members of the Association recognize and agree this responsibility rests with the school districts and with their member schools.
1. Rule 1 – Responsibility of the Principal
1.1. Certification of Student Eligibility. The high school principal shall be held accountable for accurate certification regarding eligibility of students. The high school principal shall submit a seasonal eligibility report to the Executive Director prior to the first interscholastic competition of that season. Form is available for download from the OSAA website, www.osaa.org, Handbook and Forms section, and in the Forms section of this Handbook.
1.2. Coach Certification. Coaches shall be certified through the NFHS Coaches Education Program (NFCEP) by achieving a passing score on the certification test prior to assuming coaching duties. However, a non-certified coach who has completed the class and submitted the test may coach while awaiting test results. The high school principal shall be held accountable for verifying that coaches have been certified. The high school principal shall submit a seasonal eligibility report to the Executive Director prior to the first interscholastic competition of that season. Form is available for download from the OSAA website, www.osaa.org, Handbook and Forms section, and in the Forms section of this Handbook. EXCEPTION: Any emergency exception must be authorized in writing by the OSAA.
1.3. Trips. The high school principal, or the high school principal's authorized representative, shall accompany all school teams or individuals participating in an activity. The school shall be responsible for acts of its school teams or individuals while on trips, or while participating in any such activity.
1. Q. When should Eligibility Reports be submitted to the Executive Director of the Association?
A. Eligibility Reports are due to the Executive Director prior to the first contest date in each sport season.
2. Q. Is certification required of all coaches?
A. No. Coaches need NOT be certified if a certified coach is present at all times when the non-certified coach is working with students.
3. Q. When must a coach be certified?
A. A coach must be certified if at any time for any reason (ejection, illness, etc.) the coach is, or could be, solely responsible for coaching a team.
4. Q. If a cheerleading squad or dance team functions only in a support capacity and does not attend competitions, must the coach be certified?
A. No. In the same way that students that do not participate in competitions are not required to satisfy OSAA eligibility requirements, coaches of teams that do not participate in competitions are not required to satisfy OSAA certification requirements.
5. Q. In individual sports, may a parent or non-certified coach accompany a participant to a competition as the school representative if that person is an authorized representative of the principal?
A. Yes, but the authorized representative may not coach the participant unless specific permission has been granted in writing by the Executive Director.
2.1. The OSAA Athletic Officials Handbook shall govern the officiating of interscholastic activities, except as defined by this Rule.
2.2. The superintendent, assistant superintendent, or high school principal has the authority to approve the selection of officials for all festivals, meets, contests, and championships. State championship and playoff officials’ selections shall be made by the commissioner or local association with input from the schools serviced by that association.
2.3. An official shall not violate any of the Association’s Regulations or engage in any of the Prohibited Conduct listed below.
2.4. Prohibited Conduct – An individual official or commissioner is prohibited from engaging in the following conduct:
2.4.1. Use tobacco products, drugs, and/or alcoholic beverages, or be under the influence of drug and/or alcoholic beverages at an interscholastic facility.
2.4.2. Engage in unsportsmanlike conduct at an interscholastic event. “Unsportsmanlike conduct" includes, but is not limited to, unwarranted physical contact, profane language, and/or taunting. Unwarranted physical contact initiated by an official toward a coach/player shall be considered a gross act of unsportsmanlike conduct.
2.4.3. Make a bet or take a bribe in connection with an interscholastic event.
2.4.4. Being been convicted of:
(a) a felony involving the use, possession or sale of a controlled substance within the last 10 years;
(b) a crime involving the use or threatened use of violence against a person within the last 10 years; or
(c) a crime involving a minor child at any time.
2.4.5. Engage in any action which, within the discretion of the Commissioner of the local Association or the OSAA Executive Board, gives rise to a concern for the safety of children due to the official’s conduct, indicates that the official cannot objectively perform the official’s duties, or otherwise is inconsistent with the OSAA’s responsibilities to its member schools, the student participants or the parents of the participants.
1. Q. Who selects officials for a state level contest?
A. State championship and playoff officials’ selections shall be made by the commissioner or local association with input from the schools serviced by that association.
2. Q. May two schools mutually agree to waive certain association rules such as playing a contest without the use of certified officials when certified officials are required?
A. Association or playing rules may not be waived by mutual consent.
3. Q. At what levels are certified officials required?
A. See Executive Board Policy, Officials – Certified Requirement.
4. Q. How will cheerleading judges be selected for competitions in Oregon?
A. Sponsoring organizations shall contact the OSAA for a list of qualified judges.
5. Q. Are protests against the decision of an official in a game reviewed by the Executive Board?
A. No. The Executive Board will not review the decisions of officials whether due to ignorance of the rules or errors in judgment. The competing schools must accept, without protest, the rulings of the officials who have been approved by the competing schools to have full charge of the contest.
6. Q. Will the Executive Board hear protests based upon the application of the rules of any particular sport or protests that involve judgment on the part of game officials?
A. No.
7. Q. Will the Executive Board hear protests based upon the conduct of an official that violates the Regulations?
A. Yes.
3. Rule 3 – Contests – Sportsmanship – Crowd Control
3.1. The arrangement of all festivals, meets, contests, or championships is the responsibility of the superintendent, assistant superintendent, or high school principal, subject to the approval of the Association. Participation in any or all activities is optional for the individual school.
3.2. When a festival, meet, contest, or championship is in progress, the official National Federation rules governing such activities shall apply, except for specific deviations as approved by the Executive Board.
3.3. Sportsmanship Responsibility. The high school principal, coach and other responsible officials of each member school shall take all reasonable measures to insure that the school's students and supporters maintain a sportsmanlike attitude toward all events so that events may be conducted without unreasonable danger or disorder. When a petition is filed alleging violation of this Rule 3.2., the Executive Director may, at his/her discretion and with concurrence of any two Executive Board members, postpone any pending event which the Executive Director has reason to believe cannot be conducted without an unreasonable danger of disorder. All such protests shall be referred to the Executive Board, which shall proceed as provided in Rule 4. In addition to any other action the Executive Board may take regarding a protest alleging a violation of this Rule 3.2., the Executive Board shall have the power to cancel or re-schedule the event involved, or to impose conditions on conducting it.
3.4. Sportsmanship Violations / Penalties. When the students, staff, or supporters of any member school engage in unsportsmanlike conduct, disorder or infliction of damage to persons or property in connection with any festival, meet, contest or championship sponsored by this Association, the Executive Board may treat such acts as a violation by the school of the Rules of the Association. Any school whose students, supporters, rooters or partisans take part in riots, fights, pilfering, painting or any other unsportsmanlike conduct shall be subject to penalty.
3.5. A member school shall not participate in any festival, meet, contest or championship with a school that has been suspended or expelled from the Association.
3.6. The Association shall conduct state championships as directed by the Delegate Assembly.
3.7. A school shall not be allowed to participate in more than one state championship in a given sport.
1. Q. Is the host school exclusively responsible for crowd control?
A. No. While the host school for any activity must assume a primary responsibility for the physical management of the activity, including providing for crowd control, this is a mutual responsibility. The visiting school also must take such measures as are necessary to insure proper behavior on the part of its own students and fans.
4. Rule 4 – Violations of Regulations (Articles, Rules, Board Policies, Participation Limitations, Sports Seasons Limitations and Board Interpretations) – Protests and Self-Reported Violations
4.1. A high school wishing to have another high school penalized for violation of the Association's Regulations, or to have an official penalized for violations of the Association’s Regulations or the Prohibited Conduct, shall file a written notice of protest signed by its superintendent, assistant superintendent or principal and specifying the grounds of protest with the Executive Director. The notice shall be filed without delay after the alleged violation has occurred, and the Executive Director and Executive Board may consider unreasonable delay a factor in ruling on any protest. Protests also may be initiated by the Executive Director or by the Executive Board.
4.2. The Executive Director shall notify the accused school of the protest, and after such further investigation as the Executive Director deems necessary, shall either make a ruling on the protest or refer it to the Executive Board.
In the case of a protest filed against an official, the Executive Director shall refer the protest to the proper local Association of OSAA Officials for determination of a penalty. EXCEPTION: Where it is alleged that unwarranted physical contact has been initiated by an official toward a coach/player, the official shall be required to appear before the Executive Board at the next scheduled meeting.
4.3. Any parent, student or school may appeal to the Executive Board from a ruling of the Executive Director on a protest by giving the Executive Director written notice of such appeal within 10 working days of the Executive Director's ruling. Any interested official, parent, student or school may appeal to the Executive Board from a ruling of a local Association of the OSAA Officials on a protest against an official by giving the local association written notice of such an appeal within 10 working days of the local association’s ruling. Failure to give such notice shall be a waiver of the right of appeal. Where an appeal is taken from the Executive Director's ruling of ineligibility, the ineligible student(s) shall remain ineligible until the Executive Board decides the appeal.
4.4. If any member of the Executive Board is an interested party in a protest, the Executive Board shall appoint a disinterested person as a replacement in the decision of the case.
4.5. The Executive Director may determine that a school has violated a rule of the Association based upon facts reported to the Executive Director by the member school affected. Such a determination may be appealed to the Executive Board in the manner set forth in Rule 4.6.
4.6. When a ruling has been appealed or when a protest has been initiated by or referred to the Executive Board, the Executive Board shall schedule a hearing at the earliest practicable opportunity. The hearing shall be conducted by the Executive Board, pursuant to such procedures as it may direct, provided that interested schools have an opportunity to present evidence on their behalf. Pending decision of any appeal from a ruling of the Executive Director, that ruling shall stand and be given full force and effect for all purposes. If the ruling is modified or overruled on appeal, the Executive Board, at its discretion, may take such corrective action as it deems feasible and fair to all concerned.
1. Q. Must a school protesting the eligibility of another school's student secure the evidence to show that the student is ineligible?
A. Yes. The protesting school should secure all evidence possible and send it to the Executive Director.
2. Q. When is an Executive Board member an interested party to a protest?
A. Only when the high school in which the Executive Board member is superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal or assistant principal is a party to the protest. A protest involving a high school in an Executive Board member's athletic district does not disqualify that Executive Board member from the protest proceedings.
3. Q. Who rules on a protest filed against an official?
A. The local Association of OSAA Officials of which that official is a member rules on the protest. An interested official, student, parent or member school may then appeal the local Association’s decision to the Executive Board.
5. Rule 5 – Violations of Regulations – Penalties
5.1. Upon a ruling by the Executive Director or by the Executive Board that a student is ineligible, the school shall forfeit all meets, contests or championships in which that student participated during that student's ineligibility, either before and/or after such ruling. As determined by the Executive Director, the student may be disqualified for the remainder of that sport season.
Upon a ruling by the Executive Director or by the Executive Board that an uncertified coach has coached students in a meet, contest or championship, the school shall forfeit all meets, contests or championships in which that coach participated, either before and/or after such ruling.
5.2. For violation of any Regulation of the Association and in addition to game forfeitures provided in 5.1 of this rule, the Executive Board may impose any one or more of the penalties set forth in this Rule.
Upon a ruling by the Executive Director or by the Executive Board that a violation of any Regulation resulted from conduct of an employee or representative of a member school, the Executive Director or Executive Board may require the employee, representative and/or member school administrator to appear before the Executive Board and show cause why the employee, representative and/or member school should not be subject to sanctions under Rule 5 for such conduct.
The Executive Board may impose any form of penalty set forth in Rule 5 that the Executive Board finds appropriate to punish or deter such conduct. A member school may be subject to penalties under Rule 5 based on the conduct of its employees or representatives.
5.2.1. Probation: When a school is on probation, it shall suffer no impairment of rights of membership, but probation shall be a factor in determining the penalty for any violation during probation.
5.2.2. Forfeitures of festivals, meets, contests, championships, titles, awards, prizes or the right to participate in such festivals, meets, contests and championships as the Executive Board may direct.
5.2.3. Fines, in such amounts as the Executive Board may determine, to a maximum of $1,000 for one violation.
5.2.4. Suspension of rights of membership, for such period as the Executive Board may direct, to a maximum of two years. During suspension, a school may not participate in any festivals, meets, contests or championships.
5.2.5. Expulsion from membership in the Association.
5.2.6. The Executive Board may direct that any or all penalties provided in this Section are to be imposed only if certain conditions are not met, or that any such penalties are to be relieved if certain conditions are met.
5.2.7. Suspension of a member school’s employee(s) or representative(s) from coaching or other participation in Association activities.
5.2.8. Forfeiture of any meets, contests or championships in which the member school’s employee(s) or representative(s) have participated or which have been affected by the violative conduct, as determined by the Executive Board at its sole discretion.
5.3. Suspended or expelled schools may be reinstated by the Executive Board. Reinstatement may be subject to such conditions as the Executive Board may direct.
5.4. A member school (except an associate member school) that engages in a meet, contest or championship with a non-member school, or with a school that has been suspended or expelled, shall itself become liable for suspension or expulsion by the Executive Board.
5.5. Responsibility. If a school employee or representative declared to be in violation of any Regulation or if a student who has been declared ineligible is permitted to participate in Association activities or interscholastic competition because of a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction and/or permanent injunction issued by a court against the school or the Association, and if such restraining order and/or injunction is subsequently vacated, dismissed, stayed, reversed or finally determined by the courts to not justify injunctive relief, one or more of the penalties outlined in this rule may be assessed in the interest of restitution and fairness to other member schools.
5.6. Officials’ Penalties. Upon a ruling by the Executive Board that an official has violated any Regulation, the Executive Board may impose any of the following penalties that the Executive Board finds appropriate to punish or deter such conduct:
5.6.1. Probation. Probation may be imposed for such period as the Executive Board may direct. When an official is on probation, he or she shall suffer no impairment of certification as an OSAA official, but probation shall be a factor in determining the penalty for any violation during probation.
5.6.2. Suspension. Suspension of certification as an OSAA official for such period as the Executive Board may direct, to a maximum of two years. During suspension, an official may not officiate over any OSAA sponsored festival, meet, contest, or championship.
5.6.3. Revocation. Revocation of certification as an OSAA official.
1. Q. At what point is a participant's point total forfeited as opposed to an entire contest being forfeited?
A. In the event a participant would enter too many events, that participant's point total only would be forfeited. However, if an ineligible athlete participates in a meet, the entire meet is forfeited by the school team.
6. Rule 6 – Association Year (Sports Seasons) See Participation Limitations Section for additional information.
6.1. Association Year, Practice, Contests – Starting, Ending Dates.
6.1.1. Association Year. The Association Year shall start with the first day of practice for fall sports (August 22, 2005) and shall end on May 26. (“Summer season” activities may begin on May 27.)
6.1.2. Fall Sports. Practice shall not start prior to the third Monday (August 22, 2005) prior to the first contest date. The first contest shall not be played prior to the first Tuesday (September 6, 2005) following Labor Day. EXCEPTION: Upon written request, the Executive Director may permit a school to play a varsity or JV contest in football, soccer and/or volleyball up to five days prior to the first contest date if the rule works a hardship upon the school. However, the football, soccer and volleyball practice starting date shall remain the same. See Executive Board Policy, “Endowment Games” for additional information.
6.1.3. Winter Sports. Practice shall not start prior to Monday (November 7, 2005) of the first football playoff week. The first contest shall not be played prior to the Monday (November 28, 2005) following Thanksgiving Day. See Executive Board Policy, “Endowment Games” for additional information.
6.1.4. Spring Sports. Practice shall not start prior to the first Monday (February 20, 2006) following the 4A Girls Basketball cutoff date. The first contest shall not be played prior to the first Monday (March 13, 2006) following the 4A Boys Basketball State Championships.
6.1.5. During the Association year, practice in a sport shall not be held after the conclusion of a school's sport season in that sport as defined in Rule 6.1.6.
6.1.6. The season for a school in a sport shall end as follows: When a school has completed its regular season contests and all playoff contests.
6.2. Cultural Exchange Exception. Upon written request, the Executive Director may permit a school to play an additional contest before, during, or after the regular season as part of a Cultural Exchange Program. This contest shall not count as part of the allowable game or match limit specified for each sport.
6.3. Contest limitations, exclusive of any varsity district playoffs and state championships, are as follows:
Baseball 26 games
Basketball 24 games
Cross Country 12 meets
Football 9 games
Golf 20 9-hole rounds
Soccer 14 games
Softball 26 games
Swimming 12 meets NOTE: If more than 10, two shall be invitational meets.
Tennis 16 matches
Track 12 meets
Volleyball 18 playing dates / 36 matches
Wrestling 14 matches / 40 mat appearances
6.4. All other sports seasons and game limitations not listed above will be defined and approved by the Executive Board.
6.5. If a school district adopted calendar ends before any state championship, that school district is allowed to complete its playing schedule and to participate in the state championship.
1. Q. May a student or a team of a member school participate in an organized practice or contest against a student or a team of a college, university, community college, non-high school club or alumni in contact sports (football, wrestling and soccer)?
A. No.
2. Q. May a student or a team of a member school participate in an organized practice or contest against a student or a team of a college, university, community college, non-high school club or alumni in non-contact sports?
A. No, unless approval is granted in writing by the Executive Director.
3. Q. Is a contest between the alumni and the high school students considered a contest?
A. Yes, it is considered a contest and counts in the limitation of contests permitted. NOTE: Approval for such contests must be granted in writing by the Executive Director and the contest must be during the season for that sport. Approval will not be granted in contact sports - football, wrestling, and soccer.
4. Q. Does participation in a faculty game jeopardize the eligibility of a student?
A. Contest participation between coaches and players within each individual school for fund raising or entertainment purposes will not jeopardize the eligibility of any high school student. Such a contest shall be considered to be intramural. However, such participation shall not be held in contact sports.
5. Q. When may "summer teams" begin competition?
A. Summer teams may begin competition on May 27, the first day after the end of the Association Year. Practices may begin earlier only if a non-school coach is organizing and conducting the practice.
6. Q. If four schools compete in an 18-hole golf match and score it not only as a four-way match but also as three different dual matches for each school, how many rounds are counted toward each school's limit of 20 9-hole rounds?
A. Two 9-hole rounds (18 holes were played) are counted against each school. It does not matter how many different ways a match is scored. Each school played only 18 holes (interpreted to be two 9-hole rounds) toward the limit of 20.
7. Q. If three schools compete in a track and field meet and score it not only as a triangular meet but also as two separate dual meets for each school, how many meets are counted toward each school's limit of 12 meets?
A. One meet is counted against each school. It does not matter how many different ways the meet is scored.
8. Q. May a school participate in a contest after the regularly scheduled official close of its school year?
A. Yes. It is permitted to complete its regular season playing schedule and, if qualified, to participate in any OSAA State Championship.
9. Q. May non-school students or alumni participate in an organized practice with a school team?
A. No. If this occurs, the practice is considered a contest and will count against the participation limitations for that sport.
10. Q. May a student or a team of a member school participate in an organized practice or contest against a coach?
A. Yes, as long as that coach has been approved by the local school district.
11. Q. May a student participate on his school's soccer and football teams during the same season?
A. Yes. OSAA rules place no limitation on the number of teams on which a student may participate during the same sports season.
12. Q. If a school is lacking in facilities for an activity, may it utilize a neighboring school's facilities for practices and workouts along with students of the neighboring school?
A. Under normal conditions it is desirable for a school to have its own facilities. However, there are circumstances where this might not be possible, and if one school wishes to utilize another school's facilities, a request must be sent to the OSAA office for permission to do so. NOTE: Students from different schools may not "compete" against each other during shared practices or workouts.
13. Q. May a high school team practice in a facility at the same time as a club team?
A. Only if the high school and club team students do not practice against each other, do not share equipment or lanes and specific permission has been granted by the OSAA due to unusual circumstances.
14. Q. May a "common coach" be employed by two school districts"?
A. Under normal conditions it is desirable for each school to employ a coach for an activity. However, there are circumstances where this might not be possible. If this is the case, schools wishing to employ a "common coach" must secure permission to do so from the OSAA office. NOTE: Students from different schools may not "compete" against each other during shared practices or workouts.
15. Q. In unusual circumstances may an 8th grader practice with the high school team?
A. Yes, but only if permission is specifically granted in writing from the Executive Director.
16. Q. Is there a Basketball contest limitation for any given seven day period during the season?
A. No, schools may individually determine the appropriate number of contests to be played during any seven-day period.
7. Rule 7 – Out-of-Season and Non-School Activities
7.1. Out-of-season festivals, meets, contests or championships shall not be permitted during the school year involving member schools of this Association unless special authorization is given by the Executive Board.
7.2. A member school or official representative of a member school shall not participate, either directly or indirectly, in the promotion, management, supervision, player selection, coaching or officiating of an all-star contest involving high school students during the Association year.
7.3. No member school or official representative of a member school shall condition participation in high school athletics on participation in a non-school athletic event, including, but not limited to camps, leagues, and any form of organized summer competition. Further, no member school may give consideration to such participation when determining membership on, or participation in, high school competitive athletics.
1. Q. May a coach require participation on a non-school team including summer teams or use participation on a non-school team as a factor in selecting members of a school team?
A. No to both questions. Participation on a non-school team is a personal choice of the student and his/her parents, and may not be required or even considered when selecting school team members.
2. Q. May a coach require participation in summer workouts as a factor in selecting members of a school team?
A. No.
8. Rule 8 – Individual Eligibility
The purpose of Rule 8 is to preserve harmony among member schools and school districts by preventing not only actual proselytizing, professionalism and participation by other than regular students in good standing, but conduct or circumstances, which may give rise to the appearance thereof. Exceptions to the general rules herein will be narrowly construed to serve that purpose.
8.1. Attendance-Semester-Grades. An eligible student must be enrolled full time as defined in this rule.
8.1.1. For purposes of this rule, a full time student is one who is enrolled in high school, attending regularly and passing in subjects equivalent to at least the quantity listed on the appropriate line of the chart below, and who during the immediate preceding semester was enrolled in school, attended regularly and passed subjects equivalent to at least the quantity listed on the appropriate line of the chart below. A home school student who transfers to a public or private school may establish initial academic eligibility by achieving a minimum score on the achievement test required annually at the end of the school year of all home school students wishing to participate in activities. NOTE: In a traditional setting, two-semester units equals one credit of work, and one-half credit is granted each semester.
Number of Classes Offered Minimum Number Passed
4 3
5 4
6 5
7 5
8 5
8.1.2. If the school enters grades/credits on the official transcript each semester/trimester/quarter, that is the time period of eligibility of students attending that school.
8.1.3. In addition to the specific credit requirement identified in Rule 8.1.1., to be scholastically eligible, a student must be making satisfactory progress towards the school's graduation requirements as determined by the local school administration.
8.1.4. A semester, as used in these Rules, is one-half of the regular school year.
8.1.5. Where a student is enrolled in a high school and receiving credit at that high school for off-campus college classes, work experiences or other school-approved educational activities (including summer school or night school), the school may count those credits earned off-campus for the purposes of determining individual eligibility.
8.1.6. Credits earned during the summer or as a result of submitting work to satisfy requirements for classes for which an incomplete grade was assigned shall be deemed to have been completed during the previous semester for the purpose of determining individual eligibility.
8.1.7. Exceptions to this Rule (subject to application and approval by the Executive Director for eligibility):
(a) A school wishing to define full time enrollment in a manner different from the definition in Rule 8.1.1. shall apply to the OSAA by July 1 for the following year using the Deviate from the Standard Definitions of “Full Time Enrollment” Application. The form is available for download from the OSAA website, www.osaa.org, Handbook and Forms section, and in the Forms section of this Handbook. The application to the OSAA shall specify the equivalent alternate definition the school wishes to utilize. The Executive Director shall approve the alternative definition if the definition is equal to or greater than the standard definition in Rule 8.1.1. Following initial approval of the alternative definition by the Executive Director, it shall be assumed by the OSAA that the school continues to use the alternative definition unless another Application to Deviate has been submitted.
(b) Forced absence due to illness or injury as certified in writing by a licensed physician, shall excuse regular attendance for the period of such forced absence, and where such forced absence entirely prevents completion of the semester, shall excuse completion of the required subjects.
(c) The requirement for immediate preceding semester credit is inapplicable to a student who has not previously enrolled in any high school offering the 10th, 11th or 12th grades.
(d) Any student with an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) who, primarily because of the student’s disability,
(1) did not pass the appropriate number of classes, per Rule 8.1.1., in the immediately preceding semester,
(2) is not currently enrolled in and passing the appropriate number of classes, per Rule 8.1.1., and/or
(3) Has not been attending school regularly, may still be eligible to participate if the student's IEP team determines that the student is making adequate educational progress towards meeting the student’s IEP goals and objectives.
1. Q. What is passing work?
A. Each school must determine what passing work is. The Association does not establish academic standards for schools. A school establishes its own academic standards.
2. Q. What is passing work during the current semester?
A. Passing work is such that if on any given date a student should transfer to another school, work of a passing grade would immediately be certified to the school to which the student transfers.
3. Q. A student in a full year subject gets a grade of 85% the first semester and then a grade of 65% at the end of the second semester. But the teacher, in computing the grade for the year since it is a year subject, credits the student with a full unit. May the student be considered to have passed the subject at the end of the second semester?
A. If a school shows that the student has earned and had recorded a full unit at the close of the second semester, the Association will have no interest in determining how the school computed the mark.
4. Q. Is a student who is expelled from school one semester eligible the following semester?
A. The student is eligible if the student satisfies all OSAA Regulations. However, the school district may have additional rules or policies beyond those set by the OSAA.
5. Q. Is a "conditional" or an "incomplete" considered a "pass" by the Association.
A. No. The Association considers a "pass" to mean that all work has been completed and has been made a matter of final record in the principal's office at the end of the grading period or semester.
6. Q. May a student who has failed in a subject make up the work by attending summer school or by having a private tutor?
A. Yes. Any course work that is accepted by the school and for which credit is granted at the school may be applied toward eligibility.
7. Q. May a student who has more than enough credits to graduate participate in interscholastic activities while enrolled in courses equal to less than full time as defined in Rule 8.1.?
A. No. Even though a student has more than enough credits to graduate, the student must still be enrolled in and passing courses that are equivalent to full time as defined in Rule 8.1. in order to be eligible to participate in interscholastic activities.
8. Q. If a student is not eligible during the first semester, is the student eligible to compete in an athletic contest on the night of the last day of that semester?
A. No. The student is not eligible until the opening day of the second semester.
9. Q. When does a student become ineligible after failing to pass the quantity of classes necessary to be considered full time as defined in Rule 8.1.1.?
A. The student becomes ineligible when the school receives the official grade notices.
10. Q. A student needs only two subjects to graduate. May the student take only two classes and still be eligible to play on a high school team?
A. No. In order for the student to be eligible, the student must successfully carry a full time class load as defined in Rule 8.1.1.
11. Q. May a student who is ineligible practice with a school team?
A. The answer depends on the nature of the ineligibility. When a school has filed a request for eligibility for a fifth year and/or nineteen-year-old student, the student is ineligible to practice while action on the request or appeal is pending. Other ineligible students may practice, provided local school board policy permits this. OSAA rules prohibit any ineligible student from participating in or dressing for an interscholastic contest.
12. Q. May an ineligible student sit with a school team on the bench and perform managerial duties?
A. Yes, within the limits of any local school board policy. The student is prohibited from appearing on the team bench in uniform.
13. Q. Must OSAA academic eligibility standards be met by members of cheerleading squads and dance teams which serve a support function in the school (i.e. perform at games), but will not be participating in competitions?
A. No, only those groups that will be competing are required by the OSAA to meet OSAA academic eligibility standards.
14. Q. If a student is taking college classes for which high school credit is being granted, and the college classes do not start until after the start of the high school sports season, is the student allowed to participate while awaiting the start of the college classes?
A. Yes.
8.2. Duration of Eligibility / Graduation. A student may participate in the interscholastic program for four consecutive years (eight semesters or the equivalent) after entering the 9th grade, EXCEPT THAT:
8.2.1. A student entering the 9th grade for all or part of a school year has used a full year of eligibility for the purpose of computing duration of eligibility under this rule.
EXCEPTION to 8.2.1. If a student enters the 9th grade at a school in a foreign country in the southern hemisphere prior to the start of the Oregon school year and then transfers to attend an Oregon high school, the time attending the 9th grade prior to the start of the Oregon school year shall not be considered for the purpose of computing duration of eligibility under this rule.
8.2.2. A student who begins participation prior to entering the 9th grade is only eligible for four consecutive years beginning the year the student first participated for all or part of the year.
8.2.3. A student becomes ineligible upon graduation from high school.
1. Q. Does enrollment in a non-member school count against the eight consecutive semesters of participation permitted?
A. Yes. Each semester enrolled in grades 9 through 12 will count against the eight consecutive semesters permitted regardless of where enrolled.
2. Q. Is a student who has attended high school for six consecutive semesters and then who left school for a year (two semesters) eligible if that student then returns to high school?
A. No. A student is eligible for eight consecutive semesters only. In this case, the student would not be eligible since he/she attended six consecutive semesters and then was not in school during what would have been his/her 7th and 8th semesters.
3. Q. May a student participate in activities if the student has earned more credits than necessary but has not graduated?
A. Yes, provided that the student has earned them within the eight consecutive semester limit.
4. Q. How many years of athletic eligibility are counted against junior high school students?
A. Only one year (the 9th grade) is counted because students are permitted four years of high school participation, regardless of how housed by the local administration. However, if a 7th or 8th grader should play on a 9th grade team, regardless of how the student is housed (7-9, 9-12), then each year played or a part thereof shall count as one of the allowable four consecutive years of participation.
5. Q. If a student is enrolled in grades 9-12 but does not participate in activities for one semester, does that semester count against the eight consecutive semesters permitted?
A. Yes.
6. Q. If a student travels to a foreign country after entering high school, does the time spent in the foreign country count against the eight consecutive semesters permitted?
A. Yes.
7. Q. Is a student who has received a G.E.D. eligible to participate in OSAA activities?
A. Yes. The G.E.D. certificate has no significance under OSAA rules. It cannot be used for credit nor does it mean that student is considered to have graduated. Credit for actual course work for classes taken to prepare for a G.E.D. may be granted at the discretion of the local school district.
8. Q. Does playing on a school team other than the "first team" count as participation?
A. Yes. All participants representing their schools in OSAA sponsored activities are governed by OSAA rules, regardless of the level.
9. Q. May 8th grade students participate in spring tryouts for the high school cheerleading squad or dance team?
A. Yes, but 8th grade students may not participate in high school competitions.
10. Q. In unusual circumstances may an 8th grader practice with the high school team?
A. Yes, but only if permission is specifically granted in writing from the Executive Director.
8.3. Age. A student who becomes 19 before August 15 shall become ineligible for interscholastic competition. A student who becomes 19 on or after August 15 shall remain eligible for that entire school year.
8.4. Awards. A student becomes ineligible for one calendar year after the date of the report of the violation to the OSAA if at any time the student accepts or enters into any agreement for the purpose of later accepting any compensation or thing of value for or in recognition of athletic abilities, with these exceptions:
8.4.1. A student may not accept monetary compensation in recognition of athletic ability, participation and/or achievement during the Association year. A student may accept non-monetary compensation or items of value solely in recognition of athletic ability, participation and/or achievement if the total value of such non-monetary compensation or items of value, including the actual value of any gift certificates, discounts, coupons, etc., does not exceed $300 in any association year.
NOTE: For the purposes of this rule, “non-monetary compensation or items of value” does not include customary awards of a symbolic nature without resale value such as the school’s athletic letter, medals, ribbons, certificates, plaques, trophies and other emblems or gift certificates as long as they are not convertible to cash. This rule does not regulate or prohibit compensation received by a student athlete for ability, participation and/or achievement in a non-OSAA sport, nor does this rule prohibit the acceptance of college scholarships by student athletes.
8.4.2. A coach is responsible for reporting to the school’s athletic director all compensation or items of value received by the student athletes on that coach’s team within one month of the receipt of the compensation or items of value. Principals are responsible for verifying to the association that the total sum of compensation or items of value received by student athletes at that school does not exceed $300.
8.4.3. A student participating without compensation as a contestant, coach or similar participant in athletic activities may accept the use of necessary equipment and incidental services customarily furnished amateur participants in such activities, may accept reimbursement for direct and necessary expenses for participation (including mileage where the student must drive), and where participation requires absence from home, may accept necessary meals and lodging.
1. Q. Does compliance with OSAA rules mean that NCAA rules are also satisfied?
A. No. NCAA amateurism rules differ from OSAA rules. Consult a collegiate compliance officer for answers to questions about NCAA rules.
2. Q. Is a student limited by OSAA rules in the awards he or she may accept in activities not sponsored by the OSAA, i.e. bowling league, rodeo, and water polo?
A. No because these are not activities sponsored by the Association.
3. Q. If a student coaches, teaches, or officiates an athletic contest for pay, is the student in violation of the amateur rule?
A. No. The rule refers exclusively to actual playing. An individual may be paid for services performed.
4. Q. If a student receives an award, may the school hold that award until the student graduates and then return it to the student?
A. No. The award applies toward the $300 per year personal limit during the association year that it is received.
5. Q. May a student receive an award as a result of participation in a contest against a professional or as a teammate of a professional?
A. Yes, as long as the student does not violate the OSAA awards rule.
6. Q. Does the awarding of a letter count toward the $300 per association year award limit?
A. No. The awarding of ribbons, medals, certificates, emblems indicating State champions, plaques and trophies is permitted. However, these awards are to have no intrinsic value.
7. Q. May a student accept an award such as a free hamburger or free use of clothes for being named "Athlete of the Week"?
A. Yes. However such awards count against the $300 per association year award limit.
8. Q. A student who is a member of a high school cross country team participates in a cross country race during the high school cross country season and receives a T-shirt instead of a medal or a trophy for finishing in a certain place (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.). Does this count against the $300 per association year award limit?
A. Yes. A T-shirt is a merchandise award as are other items such as golf bags, tags, caps, towels, etc.
9. Q. T-shirts are presented as a memento of the race to every contestant who enters regardless of performance. Each contestant pays an entry fee to be in the race, and part of that entry fee is used for the purchase of the T-shirts. Does this count against the $300 per association year award limit?
A. No. In this case, the student is not receiving an award for his/her performance. Therefore, the T-shirt is acceptable, and it does not count against the limit.
10. Q. Do association awards limits apply to awards received outside of the association year?
A. No.
11. Q. May a student participate in a "jog-a-thon," a "swim-a-thon" or other "...thon" activity and receive cash or merchandise prizes for his/her fund raising effort?
A. Yes, provided no such prize is presented for the student's athletic performance per se. Prizes are acceptable only if they are presented exclusively on the basis of the student's fund raising achievements.
8.5.1. A student who competes in athletics representing a school other than the one in which the student has been enrolled becomes ineligible for that sport for the remainder of its season. EXCEPTIONS:
(a) Home School Students. A home school student who meets the eligibility standards established by Oregon law may represent a public or private school located within the public school attendance boundaries of Joint Residence of the student and student’s parents provided that the home school student was enrolled in the home school prior to the first day of school for the public/private school. See Executive Board Policy, “Eligibility – Home School Students” for additional information.
Once a home school student represents a school, that home school student may not represent another school for one calendar year after last representing the original school without a change in Joint Residence.
(b) Students Attending Member Private or Non-Member Charter Schools. A student attending a private school that is a member of the Association or a charter school that is a not member of the Association and which does not offer a particular activity may represent the public school of Joint Residence of the student and student’s parents, provided that both high school principals agree.
(c) Students Attending Oregon Full-Member Charter Schools. A student attending an Oregon charter school that is a full member of the Association may participate on teams representing the full member charter school only.
(d) Students Attending Associate Member Private Schools. A student attending a private school that is an associate member of the Association may represent the public school of Joint Residence of the student and student’s parents, provided that both high school principals agree.
1. Q. May a high school student who is a member of a high school team also compete on a non-school, organized athletic team or as an unattached individual in that sport during the Association Year?
A. Yes.
2. Q. May a high school baseball/softball team member (a) practice or (b) play a game with a summer team during the Association year, but after the high school baseball season?
A. Yes. So long as the summer team is not coached by the school team coach, a high school baseball/softball team member may practice or play with a summer team during his/her high school's baseball/softball season.
3. Q. May a home school student represent a member school in interscholastic activities?
A. Yes, providing the home school student meets all necessary requirements and represents the public high school or the private high school in which district the student’s parents reside. See Executive Board Policy, “Eligibility – Home School Students” for additional information.
4. Q. If a student living in School A’s attendance area attends School B and then becomes a home school student during the school year, when is that student eligible to represent School A?
A. The student is eligible to represent School A at the beginning of the school year following the date the student becomes a home school student, providing all other eligibility requirements are met.
5. Q. If a student who lives in School A’s attendance area attends School B and then becomes a home school student and represents School A, can that student return to School B as a regularly enrolled student and be eligible?
A. No. If this occurs, the student in question would be eligible at School B one calendar year from the date of return to School B.
6. Q. If a home school student’s parents reside in School A's attendance area and the student's parents move to School B's attendance area, how does this affect the eligibility of the student?
A. The home school student would be eligible only at school B.
7. Q. If a home school student’s parents reside in a public school district that also has a private school within its attendance boundaries, may the home school student represent either the public or the private school?
A. Yes. If the home school student wished to represent another school within the district where the home school student’s parents reside, the home school student would be ineligible for one calendar year after representing the first school.
8. Q. If there is more than one private school within the public school boundaries where a home school student’s parents reside, which private school may the home school student represent?
A. The home school student may represent any of the private schools, but only one.
9. Q. If a home school student’s parents reside in a public school district that has no private school within its attendance boundaries, may the home school student represent a private school in an adjacent public school district?
A. No. If there is no private school within the public school attendance boundaries in which the home school student’s parents reside, the home school student may only represent the public school within whose attendance boundaries the home school student’s parents reside.
10. Q. May a home school student whose parents reside within a multiple high school district select the high school he or she wishes to attend?
A. No. The home school student is eligible only at the public school within whose attendance boundaries the student’s parents reside, or at a private school located within those same attendance boundaries.
11. Q. If a student resides within the attendance boundaries of a public school and attends a member private school outside those attendance boundaries, and the private school does not offer a particular sport, what public school may that private school student represent in that sport?
A. The private school student may represent only the public school in whose attendance boundaries the parents of the private school student reside.
12. Q. If a member private school student represents the public school within whose attendance boundaries the private school student resides in one sport, may the private school student then represent the private school in another sport?
A. Yes. If the private school student represents a public school because the private school does not offer that particular sport, the private school student may then represent the private school in another sport that is offered. NOTE: A private school student may represent a public school only if the private school does not offer the particular sport.
13. Q. If a student attending a private school resides in a multiple high school district, which public school may the private school student represent if the private school does not offer a particular sport?
A. That student may represent only the high school in whose attendance area the student’s parents reside within the multiple high school districts.
14. Q. May a student from an associate member school represent a full member school in competition?
A. Yes, but only if that full member school is the public school in whose attendance boundaries the parents of the associate member school student reside, both high school principals agree and the student meets all other school and OSAA requirements.
15. Q. Are emancipated minors eligible?
A. Even though a student is emancipated, that student still must attend the high school in which district his/her parents reside if that student wishes to be eligible for interscholastic competition. If the student in question moves to another district, in order to be eligible, the student's parents also would have to move to that district.
16. Q. If a student's parents do not reside in the district and the student transfers as a tuition-paying non-resident is he/she eligible?
A. No. Payment of tuition is not a factor in determining eligibility.
17. Q. If a private school or charter school drops a sport after the first contest date of a sports season, may those students participate in that sport at the public school in whose attendance boundaries the parents of the student reside, providing both high school principals agree?
A. No. The private school or charter school must drop a program before the first contest date of that sports season in order for the students to be eligible to participate in that sport at their resident public school.
18. Q. If a public school does not offer a particular sport, may a public school, private school or home school student who resides in the public school’s attendance boundary and who wishes to participate in that sport participate at another school in order to compete in that sport?
A. No.
19. Q. If tuition is paid in order for a student to attend a public high school outside the attendance area of Joint Residence, is the student eligible?
A. No. The student is not eligible for a period of one year, unless the student enrolled in the school to which tuition is paid prior to initial enrollment in the 9th grade.
20. Q. May an individual student who attends a public school that does not offer a school team in a given sport participate in practice sessions at a neighboring school which does offer a school team in that sport?
A. No.
21. Q. At what point does a student become ineligible once the student has withdrawn from a school?
A. The student becomes ineligible the day following the student’s withdrawal from a school.
8.6.1. Fundamental Rule. It is a fundamental rule of the Association that a student must attend the high school in the high school attendance boundary within which the Joint Residence of the student and the student's parents is located. Exceptions to this Fundamental Rule are to be narrowly construed.
8.6.2. Eligible Student Transfer Certificate. In connection with any student who has transferred but is eligible under the Rules of the Association, the school shall complete an Eligible Student Transfer Certificate in the form prescribed by the Association, properly signed by the superintendent, assistant superintendent, or principal of the high school the student enters, and maintain it at the school for inspection at the request of the Association. Form is available for download from the OSAA website, www.osaa.org, Handbook and Forms section, and in the Forms section of this Handbook.
8.6.3. Exceptions to Fundamental Rule.
(a) Entering ninth grade students. A student is eligible to participate at a school other than the high school in the high school attendance boundary within which Joint Residence of the student and the student’s parents is located when the student first enters the ninth grade.
(b) Students who are wards of the court. A student who is otherwise eligible does not become ineligible by virtue of being made a ward of the court and placed by the court in a residence in a different attendance boundary, except a student made a ward of the court under ORS 419C.440 (Juvenile Code).
(c) Foreign students on CSIET approved programs. A student from a foreign country who is on a CSIET approved program is eligible for one year from the date of enrollment if the following criteria are met:
(1) The student is attending a school in the attendance boundary where the host family resides.
(2) The student satisfies the OSAA age requirement.
(3) The student has not completed the equivalent of twelve years of education (excluding kindergarten).
(4) The student has not previously attended a high school in the United States.
(5) Neither the school the student attends nor any person associated with the school has had any input in the selection of the student.
(6) The host family is not a member (paid or voluntary) of the school’s athletic coaching staff.
(7) The student has not been terminated from the CSIET program.
(d) Students whose parents are divorced, legally separated or unmarried. A student who does not maintain a Joint Residence with both parents is eligible when:
(1) The student moves to reside with a parent in a different high school attendance area at the time the parent initiates legal separation or divorce proceedings; or
(2) Between school years, the student moves to reside with the other parent and transfers to the school within whose attendance boundaries the other parent resides.
(e) Students who reside on campus at a member boarding school. A student who transfers to reside on campus at a member boarding school between school years is eligible.
(f) Students who transfer between school years. A student who transfers between school years is eligible if:
(1) The student transfers to a member private school, charter school or home school and maintains a Joint Residence. See Rule 8.6.7., "Definitions" for additional information.
(2) The student transfers to the public school within the attendance boundaries of Joint Residence and maintains a Joint Residence.
(3) The student transfers within a multiple high school district with the approval of the administration of the multiple high school districts and maintains a Joint Residence.
(4) The student transfers between Oregon school districts under the terms of a reciprocal transfer agreement and maintains a Joint Residence.
8.6.4. Continuity Requirement. A student who is otherwise eligible under the Rules of the Association loses eligibility for one calendar year when the student’s parents move from the attendance area of the high school the student is attending unless:
(a) The student was enrolled in the high school at the beginning of the freshman year and the student’s parents move during the freshman year, or
(b) Continuity of enrollment is maintained by the student and the student has been enrolled in and attending the high school for at least one calendar year immediately preceding the move of the parents.
8.6.5. Transfers to a school with which a non-school team is affiliated or with which an athletic instructor is affiliated. Despite compliance with the other provisions of these Rules, a student who attends, participates or was eligible to participate for a full member school, and then transfers to another member school is ineligible for one calendar year under any of the following circumstances:
(a) The student transfers from a public, private or charter school after:
(1) Participating in non-school athletics (i.e. AAU, American Legion, club team, etc.) on a team affiliated with the school to which the student transfers, AND/OR
(2) Receiving athletic instruction within the past calendar year from a person affiliated with the school to which the student transfers.
EXCEPTION: The eligibility of a private or charter school student who transfers to a public or private school at which the student has previously been a participant on a school team is not affected by this rule.
(b) The student transfers from a home school after:
(1) Participating in non-school athletics (i.e. AAU, American Legion, club team, etc.) on a team affiliated with the school to which the student transfers, AND/OR
(2) Receiving instruction within the past calendar year from a person affiliated with the school to which the student transfers.
EXCEPTION: The eligibility of a home school student who transfers to a public or private school at which the student has previously been a participant on the school team or was eligible to participate on the school team is not affected by this rule.
8.6.6. Mid-Year Transfers. A student who transfers during the school year without a move of the student’s parents is ineligible for one calendar year unless the student becomes eligible at an earlier date based upon an exception listed in Rule 8.6.3.
8.6.7. Definitions. For purposes of these Rules, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Joint Residence" is the place where both the student and the student's parents reside (or, if the student is a ward of the court, where the student resides pursuant to court order). The student and the student's parents reside in a place when they occupy a dwelling for all purposes, with the intent to live there indefinitely and terminate all occupancy of their previous residence. If a student has only one parent, that student’s Joint Residence is the residence of that student and his/her parent.
(b) A “home school student” is a student described in ORS 339.030(3), who has met the requirements established under ORS 339.035.
(c) A student “resides on campus at a member boarding school” when the student lives on the school grounds, or in residence halls used in connection with the school, of a school that provides room and board for resident students.
(d) A student “transfers” if the student attended classes (or studied at a home school) or participated in any practices or interscholastic activities at another high school.
(e) “Legal separation” or “divorce proceedings” occur when a petition has been filed with the court.
(f) “Between school years” is after the end of an Association Year and before a student participates in practice or attends classes during the next Association Year.
(g) A team is considered to be “affiliated with the school” if:
(1) The team is organized by and/or coached by any coach, booster, teacher, administrator, parent or any other person associated with that school, and/or
(2) The majority of the members of the team are students who attend that school or who represent that school in that team’s activity.
(h) A person is considered to be “affiliated with the school” if that person is a coach, booster, teacher, administrator, parent or any other person associated with that school.
8.6.8. Period of Ineligibility. Except as otherwise provided in the Rules of the Association, any transfer resulting in ineligibility of the student renders the student ineligible for one calendar year.
1. Q. When the parents of a student legally separate and take up residence in different high school attendance areas, what is the eligibility status of the student?
A. At the time a student's parents legally separate and initiate divorce proceedings, the student may reside with either parent and be immediately eligible in the high school attendance area in which the parent resides. The student also retains eligibility for any transfer back to the other parent, so long as the transfer occurs between school years.
2. Q. When a student transfers to a new school at the time it opens or to a school that becomes coeducational at the time it becomes coeducational, is that student eligible?
A. Yes. The student is eligible provided the student maintains a Joint Residence within the attendance boundaries of the school district in which the new school is located.
3. Q. If a student transfers to a school, when is the principal required to file an Eligible Student Transfer Certificate?
A. The principal of the school to which the student transfers complete an Eligible Student Transfer Certificate and a copy maintained at the school for inspection at the request of the OSAA prior to the student's participation in interscholastic activities.
4. Q. If a student transfers from one high school to another high school, how long must that student attend the second high school before the second high school principal is not required to complete an Eligible Student Transfer Certificate?
A. The student shall be in attendance for one calendar year before it would not be necessary to complete an Eligible Student Transfer Certificate. Once an Eligible Student Transfer Certificate is completed for a student, another need not be completed for another sport if the student has attended the school less than one year.
5. Q. If a student moves with his/her parents from one high school district to another, when will the student become eligible in his/her new school?
A. The student will become eligible when the student's parents physically move into and jointly occupy their new residence with the intent to reside there indefinitely and terminate all occupancy of their previous residence, and when the student is properly enrolled and the principal has completed the Eligible Student Transfer Certificate.
6. Q. When does a student become eligible if the student transfers in advance of his/her parents?
A. If a student transfers to a high school in advance of the anticipated change of residence of the student's parents, the student shall become eligible at his/her new school when the parents physically move into and occupy the residence in that school district and the principal has completed the Eligible Student Transfer Certificate, or one year after enrolling in the new school.
7. Q. If a student's parents move in advance of the student to another school district, at what time does the student become eligible at that school?
A. The student becomes eligible when properly enrolled in the new school and the principal has completed the Eligible Student Transfer Certificate.
8. Q. If a student living in a non-high school district changes from one high school to another because of the tuition contract arrangements of the non-high school board of directors, how long must the student wait before becoming eligible?
A. The student becomes eligible when properly enrolled and the principal has completed the Eligible Student Transfer Certificate.
9. Q. When a student transfers under the terms of a reciprocal agreement during the school year, at what date does the student become eligible?
A. The student becomes eligible at the beginning of the next school year following the transfer.
10. Q. If a student enrolls in the 9th grade of a four-year high school and then transfers between school years to the 10th grade of a three-year high school, is that student eligible at the second school?
A. No, unless a corresponding move is completed by the student and his/her parents or the transfer is under a reciprocal transfer agreement.
11. Q. May a student who is attending a public high school transfer to a private high school without loss of eligibility if there is no corresponding move by the student's parents?
A. Yes, if the student continues to maintain a Joint Residence with his or her parents and the transfer is made between school years.
12. Q. May a student who is attending a private high school transfer to a public high school without loss of eligibility if there is no corresponding move by the student's parents?
A. Yes. The answer is the same as for previous question but with one more requirement: the public high school is located within the high school attendance boundary in which the Joint Residence of the student and the student’s parents is located or the student transfers to another school district under the terms of a reciprocal transfer agreement.
13. Q. A school drops an activity from its program, so a student transfers to another school that has the activity. The parents do not move from one school district to another in connection with the transfer. What is the student's eligibility status?
A. This student will be ineligible for a period of one year from the date of his/her transfer.
14. Q. How does legal guardianship apply to OSAA eligibility?
A. Historically, guardianships have frequently been used to attempt to avoid the Fundamental Rule of the OSAA that a student attend school only in the district in which the student’s parents reside. Consequently, the appointment of a legal guardian alone is not recognized as an exception to the fundamental rule. If a student resides with anyone other than the student’s parents, and eligibility is sought in any district other than the one in which the student’s parents reside, the school must apply for eligibility for the student by submitting an Eligibility Request Form to the District Athletic Committee, setting forth the circumstances justifying a hardship exception to the fundamental rule. Under no circumstances will the appointment of a guardian be tolerated as a device to circumvent the eligibility rules of OSAA.
15. Q. Where should a transfer eligibility request be filed for a student in a sport divided into special districts?
A. The transfer eligibility request should be submitted by the school the student wishes to represent to the regular District Athletic Committee for that school.
16. Q. May a student who is ineligible practice with a school team?
A. The answer depends on the nature of the ineligibility. When a school has filed a request for eligibility for a fifth year and/or nineteen-year-old student, the student is ineligible to practice while action on the request or appeal is pending. Other ineligible students may practice, provided local school board policy permits this. OSAA rules prohibit any ineligible student from participating in or dressing for an interscholastic contest.
17. Q. May a school administrator provide general assistance and information to assist CSIET approved programs in the placement of students in the administrator’s school district?
A. This board policy is intended to prohibit undue school influence in the placement of foreign student-athletes at the school. Administrative input to CSIET approved program coordinators regarding such issues as available host families, number of placements available at the school and other input would not be a violation of the spirit of this policy so long as the input is unrelated to athletic participation.
18. Q. At what point is a student considered a member of a non-school affiliated team?
A. If a student participates in a practice or contest, that student is considered a team member and is a part of the roster.
19. Q. What constitutes a majority of a non-school affiliated team?
A. A majority is one more than half the number of students on a team roster.
20. Q. Who is considered to be a part of the school coaching staff?
A. A coach (paid or volunteer) is anyone who at any time for any reason is, or could be, solely responsible for coaching a team.
21. Q. Does Transfer Rule 8.6.5. apply to incoming 9th graders?
A. No, all students are eligible when they enter the beginning year of a four-year (grades 9-12) high school for the first time.
22. Q. How may a student document that the transfer process was initiated prior to participating on a non-school team associated with the school to which the student is transferring?
A. The student should obtain a written, dated document from the administrator or other school representative with whom the student (or parents) corresponded prior to participation.
23. Q. If a student is ineligible for one year because the student participated on a non-school team associated with a school prior to transferring to that school, may the student file a hardship appeal to regain eligibility?
A. If application of the rule will work an undue hardship upon the student due to circumstances beyond the control of the student or the student’s parents, the school at which the student wishes to participate may submit an Eligibility Request Form to the District Athletic Committee to petition for reinstatement of eligibility.
Despite compliance with the other provisions of these Rules, any student who attends a member high school as a result of undue influence as defined in these Rules is thereafter ineligible and the high school is subject to the penalties set out in Rule 5.
For purposes of this Rule, "undue influence" is the attempt by any person (including but not limited to coaches, boosters, teachers, administrators, parents, alumni) to induce the attendance of a student at a public or a private member school for purposes of athletic participation. Undue influence includes, without limitation, contacting a student with the intent of recruiting the student to a particular school for purposes of athletic participation or promising employment or any other pecuniary benefit to the student or any member of the student's family to induce the attendance of the student at a particular school for purposes of athletic participation. It shall not be considered undue influence for authorized representatives of a private high school to contact students attending private feeder schools to induce their attendance at the private high school or for authorized representatives of public high schools to so contact students within that public high school's attendance boundaries.
1. Q. Does the undue influence rule apply only during the Association year?
A. No. The undue influence rule applies at all times.
2. Q. Is it considered undue influence to initiate contact with a student from another school at any game or contest for the purpose of discussing athletic programs?
A. Yes. Any contact initiated by a coach or other school representative with a student from another school for the purpose of athletic recruitment is considered undue influence.
3. Q. Is it considered undue influence for a school to send recruiting letters to students who already are enrolled in a high school?
A. Yes.
4. Q. Is it considered undue influence for a private school to send recruiting letters to students enrolled in junior high and middle schools?
A. It would be considered undue influence if letters were written to athletes only. General information letters written to a large group of students received by an athlete by chance as part of the mailing are not considered undue influence.
5. Q. Is it considered undue influence for a school representative to discuss that school's athletic program with a visiting athlete?
A. It would not be considered undue influence if the student had contacted the school first to request information about the athletic program.
6. Q. Is it considered undue influence for a school representative to contact an athlete in a multiple high school district about enrolling in another school in that district primarily for the purpose of athletics?
A. Yes.
7. Q. What are other examples of undue influence?
A. Offers of free transportation, invitations to attend practice or games, offering or awarding any privileges or consideration not offered to other members of the student body, whether athletes or non-athletes, all are examples of undue influence.
8. Q. What are some allowable practices that would not be considered undue influence?
A. 1) Visits to junior high and/or middle schools by invitation, conducted by approved school representatives. 2) Open houses. 3) Broad-based informational mailings. 4) Sports clinics with open registration.
8.8. Misrepresentation. Misrepresentation, such as an incorrect address, or participating under an assumed name in any interscholastic contest, shall make the student ineligible for the remainder of that sport season and for any additional period of time determined by the Executive Board, and in addition, the school shall be subject to any further penalty under Rule 5 the Executive Board may impose.
8.9.1. Transfer. The District Athletic Committee may in individual cases, at its discretion, waive or modify the eligibility rules regarding transfer, other than transfers involving home schools (except in the circumstances described below), foreign students or alleged undue influence, when in its opinion there are circumstances beyond the control of both the student and the student’s parent(s) or other circumstances whereby enforcement of the rule would work an undue hardship upon the student. See Executive Board Policy, “Eligibility – District Athletic Committee” for additional information.
Except where the denial of eligibility of a home school student is based upon Oregon statutory or regulatory requirements, the District Athletic Committee may in individual cases, at its discretion, waive or modify the eligibility rules regarding transfers involving home schools when in its opinion there are circumstances beyond the control of both the student and the student’s parent(s) or other circumstances whereby enforcement of the rule would work an undue hardship upon the student.
Other eligibility considerations, including academic eligibility, may be considered by the District Athletic Committee only when ruling on transfer eligibility requests.
Transfer cases that involve fifth year eligibility, age requests, foreign student eligibility or alleged undue influence must go directly to the Executive Director. See Executive Board Policy, “Practice – Fifth Year / Age Policy” for additional information.
In the case of a foreign student attending a member school under the auspices of a non-CSIET approved program, the Executive Director may consider whether the program is a long-standing school or community exchange program when ruling upon the appeal.
Decisions of the District Athletic Committee, which deny eligibility, may be appealed to the Eligibility Appeals Board. See Executive Board Policies, “ Eligibility Appeal Filing Fee” and “Eligibility Appeals Board” for additional information.
A decision by the Eligibility Appeals Board may be appealed to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction under OAR 581‑021‑0035.
8.9.2. Fifth Year. The Executive Board, or as it may provide, the Executive Director, may in individual cases, upon written request, declare eligible a student who would otherwise be ineligible under Rule 8.2. (Duration of Eligibility/Graduation) because more than eight semesters have passed after the student entered the 9th grade if all of the following conditions are met:
(a) the student has not graduated from high school;
(b) the student establishes, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Executive Board or the Executive Director, as the case may be, either:
(1) that the student’s Individualized Education Program Team has determined that the student has a “disability” (as defined below), and that the student was meeting the requirements of the student’s I.E.P., yet was unable to graduate from high school within eight semesters after entering the 9th grade primarily because of the disability; or
(2) due to circumstances beyond the control of both the student and the student’s parent(s), there has been both a significant absence from school (not less than one semester) and an inability to obtain academic credit during that period of absence; and
(c) the student establishes, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Executive Board or Executive Director, as the case may be, that the student’s participation would not constitute an undue risk to the health or safety of other participants.
For purposes of this Rule 8.9.2, “disability” shall have the meaning provided in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1401(a).
Without limiting the evidence that may be considered, the Executive Board or Executive Director, as the case may be, may consider the following in determining whether the student’s participation would constitute an undue risk to the health or safety of other participants:
(a) whether the student has presented a report from a physician regarding the student’s height, weight and whether the student is likely to pose an undue risk to the safety and health of other participants; the student shall submit to an independent medical examination by a physician selected by and paid for by the Association at the request of the Executive Board or Executive Director; and
(b) whether the sport is a contact or a non‑contact sport.
The Executive Board or the Executive Director may grant eligibility as to one sport and deny it as to another sport.
A decision of the Executive Director may be appealed to the Executive Board. A decision of the Executive Board may be appealed to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction under OAR 581‑021‑0035. See Executive Board Policy, “Practice Fifth Year / Age Policy” for additional information.
8.9.3. Age. The Executive Director, may in individual cases, upon written request, declare eligible a student who would otherwise be ineligible under Rule 8.3. (regarding age) if all of the following conditions have been met:
(a) the student has not graduated from high school;
(b) the student establishes that the student’s Individualized Education Program Team has determined that the student has a “disability” (as defined in Rule 8.9.2);
(c) the student establishes, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Executive Board or Executive Director, as the case may be, that the student entered school later than others of the student’s age or was retained primarily because of the disability; and
(d) the student establishes, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Executive Board or Executive Director, as the case may be, that the student’s participation would not constitute an undue risk to the health or safety of other participants.
(e) Without limiting the evidence that may be considered, the Executive Board or Executive Director, as the case may be, may consider the following in determining whether the student’s participation would constitute an undue risk to the health or safety of other participants:
(1) whether the student has presented a report from a physician regarding the student’s height, weight and whether the student is likely to pose an undue risk to the safety and health of other participants; the student shall submit to an independent medical examination by a physician selected by and paid for by the Association at the request of the Executive Board or Executive Director; and
(2) whether the sport is a contact or a non‑contact sport.
The Executive Board or the Executive Director may grant eligibility as to one sport and deny it as to another sport.
A decision of the Executive Director may be appealed to the Executive Board. A decision of the Executive Board may be appealed to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction under OAR 581‑021‑0035. See Executive Board Policy, “Practice Fifth Year / Age Policy” for additional information.
8.9.4. All Other Requests (Except Transfer, Eight Semester and Age Requests)
The Executive Director, in individual cases may, at his/her discretion, and upon terms and conditions as he/she may impose, waive or modify any eligibility rule, except the transfer, eight semester and age rules, when in his/her opinion there are circumstances beyond the control of both the student and the student’s parent(s) or other circumstances whereby enforcement of the rule would work an undue hardship upon the student.
A decision of the Executive Director may be appealed to the Executive Board. A decision of the Executive Board may be appealed to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction under OAR 581-021-0035.
1. Q. Will hardship requests involving future eligibility be considered by the Executive Board or a District Athletic Committee (transfer and discrimination only)?
A. No. The student must actually be in an ineligible status before any hardship request will be considered.
2. Q. May a student who is ineligible practice with a school team?
A. The answer depends on the nature of the ineligibility. When a school has filed a request for eligibility for a fifth year and/or nineteen-year-old student, the student is ineligible to practice while action on the request or appeal is pending. Other ineligible students may practice, provided local school board policy permits this. OSAA rules prohibit any ineligible student from participating in or dressing for an interscholastic contest, including pre-game warm-ups.
3. Q. May an ineligible student sit with a school team on the bench and perform managerial duties?
A. Yes, within the limits of any local school board policy. The student is prohibited from participating in pre-game warm-ups or appearing on the team bench in uniform.
4. Q: May the District Athletic Committee (DAC) consider a hardship appeal from a home school student who is ineligible under OSAA transfer rules?
A: The DAC may not consider a home school student's hardship appeal if the ineligibility is as a result of requirements set out in Oregon law or Administrative Rules adopted by the Department of Education, e.g., the student seeks to participate for a school in whose attendance boundaries the student does not reside, or the student does not achieve a composite test score that places the student at or above the 23rd percentile based on national norms. See ORS 339.460. However, the DAC may consider a home school student's hardship appeal if the ineligibility is as a result of an OSAA regulation that is not required by Oregon law or Administrative Rules, e.g., a mid-year transfer to a home school.
The Music Handbook has been removed from this publication. It can be found on the Music page of the OSAA website, www.osaa.org.
The Music Rules for the Association are the same as the Rules previously listed in this handbook with the following exceptions:
1. Rule 1 – The Responsibility of the Principal
1.2. Certification of Coach Eligibility. DOES NOT APPLY TO MUSIC COACHES.
1. Q. Must an authorized representative be present with each group or participant at each music event?
A. Yes, the principal or his/her authorized representative must be present at each music event.
2.1. The Music Handbook shall govern the adjudicating of all competitive state music events and district and/or league qualifying events.
2.2. Adjudicators for state events shall be recommended by the State Contest Directors. The OSAA shall approve adjudicators for state events.
2.3. Adjudicators for district and/or league qualifying events shall be selected by local contest chair.
1. Q. Must league, invitational, or local contests and festivals follow the Music Handbook in their contest format?
A. Only if they wish to enable schools to qualify for a state event. The handbook format has flexible recommendations that could be used regardless of local festival philosophy or needs, i.e., competitive vs. non-competitive.
2. Q. Must all adjudicators be selected from the OMEA "approved" lists?
A. No, unless schools wish to qualify for a state event. If state qualification is desired, at least two certified judges must be used. Exceptions may be made for out-of-state judges by OSAA approval.
1. Q. Would schools be permitted to participate with OSAA schools that have not elected to participate in state music competitions?
A. Yes.
2. Q. May a band and choir from the same school participate in the state band and choral events?
A. Yes. They are separate activities. A school may also enter both a full and a string orchestra.
NOTE: Rule 4 and Rule 5 are the same as stated in the Rules section.
6. Rule 6 – Association Year (Music Activity Season)
6.1. Music events sanctioned by the OSAA may take place throughout the entire school year.
6.2. There shall be no limits on the number of music events in which schools may participate, other than those imposed by the individual school districts.
1. Q. Must league, invitational or local music activities be registered by OSAA?
A. Music events in Oregon involving Oregon schools only shall be registered with OMEA and acknowledged by OSAA. Music events in Oregon involving out-of-state schools must apply to the OSAA for interstate sanction; application forms are available from the OSAA.
Schools may also wish refer to the NASSP advisor list of approved events.
7. Rule 7 – Out-of-Season and Non-School Activities
7.1. Individuals and groups of students from a member school may participate in summer instructional, recreational, or competitive music programs.
8. Rule 8 – Individual Eligibility
8.1. For competitive district and state music events, an eligible student is a 9th through 12th grade student who is enrolled in school and participates in the music program.
NOTE: For 2A and 1A schools, students in the 7th and/or 8th grades of feeder schools may represent the high school they will be attending in band and orchestra competitions.
1. Q. If there is no music program available at the school for the instrument of a particular musician, i.e. no orchestra offered for a string player, may that student musician participate at the OMEA District or OSAA State Solo Contest representing the school?
A. Yes, if the application to participate is signed by a member of the music staff or the principal.
2. Q. If there is a program available at the school for a particular student musician, and the student does not participate in the school program, may that student musician participate at the OMEA District or OSAA State Solo Contest representing the school?
A. No.
8.2. Further eligibility requirements may be determined by local school policy, league requirements, or the Music Handbook for specific events.
8.5. School Representation
8.5.1. A student who competes in music representing a school other than the one in which the student has been enrolled becomes ineligible for music competition for the remainder of the Association year. EXCEPTIONS:
(a) Home School Students. A home school student who meets the eligibility standards established by Oregon law may represent a public or private school located within the public school attendance boundaries of Joint Residence of the student and student’s parents provided that the home school student was enrolled in the home school prior to the first day of school for the public/private school. See Executive Board Policy, “Eligibility – Home School Students” for additional information.
(b) Students Attending Member Private or Member Charter Schools. A student attending a private school that is a member of the Association or a charter school that is a member of the Association but which does not offer a particular activity may represent the public school of Joint Residence of the student and student’s parents provided that both high school principals agree.
(c) Students Attending Non-Member Charter Schools. A student attending a charter school that is not a member of the Association may
represent the public school of Joint Residence of the student and student’s parents, provided that both high school principals agree.
(d) Students Attending Associate Member Private Schools. A student attending a private school that is an associate member of the Association may represent the public school of Joint Residence of the student and student’s parents, provided that both high school principals agree.
8.5.2 Unless a music student is a “full time student” as defined by OSAA Athletic Rule 8.1., the student is restricted to representing either the public school in whose attendance boundaries the student’s parents reside or a private school located within the public school attendance boundaries.
1. Q. May 8th grade students march with the high school band in the Rose Festival Parade?
A. Yes. OSAA eligibility standards in music apply only to state championship qualifying festivals, district, and state competitions.
The Speech Handbook has been removed from this publication. It can be found on the Speech page of the OSAA website, www.osaa.org.
The SPEECH Rules for the Association are the same as the Rules previously listed in this handbook with the following exceptions:
1. Rule 1 – The Responsibility of the Principal
1.2. Certification of Coach Eligibility. DOES NOT APPLY TO SPEECH COACHES.
1. Q. Must an authorized representative be present with each team at each event?
A. Yes, the principal or his/her authorized representative must be present at each event.
2.1. The State Speech Handbook shall govern the judging of all district and state speech activities except as defined by this rule.
2.2. Judges shall be chosen by host school or school designate.
1. Q. Do the speech event rules on the OSAA Handbook govern all speech activities?
A. No, the speech event rules in the OSAA Handbook govern only the district and state meets. Invitational championships may use OSAA rules, but they are not required to do so.
NOTE: Rule 3, Rule 4 and Rule 5 are the same as stated in the Rules section.
6. Rule 6 – Association Year (Speech Activity Season)
6.1. The Speech year starts the first day of school and ends after State Competition, except for those schools participating in the National Forensic League Tournament.
6.2. Each school may attend no more than 20 speech tournaments per year, not counting the National Forensics League, district tournament or state championships.
7. Rule 7 – Out-of-Season and Non-School Activities
7.1. Member schools may not enter a team or individual participant in any contest other than those, which have received approval from the OSAA, except local level, single community events.
7.2. Any organization, local or state, contemplating such a contest should write to the OSAA and ask the Executive Director in charge of activities for an application.
1. Q. May a school participate in an invitational speech tournament without being registered with the OSAA to participate in speech activities?
A. Yes, but the school would not be eligible for the district or state speech meet.
2. Q. Must national and state level speaking contests be sanctioned by the OSAA?
A. All speech tournaments in Oregon must be sanctioned by the OSAA. The OSAA exercises no jurisdiction over national speaking contests. School may also wish to refer to the NASSP advisory list for nationally approved contests.
8. Rule 8 – Individual Eligibility
OSAA individual eligibility restrictions shall apply to the district tournament and Speech State Championships only.
8.1. Attendance-Semester-Grades. An eligible student must be enrolled full time as defined in this rule. For purposes of this rule, a full time student is one who is enrolled in school, attending regularly and passing in subjects equivalent to at least the quantity as defined in Athletic Rule 8.1. NOTE: Two semester units equal one credit of work, and one-half credit is granted each semester.
1. Q. Must participants satisfy OSAA academic eligibility standards in order to participate in invitational speech contests?
A. No, participants in invitational speech contests are required to satisfy the academic eligibility requirements; the OSAA individual academic eligibility standards apply only to district and state championships. However, schools or districts may choose to apply the standards to invitational tournaments as well.
8.2. Duration of Eligibility/Graduation. A student may participate in the interscholastic program for four consecutive years (eight semesters or the equivalent) after entering the 9th grade, EXCEPT THAT:
8.2.1. A student entering the 9th grade for all or part of a school year has used a full year of eligibility for the purpose of computing duration of eligibility under this rule.
EXCEPTION to 8.2.1.: If a student enters the 9th grade at a school in a foreign country in the southern hemisphere prior to the start of the Oregon school year and then transfers to attend an Oregon high school, the time attending the 9th grade prior to the start of the Oregon school year shall not be considered for the purpose of computing duration of eligibility under this rule.
8.2.2. A student who begins participation prior to entering the 9th grade is only eligible for four consecutive years beginning the year the student first participated for all or part of the year.
8.2.3. A student becomes ineligible upon graduation from high school
8.3. Age. A student who becomes 19 before August 15 shall become ineligible for interscholastic competition. A student who becomes 19 on or after August 15 shall remain eligible for that entire school year.
8.5. School Representation
8.5.1. A student who competes in speech representing a school other than the one in which the student has been enrolled becomes ineligible for speech competition for the remainder of the Association year. EXCEPTIONS:
(a) Home School Students. A home school student who meets the eligibility standards established by Oregon law may represent a public or private school located within the public school attendance boundaries of Joint Residence of the student and student’s parents provided that the home school student was enrolled in the home school prior to the first day of school for the public/private school. See Executive Board Policy, “Eligibility – Home School Students” for additional information.
(b) Students Attending Member Private or Member Charter Schools. A student attending a private school that is a member of the Association or a charter school that is a member of the Association but which does not offer a particular activity may represent the public school of Joint Residence of the student and student’s parents provided that both high school principals agree.
(c) Students Attending Non-Member Charter Schools. A student attending a charter school that is not a member of the Association may represent the public school of Joint Residence of the student and student’s parents, provided that both high school principals agree.
(d) Students Attending Associate Member Private Schools. A student attending a private school that is an associate member of the Association may represent the public school of Joint Residence of the student and student’s parents, provided that both high school principals agree.
THE FOLLOWING RULES DO NOT APPLY TO SPEECH ACTIVITIES:
Rule 8.4. Awards
Rule 8.6. Transfer
Rule 8.7. Undue Influence
Rule 8.8. Misrepresentation
Pursuant to its authority under Article 5.3. of the OSAA Constitution, the Executive Board has adopted the following policies.
1. Ad Hoc Committee Procedures
The following policy for the appointment of ad hoc committees and committee meetings is in effect:
A. Committees will be appointed by the president of the association with an effort to obtain classification and geographical balance when appropriate.
B. Ad hoc committees will meet for a specified purpose determined by the Executive Board or Delegate Assembly of the association. Upon completion of its assigned task, as determined by the Executive Board or by the Delegate Assembly, a committee automatically is terminated.
C. The size of committees will be limited, keeping in mind the complexity of the assigned task and the costs involved with larger groups.
D. All meetings will be held in the association office unless approved otherwise by the Executive Director.
E. Frequency of meetings will be limited to a reasonable number in order to accomplish the purpose of the committee.
F. An OSAA executive staff member will be in attendance at all meetings unless approved otherwise by the Executive Director.
G. All correspondence will be directed through the OSAA office.
H. All expenditures will be approved in advance by the Executive Director.
A. Process. A school wishing to add a new sport shall notify the OSAA in writing of its intent to add the sport.
B. Deadlines for adding a new sport.
1) Without letter of receiving league/special district approval. If a letter of approval has not been received from the league or special district in which the team will be competing, the deadline for the OSAA to be notified of the addition of a sport shall be November 1 of the previous school year.
2) With letter of receiving league/special district approval. If a letter of approval has been received from the league or special district in which the team will be competing, the deadline for the OSAA to be notified of the addition of a sport shall be the first contest date of the sport season in which the team will be competing. (Fall 2002)
1. Q. If a school wishes to add a sport, when must it notify the OSAA office of its intentions?
A. In general, if a school wishes to add a sport and be eligible for district or state honors, it must notify the OSAA office by November 1 of the preceding school year. However, if the school has approval from the receiving league/special district, the deadline for sponsorship of a sport is the first contest date of that sport’s season.
2. Q. What is the procedure a school should follow in order to add a sport after the November 1 deadline, but prior to the first contest date?
A. A school wishing to add sport after the November 1 deadline, but prior to the first contest date should request the addition of the sport in writing from the OSAA. The letter of request must also include the activity fee for the additional sport, as well as a letter of approval from the chairperson of the league or special district in which the team will be competing. The school should contact the OSAA to confirm the special district in which the school would be placed then contact the chairperson of that special district to obtain the letter of league approval.
Students attending alternative high schools may be permitted to participate, providing:
A. The alternative school is operated by the same school district or a student is placed in an alternative high school by the home district.
B. The home school district is responsible for maintaining a record of students attending an alternative high school.
C. Students participate only at the high school in whose attendance area they maintain a Joint Residence with their parents.
D. Students must meet all other eligibility requirements.
E. Home schooling is not considered an alternative school. See Rule 8.5., “School Representation” and Executive Board Policy, “Eligibility – Home School Students” for additional information.
4. Athletic Directors and Coaches Recommendations Timeline
A. The following is the timeline for presentation of recommendations from the Oregon Athletic Directors Association, the Oregon High School Coaches Association and the student activities coaches associations to the OSAA Executive Boards:
September Meeting: Second reading for winter sports (action).
December Meeting: First reading for spring sports.
February Meeting: Second reading for spring sports (action).
First reading for athletic directors’ proposals.
First reading for fall sports
First reading for student activities.
May Meeting: Second reading for athletic directors’ proposals (action).
Second reading for fall sports (action).
Second reading for student activities (action).
First reading for winter sports.
B. All recommendations must be submitted on the OSAA Proposal Form. Form is available for download from the OSAA website, www.osaa.org, Handbook and Forms section, and in the Forms section of this Handbook. (Revised Fall 2002)
5. Band Festivals, Band Days and Performances
There is no limit on the number of band festivals or band days in which a school may participate other than a limit that may be imposed by a local Board of Education on its high school band(s).
6. Camps – Athletic Camps and Team Meals
A. Athletic camps are permissible only during the defined sports season. Any group meeting for a sport outside the defined sports season during the OSAA year would be considered an athletic camp if any of the following criteria are met:
1) Students, as a team, are housed and/or fed at the school.
2) Students, as a team, are housed, and/or fed away from the school.
3) Students, as a team, are taken on an outing such as to the mountains or to the beach.
B. An athletic team may be fed during the season for a sport, or immediately after the season (awards banquet).
7. Camps – Commercial Summer Camps
A. Athletics. The Executive Board recognizes the prerogative of parents to determine the activities of their children during the summer, non-school period. Participation in a commercial summer camp is strictly a volunteer choice of the parents, and in no way can a student be required to attend regardless of how fees for participation are covered. Service clubs, school organizations or schools may pay fees for participation according to their own school and/or district policies.
B. Student Activities (Dance/Drill, Music, Cheerleading, Speech). Service clubs, school organizations or schools may pay for student activities participants to attend commercial summer camps. Schools may set their own policies requiring student activities participants to attend commercial summer camps. (Revised Fall 2002)
8. Cheerleading Safety Workshops
Any school seeking to participate in the Cheerleading State Championships shall be required to provide evidence that at least one cheerleading coach attended an OSAA certified Cheerleading Safety Workshop during the Association Year in which the Championship is conducted. (May 2005)
9. Cheerleading – Squad Size Limitations
A. If a school has more than one varsity cheerleading squad, the cheerleaders representing the school at an event shall be limited to persons who are members of the varsity squad for that sport season.
B. The number of cheerleaders permitted at State Basketball Championships is as follows:
1) 4A – One advisor and a maximum of 16 members of the varsity cheerleading squad in uniform, including mascots, shall be admitted free of charge.
2) 3A, 2A, 1A – One advisor and a maximum of 12 members of the varsity cheerleading squad in uniform, including mascots, shall be admitted free of charge.
3) Schools may buy tickets for additional cheerleaders but may not place more than the maximum number cited above on the sidelines at any one time.
C. Squad size for routines performed prior to the contest, during time outs and for halftime entertainment may exceed the maximum limit so long as the additional members return to the stands when the contest resumes.
A. The Oregon School Activities Association recognizes that the misuse of chemicals, including alcohol, recreational drugs, and other drugs and food supplements that allegedly enhance performance, is a significant health problem for many adolescents resulting in negative effects on behavior, learning, and the total development of each individual. The misuse and abuse of chemicals for some adolescents affects extracurricular participation and development of related skills.
B. The OSAA recommends that all student-athletes and their parents/guardians should consult with their physicians before taking any supplement product. In addition, school personnel, including coaches, should not dispense any drug, medication or supplement unless specifically allowed by state regulations and/or school district policy. School district policies should be developed in consultation with health-care professionals, senior administrative staff of the school district and parents.
C. The OSAA abides by all state laws and district policies pertaining to the use of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs. As a general rule, OSAA activities' sites shall be alcohol and tobacco free during OSAA events. All persons in attendance shall refrain from use of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs at all OSAA activities and are prohibited from being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs at all event facilities. (Revised Fall 2004)
1. Q. Does the OSAA have a rule regarding the use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs by students?
A. The OSAA does not condone the use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs, and supports district and/or league policies as well as state laws, which control their use.
11. Classification - Emergency Transfer
A. Any school requesting an emergency transfer from one classification to another shall submit its request, together with approval of the local school board, in writing to the Executive Board by October 15.
B. The Executive Board shall make its decision at the December Board meeting.
12. Club and Unattached Competition
Following is the policy regarding unattached and club competition with and against high schools:
A. A high school team may not compete against a club team from a high school.
B. Students representing a high school shall not compete against unattached individuals. EXAMPLE: If a track and field meet is scheduled for high schools, everyone competing must represent his/her high school. There can be no unattached individuals entered in any of the events.
A. School districts are encouraged to continue to provide equal opportunity for boys and girls in all sports.
B. Girls may, at the discretion of the local school board, participate with boys in any interscholastic activity if there is no girls team or equal opportunity for participation. If girls are permitted to participate on a team designated for boys, the team shall compete against a designated boys team and not against a designated girls team.
C. A girl who competes on a boys team during the regular season in cross country or golf has the option to either continue to participate as a member of the boys team at the district contest, or compete as an individual at the district contest for girls in that sport provided that the school has registered for that sport with the OSAA. See Executive Board Policy, “Adding a New Sport” for more information. (Revised Fall 2005)
D. If boys are permitted to participate on a team designated for girls, the team shall compete against a designated boys team and not against a designated girls team.
In order for two or more schools to qualify for cooperative sponsorship as permitted in Article 6.4., they must meet the following requirements:
A. Who May Apply. Only schools may apply for cooperative sponsorship, not families or individuals.
B. Classification. Cooperative sponsorship shall be considered only for 1A, 2A and 3A schools. Classification placement for the requested activity will be determined by the total combined A.D.M. in grades 9 through 12 of the schools involved. EXCEPTION: The Executive Board also may approve cooperative sponsorship involving 1A, 2A or 3A schools with a 4A school if the 1A, 2A or 3A schools are located in an isolated area. NOTE: Isolated area is interpreted to be as related to the concerned activity.
C. School Board Approval Requirement. The Governing Boards of the schools involved in the cooperative sponsorship shall jointly apply for such sponsorship listing reasons for the request.
D. Geographic Proximity Requirement. Schools should be located in the same geographic area. Schools requesting cooperative sponsorship approval should make every effort to co-sponsor an activity with the nearest school that also has difficulty sponsoring the activity by itself.
E. League Approval Requirement. Cooperative sponsorship applicants shall obtain a letter of approval from the league in which the proposed cooperative team will participate and submit the letter with the Cooperative Sponsorship Application. Leagues are encouraged to consider the philosophy discussed at the end of this board policy when reviewing requests for league support of a cooperative sponsorship application.
F. Application Form. Form is available for download from the OSAA website, www.osaa.org, Handbook and Forms section, and in the Forms section of this Handbook
G. Deadline for Application/Dissolution. The deadline for application or for dissolution for a cooperative sponsorship shall be the first contest date of the season in which the cooperatively sponsored team is to compete. (Revised September 2003)
H. Timeline for Approval. The Executive Board will attempt to act on an application at its next regular meeting following receipt of the application. However, the Executive Director can make a decision, subject to approval by the Executive Board.
I. Duration of Approval. Any approved cooperative sponsorship shall be for a maximum of two years per application.
Cooperative Sponsorship Philosophy
The philosophy that will guide the OSAA Executive Board in reviewing and approving applications for cooperative sponsorship of activities is as follows:
A. The Executive Board will attempt to increase the number of students who are participating in activities by making activities available for students that would not be available in their school because of a lack of numbers if joint sponsorship did not occur.
B. The Executive Board would prefer to see projects that combine smaller schools for sponsorship of an activity rather than a small school program combining with a larger school when the smaller school cannot support the activity alone because of a lack of numbers.
C. Improving the quality of a team (i.e., better won-lost record) will not be a valid criterion in deciding whether approval should be granted.
D. Agreements are for a maximum two-year period but may be terminated by the Executive Board under the following conditions:
1) Closing of one of the schools.
2) Valid complaints from surrounding schools concerning recruiting.
3) Complaints from parents, Governing Boards, students in cooperating schools, etc.
4) Other valid reasons as determined by the Executive Board. (Revised December 2004)
15. Dance/Drill – Pre-Competition Practice
Each dance/drill team shall receive the same amount of time on the floor for practice as is provided for other teams in the division, if practice time is provided. If a team misses its practice time, there will be no opportunity for rescheduling. A school may not independently schedule practice time for its team at the state championships site. (Revised Fall 2005)
16. Dance/Drill – Safety Rules
The “National Federation Spirit Rules Book” shall cover all Dance/Drill activities in Oregon with the exception of the “Drops” and “Props” Sections.
A. The Oregon School Activities Association does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, national origin, race, marital status, religion or sex in the performance of its authorized functions, and encourages its member schools, school personnel, participants and spectators to adopt and follow the same policy.
B. In the event any party believes that s/he has been subjected to discrimination by the OSAA or its agents, a written complaint may be submitted to the Executive Board, describing the circumstances of the discriminatory acts and the relief requested. The Executive Board shall schedule a date for a hearing as soon as reasonably possible. The hearing shall be conducted in executive session unless the Executive Board determines that there are in its judgment good reasons to conduct the hearing otherwise. The Executive Board shall make a determination as to the validity of the complaint and take such action as it deems appropriate to remedy any discrimination that is found to exist. The decision of the Executive Board may be appealed to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction under OAR 581-021-0049.
18. District and Special District Athletic Committees
A. The Executive Board has established District and Special District Athletic Committees to assist in the management of the programs and activities of the Association.
B. Each athletic district or special district is represented by a committee of three school representatives appointed annually by the Executive Board. Representation for each athletic district in each classification is listed by school rather than by name of individual serving on each District or Special District Committee. The representative of the first school listed shall serve as chair.
C. Complete plans for each selection of athletic district representatives for state competition in each sport shall be determined by the District or Special District Committee. These plans should include peculiarities of each district not specifically covered by the athletic plan as published by the OSAA.
D. If for some reason the district plan has not covered a particular situation that occurs in determining the district representative to the OSAA State Championships, the District or Special District Committee shall determine the representative (teams or individuals).
E. If the school represented by a member of the District or Special District Athletic Committee may be affected by the decision of the Committee, the committee member representing the potentially affected school shall be temporarily replaced. A representative of the next school in alphabetical succession to serve on the Committee shall fill the vacated position until the committee reaches a decision.
F. A District or Special District Committee, in making its determination:
1) May consult all other schools in that athletic district or special athletic district;
2) May not change the final decision or outcome of a particular contest;
3) May not permit extra games or contests after the official published cutoff date for any sport unless an emergency exists and permission has been received from the Executive Board.
G. All ties for qualifying positions shall be settled at the district level. It is suggested that the method for settlement of ties be predetermined and published prior to each district meet for each sport.
H. No athletic district may change its representative(s) in the state championships after the official cutoff date or the official close of entries should a problem exist that precludes a school or an individual from being a district representative to a state championship. For team entries only, any change made following the official cutoff date shall be the decision of the Executive Board. (Revised Fall 2002)
The OSAA appreciates and encourages corporate and individual donations to schools in support of high school activities. These donations, whether monetary or in other forms such as merchandise, must be given directly to the school administration. Individual students representing schools may not receive donations except as allowed by OSAA Rule 8.4.1.
1. Q. Under what circumstances may a school accept donations from individuals or corporations in support of activities?
A. There is no limit on contributions from individuals or corporations; whether monetary or in other forms such as merchandise, so long as those donations are given directly to the school administration. Individual students representing a school may not receive monetary donations, and non-monetary donations are limited to $300 in value per association year.
20. Ejection Policies – Coach Ejected; Contest Forfeited
If a coach is ejected from a contest and that contest is forfeited, such incident must be reported to the OSAA office by the schools involved and also by the contest officials. If a coach is ejected and the game is not forfeited, it is the school’s responsibility to be certain that any such person who does assume the coaching responsibilities in such a situation meets the requirements of that school district.
21. Ejection Policies – Ejected Player or Coach
A. If a player or coach is ejected by an official for an unsportsmanlike act, both the athletic director of the school of the ejected player/coach and the commissioner of officials shall notify the OSAA by facsimile of the ejection by the next workday. Ejected coaches must leave the contest immediately and shall not be allowed further contact with team members for the duration of that contest. It shall be the responsibility of the school to disallow the ejected player or coach from participating during the period of suspension specified in the Regulations. Should an ejected player participate or an ejected coach remain within “sight and sound” of the team during the period of suspension specified in the Regulations, and no appeal is pending, that action shall be considered use of an ineligible participant and shall result in forfeiture of that contest and other penalties as determined by the Board. (Revised Fall 2005)
B. Appeal Process: If the principal or the Athletic Director of the ejected coach/player and the commissioner of officials agree that the suspension should be set aside, the principal may appeal to the Executive Director within 48 hours of the ejection to set aside the next game suspension portion of the penalty. If the Executive Director denies an appeal, that denial may be appealed to the Executive Board, which shall hear the appeal at its earliest convenience and issue a final ruling. Implementation of the next game suspension may be postponed during the time that an appeal is pending. (Fall 1998) (Revised Fall 2002)
1. Q. When a player is ejected, may the player remain on the bench?
A. Yes. The player is required to sit out the remainder of the contest, but may remain on the bench.
2. Q. When a coach is ejected, must the coach leave the playing area?
A. Yes. The coach must leave the playing area and shall be allowed no further direct or indirect contact with the team until the contest is completed. In order to avoid direct or indirect contact, the coach must be “out of sight and sound” of the team.
3. Q. May a player sit on the bench during a period of suspension?
A. Yes, but the player must not be in uniform.
4. Q. May a coach have any contact with a team at a contest following an ejection or at the contest at which the suspension is served?
A. No. The coach is allowed no direct or indirect contact with the team during the contest following ejection. In order to avoid direct or indirect contact, the coach must be “out of sight and sound” of the team. Further, the coach is allowed no direct or indirect contact with the team at the contest at which the suspension is served nor is the coach permitted to attend the contest at which the suspension is served.
5. Q. May a coach or participant who has been suspended at one level of competition (i.e. varsity) participate in a contest at another level during the period of suspension?
A. No.
6. Q. May a coach or participant who has been suspended at one level of competition (i.e. varsity) serve the suspension in a contest at another level?
A. No.
7. Q. When a coach or player is ejected, what period of time does the ejection cover?
A. Baseball / Softball - Remainder of that contest day. (revised December 5 2005)
Basketball - Remainder of that day.
Football - Remainder of that day.
Soccer - Remainder of that day.
Volleyball - Remainder of that day.
Wrestling - Follow NFHS Rules Book.
8. Q. When does the period of suspension begin?
A. The suspension is served after the ejection has been served. The ejection and suspension may not be served simultaneously.
9. Q. Once a player or coach has served a period of ejection, when and over what period of time is a suspension served?
A. Baseball / Softball - Sit out through next contest at that level.
Basketball - Sit out through next contest at that level.
Football - Sit out through next contest at that level.
Soccer - Sit out through next contest at that level.
Volleyball - Sit out through next playing date at that level.
Wrestling - Sit out through next playing date at that level.
NOTE: In unusual circumstances, the Executive Director may modify the period of suspension.
10. Q. If a player or coach is ejected during the last contest of the season, does the unserved suspension carry forward to a subsequent season?
A. No.
11. Q. In soccer, does the ejection of a player or coach as a result of receiving two yellow cards result in the player being suspended from the following contest?
A. No. Only if a player or coach receives a “hard” red card ejection is suspension from the following contest required.
12. Q. In basketball, does the ejection of a player or coach as a result of receiving two technical fouls result in the player or coach being suspended through the next contest at that level?
A. Yes, a player or coach who is ejected as a result of receiving two technical fouls is ejected for the remainder of the day and must sit out through the next contest at that level.
13. Q. Does the contest from which a participant is suspended due to an ejection count against the individual contest limitation for the participant?
A. Yes.
14. Q. When a player or coach is ejected while acting as a spectator at a contest in the same sport in which the coach or player participates, but at which he or she is not serving as a player or a coach, does a period of suspension still apply?
A. Yes. The ejected player or coach is suspended from all participation for the same period of time as if he or she had been a participant in the contest at which the ejection occurred.
15. Q. When a player or coach is ejected in one sport, may the player or coach participate or coach in another sport during the period of suspension?
A. No.
A. Schools shall be assessed fines for ejections within specific sports programs. Each sport (i.e., Football, Boys Basketball, Softball) shall be tracked as separate and distinct for the purpose of calculating fines. When the first participant or coach in a sport is ejected, the school that the participant or coach is representing shall be assessed a $50 fine by the Executive Board. A second ejection in the same sport during the same season shall result in the assessment of a $100 fine, and each ejection thereafter in that sport during that season shall result in a fine to be increased by $50 increments for each ejection without limitation.
B. All funds accumulated by the Association as a result of ejection fines shall be used to conduct Citizenship through Sports training workshops throughout the state. Training shall be offered on the October in-service day and at other times as announced by the OSAA.
C. A school receiving five or more ejections during one school year shall be required to submit a written Plan of Correction to the Executive Board including a Citizenship through Sports training workshop and timelines for implementation of the Plan. (Fall 2000) (Revised Fall 2002)
23. Ejection Policies – Multiple Ejections of Individual
A second ejection for an unsportsmanlike act during the same sport season will result in a two-game suspension. A third ejection for an unsportsmanlike act during the same sport season will result in disqualification from further participation in that sport during that sport season. (Fall 1999)
24. Ejection Policies – Physical Contact with Official
Physical contact between a coach/player and an official shall be considered a gross act of unsportsmanlike conduct. The offending coach/player shall be immediately ejected from the contest, shall be suspended as provided in the Regulations and may be required to satisfy other requirements as prescribed by the Board. Both the athletic director of the school of the offending coach/player and the commissioner of officials shall notify the OSAA by facsimile of the incident by the next workday. In addition, the school shall be fined up to $1,000 as set by the Board, and an administrator and the coach/player shall be required to appear before the Executive Board at the next scheduled meeting. (Fall 1998)
25. Eligibility – Chemawa Indian School
A student who transfers to the Chemawa Indian School is immediately eligible for participation in interscholastic activities for the Chemawa Indian School, despite the fact that the student transfers during the school year and/or does not reside with his/her parents, if the student meets all other eligibility requirements. (Fall 2000)
26. Eligibility – District Athletic Committee
A. A request by a member school superintendent or principal for an eligibility hardship exception to Rule 8, involving transfer or discrimination only (except for age), shall be submitted to the School’s local District Athletic Committee.
B. The request for an eligibility hardship exception is to be presented on the proper OSAA form and may relate only to future participation. Any additional materials requested by the District Athletic Committee must be submitted prior to any consideration.
C. The chairperson of the District Athletic Committee shall contact the principal of the previous school of any transfer student requesting eligibility, and request that the principal provide the Committee members with information from the previous school, if any, that might assist the Committee in ruling on the eligibility request.
D. The District Athletic Committee shall meet prior to each of the three sports seasons to consider requests for eligibility waivers involving transfer or discrimination only (except for age). However, a District Athletic Committee may hear these requests for eligibility hardship exceptions at times other than those required.
E. If a representative of a school submitting a request for an eligibility hardship exception is a member of the District Athletic Committee that will hear such requests, then said school administrator shall be replaced by a representative of the next school in alphabetical order not yet represented on the District Athletic Committee during consideration of said request.
F. For the consideration of transfer and discrimination hearing requests for waivers of eligibility, the regular District Athletic Committee shall be composed of three voting members. (Revised Fall 2000)
27. Eligibility – Foreign Students
Like all other students, foreign students living with parents are immediately eligible in the district in which the parents reside, and are immediately eligible when the student enters the beginning year of a four-year high school (9-12). All foreign students not living with parent(s) will be treated like a transfer student, except as provided in Rule 8.6.3.(c) for students on CSIET approved programs. Eligibility appeals must go directly to the Executive Director. (Revised / Effective Fall 2004)
28. Eligibility – Home School Students
A. Compliance with Oregon statutory requirements. In order for a home school student to represent an OSAA member school in competition, the student must satisfy all relevant requirements included in the home school statutes (ORS 339.030, ORS 339.035, ORS 339.460) including but not limited to the following:
B. Notification of Intent to Home School. The home school student shall notify the local education service district (ESD) within ten days of withdrawal from the public school and prior to the first day of the school year.
C. Meet school district eligibility requirements. The home school student shall meet all school district eligibility requirements with the exception of:
1) The school district’s school or class attendance requirements, and
2) the OSAA academic eligibility requirements dealing with number of credits required per grading period.
D. Meet school district responsibilities and standards of behavior and performance. The home school student shall be required to fulfill the same responsibilities and standards of behavior and performance, including related class or practice requirements, of other students participating in the interscholastic activity of the team or squad and shall be required to meet the same standards for acceptance on the team or squad. The home school student also shall comply with all school requirements during the time of participation.
E. Academic eligibility (Testing) requirement. In lieu of satisfying the OSAA academic eligibility requirements dealing with number of credits required per grading period, the home school student shall achieve a minimum score on the achievement test required annually at the end of the school year (by August 15) of all home school students wishing to participate in activities. The minimum, composite test score as determined by the State Board of Education is the 23rd percentile. The score is used to determine eligibility for the following school year.
The statute also allows a school district to adopt an alternative requirement to a test, such as submission of a portfolio of work samples to a school district committee for review to determine whether a home school student is eligible to participate in interscholastic activities.
F. Effect of academic ineligibility. Any home school student who has been unable to maintain academic eligibility prior to transferring to a home school shall be ineligible to participate in interscholastic activities as a home school student for the duration of the school year in which the student becomes academically ineligible and for the following year. The student may take the required tests at the end of the second year and, upon meeting the minimum test score standards described in E. above, becomes eligible for the third year.
G. Compliance with OSAA deadlines and regulations. In addition to satisfying the Oregon statutory requirements summarized above, a home school student wishing to participate representing a member school must satisfy the following OSAA deadlines and regulations:
1) Deadlines.
a) Notification of Intent to Home School. The home school student shall notify the local ESD prior to the first day of school of the public or private school at which the student is eligible to participate in order to represent that school during that school year.
b) Testing. The home school student must have taken the annual test on or before August 15 in order to participate in OSAA activities during the following school year. The student may participate while awaiting test results.
c) Transfer. A transfer by a student to a home school is considered to have taken place “in between school years” if the transfer occurs prior to the first day of school of the public or private school at which the student is eligible to participate.
2) Other OSAA regulations. Other OSAA regulations are summarized below. (Please see the Rules section of this Handbook for more detailed explanation including questions and answers regarding the regulations.)
a) School representation (Rule 8.5.1.a). A home school student is eligible to represent only a public or private school located within the public school attendance boundaries of the joint residence of the student and student’s parents.
b) Transfer student eligibility (Rule 8.6.3.). If the transfer to the home school occurs in between school years, the student is immediately eligible at the beginning of the school year. If the transfer to the home school occurs during the school year, the student is ineligible for the remainder of that school year.
c) Duration of eligibility / eight semester rule (Rule 8.2). A student may participate in interscholastic activities for four consecutive years or eight semesters after entering the 9th grade.
d) Age restrictions (Rule 8.3.). A student who becomes 19 before August 15 is ineligible for interscholastic competition. A student who becomes 19 on or after August 15 remains eligible for that entire school year.
3) Except where the denial of eligibility of a home school student is based upon Oregon statutory or regulatory requirements, the District Athletic Committee may in individual cases, at its discretion, waive or modify the eligibility rules regarding transfers involving home schools when in its opinion there are circumstances beyond the control of both the student and the student’s parent(s) or other circumstances whereby enforcement of the rule would work an undue hardship upon the student. See Rule 8.5., “School Representation” for additional information. (Revised Spring 2005)
29. Eligibility – Oregon School for the Deaf
A. A student who attends Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD) shall be treated as a private school student for the purpose of school representation eligibility determinations.
B. In addition, a hearing-impaired student who does not attend OSD may make a one-time choice to exclusively participate at OSD in those sports offered by OSD rather than that student’s resident public school or private school. A non-OSD student making the one-time choice to represent OSD shall be allowed to participate at the school in which the student is enrolled in those sports not offered by OSD. (December, 2003)
30. Eligibility Appeal Filing Fee
Any party filing an appeal of a decision by the District Athletic Committee to the Eligibility Appeals Board or a decision of the Executive Director to the Executive Board shall be assessed a filing fee of $100 to defray the costs to the Association of assembling the respective appeals bodies to hear the appeal. (Fall 2003)
A. The Eligibility Appeals Board shall consist of 30 members as follows:
1) Ten school board members to be nominated by the Executive Director and approved by the Executive Board on a geographical basis selecting two from each of the five United States Congressional Districts.
2) Ten school administrators (superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, assistant principals, athletic directors) to be nominated by the Executive Director and approved by the Executive Board on a geographical basis selecting two from each of the five United States Congressional Districts.
3) Ten lay people to be nominated by the Executive Director and approved by the Executive Board on a geographical basis selecting two from each of the five United States Congressional Districts.
B. The length of term shall be three years, and a person may not serve more than two terms. Initially, terms shall be staggered on a two-year, three-year basis within each group.
C. The Eligibility Appeals Board shall hear any appeal filed by the involved school’s superintendent or principal, or the student’s parents regarding the District Athletic Committee’s ruling on the athletic eligibility transfer or discrimination hardship request.
D. The Eligibility Appeals Board shall meet when necessary.
E. When a written appeal is received by the Executive Director, the Executive Director shall appoint five members from the 30 available members with not more than two members from each of the three groups making up the five-member Eligibility Appeals Board.
1) An Eligibility Appeals Board meeting is to be closed to the public unless the appealing party requests an open meeting.
2) Eligibility Appeals Board meetings may be held in various areas of the state or by telephone conference call, depending on the circumstances.
3) The Executive Director, or the Associate or an Assistant Executive Director, shall be present at all Eligibility Appeals Board meetings and shall process all requests for appeals to the Eligibility Appeals Board.
F. A decision of the Eligibility Appeals Board may be appealed to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction under OAR 581-021-0035.
G. Please see Constitution and Rules, Interpretations, Participation Limitations and Sports Seasons sections of this Handbook for further clarification. If your question is not answered in one of these sections, please call the OSAA office at 503.682.6722 for an answer. (Revised Fall 2002)
The OSAA and its member schools believe in the fundamental values associated with participation in high school activities and want to work together to ensure the future of high school activities in the state of Oregon. The establishment of the OSAA Foundation will help us realize our goal. Endowment Games are a way for member schools and local communities to be active participants in growing the OSAA Foundation. Endowment Games regulations are as follows:
A. Endowment Games applications must be submitted to the OSAA office by the host school a minimum of 45 days prior to the scheduled contest. Failure to do so may result in participation limitations violations.
B. Endowment Games shall not count toward a school’s or an individual student’s participation limitations for each activity. Schools should ensure that participants meet all OSAA eligibility requirements prior to competing in an Endowment Game.
C. Endowment Games tickets will be $6 for adults and $4 for students. No school district or league passes will be accepted.
D. Upon completion of an Endowment Game, the host school is responsible for submitting the necessary financial report form and 100% of the gate receipts to the OSAA Foundation. The OSAA Foundation will return 50% of the gross gate receipts to the host school within five business days after receiving the check for gross gate receipts. Operating expenses for Endowment Games are to be drawn from the 50% of the gross gates receipts returned to the host school. Financial agreements, if any, between the two participating schools are at the discretion of the schools.
E. Endowment Games are allowed at the varsity level only in the following activities:
1) Football – one additional game on or between the Thursday prior to Labor Day and the Sunday prior to Labor Day.
2) Volleyball – one additional play date on or between the Thursday prior to Labor Day and the Sunday following Labor Day.
3) Boys Basketball – one additional game after Thanksgiving but prior to January 1.
4) Girls Basketball – one additional game after Thanksgiving but prior to January 1.
1. Q. Are Endowment Games required?
A. No, Endowment Games are optional for all member schools.
2. Q. Are all Zero Week football games considered to be Endowment Games?
A. No, Zero Week football games that do not involve a school playing a tenth game are not considered Endowment Games.
3. Q. What happens when one basketball team is counting the contest as an Endowment Game, but the other team has only scheduled 24 games?
A. If either team in a contest is counting the game as an Endowment Game, it is considered to be an Endowment Game.
4. Q. May a school play an Endowment Game doubleheader with its boys and girls basketball teams against another school?
A. Yes.
(May 2005)
33. Excess Revenue Distribution
The Executive Board shall consider the results of the current year’s audit prior to distributing any excess revenues from the previous year. (Fall 2002)
Exhibition performances are permitted, providing the student is an eligible athlete at one of the schools participating and the student does not exceed any participation limitations.
1. Q. School A had two extra eligible wrestlers who did not have the opportunity to wrestle during the meet for whatever reason. School B also had two extra wrestlers in similar weight classes. These wrestlers were matched against each other after completion of the meet in non-counting matches. Was this within the rules?
A. Yes, the matches will count toward each individual’s season total (14 matches and 40 mat appearances).
2. Q. A school wants to encourage participation by younger students in tennis. Therefore, during a contest with school B, school A permitted two eighth graders to perform but without counting the scores. Is this within the rules?
A. No, School A and School B are in violation of the exhibition rule. In addition, this could count as one year of eligibility for each of the eighth grade students, leaving them with only three years of eligibility in high school.
3. Q. During the 1,600-meter relay event at a dual track meet, there were several open lanes. School A decided to run a time test for a student who was interested in the 1,500-meter event. Could this student run on the track during the relay event?
A. Yes, the student could do this, provided he/she is eligible and does not exceed the track and field participation limitations.
4. Q. During a dual swimming meet, each team entered two teams in the 200-yard medley relay event. If the teams from School A finish first and second, can the points be counted for both teams?
A. Yes, the National Federation Swimming and Diving Rules Book permits two relay teams per school to score in each relay event.
5. Q. During halftime of a basketball, football, or soccer contest, non-high school students present entertainment. Is this a violation of the Exhibition Rule?
A. No, since the entertainment is not during the actual contest but during the halftime provided by the rules book for each of these sports, it is not a violation of the exhibition rule.
35. Fall Sports Practice Model
During the fall sports season each year, all student-athletes are required to adhere to the following practice regimen.
A. Football –
1) Practice Requirements
a) Schools may conduct multiple on-field practice sessions but student-athletes shall not engage in more than five hours of on-field practice activities each day.
b) Within one hour of the start of practice, schools must determine the heat index for their area.
c) When the heat index is 95 or above, each practice session will be a maximum of three hours in length and there must be at least three continuous hours of recovery time between the end of the first practice and the start of the next practice that day. During this recovery time, student-athletes may not engage in other physical activities (e.g., weight training, conditioning, 7-on-7). Total on-field practice time combined may not exceed five hours.
d) During the first three days of practice, helmets and shoulder pads shall be the only pieces of protective equipment student-athletes may wear.
e) Beginning on day four, student-athletes may participate in full pads.
2) An individual shall become eligible to participate in a jamboree or interscholastic contest after completing a minimum of nine days of actual on-field practice.
3) All practices shall allow for water breaks and general acclimatization to hot and / or humid weather.
4) Heat Index (Temperature / Relative Humidity) Chart – All practices shall be conducted in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the Heat Index (Temperature / Relative Humidity) Chart available on the OSAA Website.
B. Cross Country, Soccer, Volleyball –
1) Practice Requirements
a) Schools may conduct multiple on-field / court practice sessions but student-athletes shall not engage in more than five hours of on-field / court practice activities each day.
b) Within one hour of the start of practice, schools must determine the heat index for their area.
c) When the heat index is 95 or above, each practice session will be a maximum of three hours in length and there must be at least three continuous hours of recovery time between the end of the first practice and the start of the next practice that day. During this recovery time, student-athletes may not engage in other physical activities (e.g., weight training, conditioning). Total practice time combined may not exceed five hours.
2) All practices shall allow for water breaks and general acclimatization to hot and / or humid weather.
3) Heat Index (Temperature / Relative Humidity) Chart – All practices shall be conducted in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the Heat Index (Temperature / Relative Humidity) Chart available on the OSAA website, www.osaa.org . (May 2005)
A. The source of funds used by school districts to sponsor their various activity programs is an internal matter of individual districts. In most cases these funds are regular district revenues incorporated into the district budget following prescribed budget law. In these troubling financial times, though, some districts now are utilizing private or donated funds to help support their programs.
B. By OSAA Constitution, the membership of the Association is limited to high schools within the state of Oregon, public or private. Therefore, athletic and other activities provided by high schools under the structure of OSAA governance must be clearly identified as “school sponsored.” The implication of school sponsorship is that these activities are controlled entirely by the school district and personnel retained by district school board action. To exercise total control, the school district shall have control over the funds used to support an activity.
C. When outside or contributed funds are used, they should go to the district where authorized district personnel can then make responsible decisions on how the funds are spent to achieve the objectives determined for the activity. To have control of a program, the school district shall hold the purse strings. Otherwise, overzealous booster groups might use funds in a manner that is counterproductive to the goals and objectives of the school district.
D. Booster groups and other outside organizations may contribute money to a school or a district to help offset the cost of equipment, transportation, participation fees, etc. However, money cannot be contributed directly to an individual. It is the school administration’s responsibility to utilize funds as it sees fit to enhance its sponsored program.
E. Further questions about innovative methods of financing school activity programs should be referred to the OSAA office.
37. Football – Artificial Limbs
Any school that has a student with an artificial limb who wishes to participate in football must arrange to have an orthopedic surgeon, the OSAA attorney and the Executive Director meet with the athlete, parents and representatives of the school. Using the criteria established by the National Federation as a guideline, a determination will be made on a case-by-case basis concerning the legality and suitability of wearing an artificial limb while participating in football.
In addition to the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty (15 yards) specified by the National Federation Rules Book, a player who wears illegal cleats in excess of 1/2” in length shall be disqualified for the remainder of the contest.
39. Football – 45-Point Rule / Alternative Plan / Running Clock
A. Each 4A/3A/2A athletic district shall report to the OSAA which of the following three options has been adopted by the athletic district to address football games in which one team leads by 45 or more points at halftime. 1A athletic districts are limited to options one and three.
B. In the case of a non-league contest, the option adopted by the athletic district of the host school shall be followed. In the case of 4A/3A/2A Football State Championship games, the Alternative Plan is in effect and the report from each school shall go directly to the OSAA office. In the case of a 1A Football State Championship game, Option 3 – Running Clock shall be followed.
1) Option 1: 45-Point Rule. A football game is terminated if either team leads by 45 points or more at halftime or at any time thereafter.
2) Option 2: Alternative Plan. A completed “Varsity Football 45-Point Alternative Plan Report” shall be submitted to the District Athletic Committee of the winning school by each school involved in any game with a final point differential of 45 points or more. Form is available for download from the OSAA website, www.osaa.org, Handbook and Forms section, and in the Forms section of this Handbook
a) The Reports must be received by the District Athletic Committee prior to the winning school’s next contest or within seven days of the contest in question. If the losing school agrees there was no effort to run up the score, there shall be no action by the Committee, except to forward a copy of the forms to the OSAA office. If the losing school reports that the winning school did run up the score, the Committee shall consider the matter within 10 days and send a complete report to the OSAA office.
b) If a majority of the members of the District Athletic Committee agree that the winning school did run up the score, the Committee shall meet with the winning school’s administration and coach to seek solutions that will prevent the same from happening in the future.
c) A second offense of running up the score by a school during the same season shall be reported to the OSAA Executive Board. In the event that a school is found by the Board to have run up the score a second time during the same season, the school shall subject to any of the penalties set forth in Rule 5 as determined by the Board.
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