July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2009
Rules and Regulations
Governing Athletics
A Handbook for Principals and Athletic Directors
of schools that are members of the
MASSACHUSETTS INTERSCHOLASTIC
ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Suggested for Regular Review
“Points of Emphasis”
A message to Principals and Athletic Directors
Dear Association Member School Leaders,
The value of this Handbook has been enhanced in recent years by our ability to provide
clarifications, edits, etc. within the electronic version of the Handbook posted on
www.miaa.net. This function allows us to modify language when we think that would be
helpful to you. The on-line handbook includes icons that, when opened, provide additional
information related to that rule.
The content of this Handbook is designed to support your leadership of an athletic program
that is consistent with the mission and values of educational athletics.
The knowledge and application of the standards within this text are becoming increasingly
complex. With this in mind, do know that the priority of your staff in Franklin is to be
available to assist and support you at the moment that you judge we might be helpful.
Every MIAA member school Principal and Athletic Director has access to the direct phone
line and e-mail addresses of each staff member. Please use this contact information
whenever you find yourself in a situation with which you are not entirely familiar or
comfortable. Additionally, since the Board of Directors has delegated only to staff the
responsibility of interpreting or applying rules, you should not risk the possible
consequences of a mistake.
With all best wishes, I am
Very sincerely yours,
Dick Neal
MIAA Executive Director
June, 2007
MIAA MISSION
The mission of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association is to serve member
schools and the maximum number of their students by providing leadership and support for
the conduct of interscholastic athletics which will enrich the educational experiences of all
participants. The MIAA will promote interschool athletics that provide lifelong and lifequality
learning experiences to students while enhancing their achievement of educational
goals.
MIAA PHILOSOPHY
Within high school sport programs, young people learn the values associated with discipline,
performing under stress, teamwork, sacrifice, commitment, effort, accountability, citizenship,
sportsmanship, confidence, leadership and organizational skills, participating within rules,
physical well-being and healthy lifestyles, striving towards excellence, and many other
characteristics that come quickly to the mind of any educator. If interscholastic athletics are
to be justified as school activities, then values such as these must be the priorities of every
program. Ethics, playing within the spirit of the rules, and good sportsmanship (which is
good citizenship) must be woven into the fabric of the high school athletic program.
In the education of 65% of the young people attending MIAA member schools, athletic
participation is a critical component. What should drive those responsible for studentathletes
and their programs is the educational mission of school activities. For many
students, the most stable environment in their lives is that provided by high school activity
programs. Often the best opportunities for crisis intervention, drug prevention, "day care"
programs, and the like are school activity programs. The cost is minimal, while the worth is
maximal.
While winning contests, rather than losing them, is a laudable goal, it should not supersede
the primary priorities of high school sport programs. What should be the rationale behind
high school activities is preparing students to succeed rather than merely to win games. Win
or lose, students should learn lessons of a lasting and positive nature.
If the success of any high school athletic program is measured by an undefeated season, then
99% of the thousands of high school teams, which participate annually in Massachusetts,
have failed. If a league championship is the measure of success, then 85% of our programs
are failures. Even if success is measured merely by qualification for MIAA end-of-season
tournaments, then 50% of our students are "losers."
What should be encouraged is participation in varied activities under different teacher/coach
role models. The percentage of student-athletes who complete their formal athletic
experiences at the high school level is overwhelming (well in excess of 90%). Schools should
focus their attention upon goals other than championships or the development of "blue chip"
athletes. Young people need varied activities: time at the beach, time to study and, in fact,
time just to be kids.
Young people need to learn, to think, and simply to grow up. Schools should guide them,
through athletics, to allow that to happen as comfortably as possibly.
WORTH REMEMBERING
• The MIAA is an organization of public and private high schools.
• MIAA approves and sponsors athletic activities in 33 sports, involving more than 200,000
young men and women who compete in approximately 100,000 competitions annually.
• Governance and administration of MIAA is shared among members of the Massachusetts
Association of School Committees, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents,
high school administrators, athletic directors, coaches, game officials, and physicians; all
of whom serve without compensation on more than thirty-five MIAA standing
committees.
• MIAA student services programs are at the cutting edge of national efforts in these
critically important areas to young people.
• High school activity programs are an integral part of the total education process.
Successful interscholastic athletic programs teach young people values such as:
Accepting success graciously Physical well-being and Chemical Health
Accountability Respect
Citizenship and Sportsmanship Responsibility
Confidence Sacrificing for the common good
Handling disappointment Self-discipline
Leadership skills Social skills
Organizational skills Striving towards excellence
Participating within rules Taking instruction
Performing under pressure Teamwork
Persistence Work ethic
• Grade point averages (GPA) of students improve during seasons in which they are
participating in athletics.
• Approximately 65% of all students are participants in MIAA interscholastic athletic
programs.
• Student-athletes have higher attendance and graduation rates than non-athletes.
• 95% of corporate officers report that they had participated in high school athletics.
• High school athletic programs are cost effective. They typically make up one to three
percent of the local school budget.
• High school activity programs often represent the best drop-out prevention, crisis
intervention, day care, and drug prevention programs which a community can offer, and
the cost per student is minimal.
• Students participate in high school athletics because they want to! This motivation
should be utilized to teach "life lessons."
• School activities are "the other half of education" and "an extension of the classroom."
Athletic programs have no justification within a school if the young people participating
are not learning how to "win in life." Contests won or lost are not nearly as important as
the life lessons learned by the student participants.
COACHES' CODE OF ETHICS
Each high school coach is first a TEACHER. The student-athlete is participating within the
school's activity program because he or she desires to do so. Consequently, that student is
often more attentive to a coach's lessons than to those offered by teachers in required
courses.
The function of a interscholastic coach is to educate students in "LIFE LESSONS," through
their participation in educational athletics. Every student athlete should be treated as
though they were the coach's own children. Their welfare must be uppermost at all times.
The following abridged guidelines for coaches have been adopted by the NFICA Board of
Directors.
1. The coach must be aware that he or she has a tremendous influence, either for good or
bad, in the education of the student athlete and, thus, shall never place the value of
winning above the value of instilling the highest desirable ideals of character.
2. In all personal contact with student athletes, officials, athletic directors, school
administrators, the state high school athletic association, the media, and the public, the
coach shall strive to set an example of the highest ethical and moral conduct.
3. The coach shall take an active role in the prevention of drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse,
and under no circumstances should authorize their use.
4. The coach shall promote the entire interscholastic program of the school and direct his or
her program in harmony with the total school program.
5. The coach shall be thoroughly acquainted with the contest rules and is responsible for
their interpretation to team members. The spirit and letter of rules should be regarded
as mutual agreements. The coach shall not try to seek an advantage by circumvention of
the spirit or letter of the rules.
6. Coaches shall actively use their influence to enhance sportsmanship in the broadest
possible manner.
7. Contest officials shall have the respect and support of the coach. The coach shall not
indulge in conduct, which will incite players or spectators against the officials. Public
criticism of officials or players is unethical.
8. A coach shall not exert pressure on faculty members to give student athletes special
consideration.
CONTEST OFFICIALS' CODE OF ETHICS
In 2001, the Officiating Development Alliance, a group of individuals representing various
officiating organizations, such as the NFHS, NCAA, ASA, USSF, the NFL, NBA, MLB and
NASO, developed the Code of Conduct for Sports Officials. The Code outlines the personal
responsibilities officials have to the game.
1. Officials shall bear a great responsibility for engendering public confidence in sports.
2. Officials shall be free of obligation to any interest other than the impartial and fair
judging of sports competitions.
3. Officials shall hold and maintain the basic tenets of officiating which include history,
integrity, neutrality, respect, sensitivity professionalism, discretion and tactfulness.
4. Officials shall master both rules of the game and mechanics necessary to enforce the
rules, and shall exercise authority in an impartial, firm and controlled manner.
5. Officials shall uphold the honor and dignity of the profession in all interactions with
student-athletes, coaches, school administrators, colleagues and the public.
6. Officials shall display and execute superior communication skills, both verbal and nonverbal.
7. Officials shall recognize that anything, which may lead to a conflict of interest, either real
or apparent, must be avoided. Gifts, favors, special treatment, privileges, employment or
a personal relationship with a school or team, which can compromise the perceived
impartiality of officiating, must be avoided.
8. Officials shall prepare themselves both physically and mentally, shall dress neatly and
appropriately, and shall comport themselves in a manner consistent with the high
standards of the profession.
9. Officials shall not be party to actions designed to unfairly limit or restrain access to
officiating, officiating assignments or to association membership. This includes selection
for positions of leadership based upon economic factors, race, creed, color, age, sex,
physical handicap, country or national origin.
10. Officials shall be punctual and professional in the fulfillment of all contractual
obligations.
11. Officials shall work with each other and their governing bodies in a constructive and
cooperative manner.
12. Officials shall resist every temptation and outside pressure to use one’s position as an
official to benefit oneself.
13. Officials shall never participate in any form of illegal gambling on a sports contest, may
never gamble on any sporting event in which they have either a direct or indirect
involvement, and may never gamble on events involving high school athletics.
14. Officials shall not make false or misleading statements regarding their qualifications,
rating, credentials, experience, training or competence.
15. Officials shall accept responsibility for all actions taken.
Part I - Governance of Interscholastic Athletics
This section provides information dealing with the manner in which the MIAA is
regulated. Definitions and explanations of the important groups within the MIAA
structure are explained in this section.
PART I: GOVERNANCE OF INTERSCHOLASTIC
ATHLETICS
A. Legend
MASC Massachusetts Association of School Committees
MASS Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents
MIAA Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association
MIAC Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Council
MSSAA Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators' Association
MSSADA Massachusetts Secondary School Athletic Directors' Association
PRINCIPAL A principal or assistant principal of a member school
B. Overview
For the governance of interscholastic athletics in the Commonwealth, the MSSPA was
the policy-making body from 1942 to 1950, and the regulatory body from 1942 to 1978.
Since 1950 the MIAC has been the high school athletic rules-making and final
appellate body of the MIAA. Since July 1, 1978, the MIAA Board of Directors has
been the administrative and regulatory body for conducting athletic events, contests,
and tournaments, for enforcing rules, and for recommending changes in rules to the
MIAC. The ASSEMBLY of principals is the legislative body of the MIAA.
C. The Assembly
The ASSEMBLY consists of the principal or designee of the principal of each member
institution.
D. The Board of Directors
The 16 regular voting members of the Board of Directors consists of eight members
elected by the MSSAA (one from each athletic district), two elected by the MASC, two
by the MASS, and four by the MSSADA. Four athletic directors, representing either
district A or B, C or H, D or E, F or G, must be members of the Board at all times. The
term of each member is three years. A minimum of four women, and at least one
minority, must be members of the Board at all times.
E. The Officers
The President and Vice President of the Board of Directors are elected by the
Assembly from members of the Board. The President presides at Board meetings, the
Annual Meeting, and all special meetings of the Association. The term of each office is
one year, with the possibility of only one re-election.
F. The Executive Director
The Board appoints the Executive Director. The Executive Director is the chief
executive officer of the Association and has charge and direction of the day-to-day
operation of the Association, acting at all times in accordance with the established
policies of the Association as interpreted by the Board of Directors.
The Executive Director is a non-voting member of the MIAC and of the Board of
Directors, serves as an ex-officio member of each committee, and is elected for a
continuous term with regular review.
G. Eligibility Review Board, Standing, and District Athletic Committees
The Board of Directors delegates:
* to the MIAA ELIGIBILITY REVIEW BOARD (ERB) all appeals from executive
decisions on requests for individual student waivers of eligibility rules, as well as
for individual one year student contest disqualifications. Each appeal hearing is
presented before a three-member subcommittee of the ERB.
* to 25 plus statewide STANDING COMMITTEES responsibility for specific
functions involved in the proper administration of the Association's responsibilities.
* to the DISTRICT ATHLETIC COMMITTEES (DAC) the supervision of athletics
and the adjudication of protests, disputes, conflicts or controversies within their
districts. They also serve as the Nominating Committee of the Association, and
directly appoint a principal and athletic director to each MIAA Sport Committee.
They control the alignment or realignment of Leagues, approve all co-operative
(click icons) requests within their districts, and play an important role in the
Rules Change Process, given that they have the opportunity to review all input on
each rule before recommending a position to the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors or Executive Director may request them to “fact find” or to conduct
hearings with regard to alleged rule violations. That authority also permits District
Athletic Committees to determine and enforce appropriate penalties.
District Athletic Committees will be comprised of either a principal or athletic
director, annually nominated by each league in that district, and elected by the
Board of Directors. Membership on each district athletic committee must be evenly
divided between principals and athletic directors. On district committees with an
uneven number of members, principals whenever possible shall sit in the majority.
Each DAC shall elect its chair annually. In districts of fewer than five leagues, the
district committee will consist of five members, with each "division" being
represented by at least one member.
H. Sportsmanship, Integrity & Ethics Committee
Membership of the Sportsmanship, Integrity & Ethics Committee elected by the Assembly
consists of one principal and one athletic director from each of the eight athletic districts
except District E which has two principals and two athletic directors; two
coaches, and two enrolled game officials representing boys and girls activities, in
addition to one school committee member and one superintendent elected or appointed
by their respective associations.
I. Game Officials’ Committee
Membership of the Game Officials Committee (GOC) consists of five school committee
members, five school superintendents, five principals, and five athletic directors.
Game officials representing each sport which has elected to enroll with the MIAA
serve as non-voting advisors to the GOC.
J. Sports Medicine Committee
Membership of the Sports Medicine Committee (SMC) consists of at least one principal
or athletic director from each of the eight MIAA districts, one school committee
member, one school superintendent, and a number of sports specialists who are
physicians or certified athletic trainers. Two game officials and two coaches (in each
case one representing boys' sports and one representing girls' sports) may serve on the
SMC.
K. Student Services Advisory Committee
This broad-based committee supports student program initiatives through both the
MIAA and the MSSAA.
L. Tournament Management Committee
Membership of the Tournament Management Committee (TMC) consists of one
principal and one athletic director from each of the eight athletic districts, except
District E which has two principals and two athletic directors; one school committee
member; one school superintendent; and one coach.
M. Voting Committee Members
All voting members of committees, boards, and the Council must be affiliated with a
MIAA member school except for physicians and game officials (who must be enrolled
with the MIAA).
The voting membership of the 20 standing sport committees is one principal
("principal" may be either a principal or assistant principal who spends at least 50% of
his/her time in duties related to the general administration of the school) and one
athletic director from each athletic district, except District E which has two
principals and two athletic directors appointed to each committee; one school
superintendent; one school committee member; as well as one or two coaches and
enrolled game officials.
N. Member School
Any public or private high school (defined as a school which includes grade 12 and
which has a single principal, graduation, valedictorian, class rank, yearbook, etc.) in
Massachusetts approved by the MIAA Board of Directors and fulfilling the conditions
for membership receives all the rights, privileges, and benefits of the Association.
O. Constitutional Organization Chart
Board of MIAC
Directors
MIAA
ASSEMBLY
Executive
Director
& Staff
Finance/Personnel
Committee
Sports
Medicine
Committee
Wellness
Advisory
Committee
Constitutional Organization
Eight (8)
District
Committees
Sportsmanship,
Integrity &
Ethics Committee
Tournament
Management
Committee
Game
Officials
Committee
Twenty (20)
Sport
Committees
Leagues
Member
Schools
Eligibility
Review
Board
P. The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Council (MIAC)
The 18 voting members of the MIAC consist of five members from the MASC, five from
the MASS, one from the MSSADA, two from the middle level, and five MIAA member
school principals. The term of each member is three years. A member from the MASC
serves as chair. The Executive Director of the MIAA serves as secretary.
Before any question of policy is presented to the MIAC for its action, it is carefully
considered by the Board of Directors. Rule changes are not final until approved by the
MIAC.
Meetings of the MIAC are held in the Fall and Spring each year. In addition,
meetings are called when necessary to consider urgent matters of business. Appeals
on eligibility rulings for individual athletes are heard by a three member
subcommittee of the MIAC which serves as the MIAC Appeals Committee. Appeals
affecting more than one athlete are heard by the entire MIAC.
Q. The National Federation of State High School Associations
The National Federation consists of the state high school associations of all 50 states
and the District of Columbia.
The objectives of the Federation are to:
* serve, protect, and enhance the interstate activity interests of the high schools
belonging to state associations;
* sponsor meetings, publications, and activities which will permit each state
association to profit by the experience of all other member associations;
* formulate, copyright, and publish rules of play or event conduct pertaining to
interscholastic activities;
* preserve interscholastic athletic records, and the tradition and heritage of
interscholastic sports;
* provide programs, services, material, and assistance to state associations, high
schools, and individual professionals involved in the conduct and administration
of interscholastic activities;
* study in general all phases of interscholastic activities and serve as a national
resource for information pertaining thereto;
* identify needs and problems related to interscholastic activities and where
practical provide solutions thereto; and
* promote the educational values of interscholastic activities to the nation's
public.
Part II - Definitions and Policies
PART II: DEFINITIONS AND POLICIES
1. Every Participant must be a School Team Member
"Each participant in an MIAA - sponsored interscholastic athletic event must be a member of
his/her recognized high school team in that sport." "Member" shall be defined as a student
who meets the standards of Rule 45, 51, 85 and 94.
2. School Team
2.1 A school team must be sponsored by and under the control of the school
committee and registered with the MIAA through the annual Summer
membership process. A school team must have: a coach(es) appointed by the
principal; a regular practice schedule through the season defined for that sport; a
meaningful schedule of contests through the season defined for that sport; and
school uniforms.
2.2 Teams not registered with the Association are not eligible for tournament
participation. All school teams must be registered with the Association during
the annual Summer membership renewal process.
3. Adult Representation
The principal, headmaster, or director of the school in all cases is responsible to the
Association for the acts of school teams and other school organizations. All teams and
individual participants must have adult representation present and responsible for
them at all times. Such adult representation must be an employee or a designated
representative of the school district. If the representative is not the coach of record,
then the designee must provide written introduction on school letterhead, signed by
the principal, or the student(s) will not be permitted to participate.
4. Addressing the MIAC, Board of Directors, and Association Standing
Committees
The MIAC, Board of Directors, and Association standing committees will provide time
at the start of each meeting for statements from the audience. Individuals must notify
the MIAA Office a week in advance of their wish to speak. Speakers are to limit their
remarks to three minutes.
5. Medical Coverage
Each member school should employ a licensed certified athletic trainer. Physicians,
trainers, and coaches should receive sport medicine training.
6. Parental Permission
Principals should secure from each athlete's parent written consent to participate in
interscholastic sports. Eligibility rules and an assumption of risk statement should be
part of this form. Some sports may require individual waivers.
7. Missing or Diseased Paired Organ
To participate in interscholastic athletics, an athlete with a missing or diseased paired
organ must provide his/her principal with a parental permission form and a medical
specialist's written permission to participate. Such an athlete must wear during all
practices and competitions the protective equipment recommended by the specialist.
Copies of permission and authorization should be filed with the MIAA Sports Medical
Committee.
8. Return to Athletic Participation
Subsequent to any serious injury and prior to further participation in that sport, an
athlete should receive a medical release from a physician. Schools should use the
MIAA Return to Athletic Participation Form for this purpose.
9. Athletes' Assembly
Prior to each season, every school should hold an Athletes' Assembly planned by the
principal, athletic director, head coaches, and medical personnel to discuss policies,
liability, sportsmanship, safety, and wellness. One parent or guardian should attend
with each athlete.
10. Academic Awards
The Association provides Certificates of Achievement to all student-athletes and to the
school for each team that achieves a minimum combined GPA of 3.00 (gold) or 2.50
(silver). Principal or Athletic Director should determine and request via MIAA.
11. Sportsmanship Awards
The Association provides Certificates of Achievement to individuals, teams and schools
that demonstrate notable qualities of exemplary citizenship or leadership. Principal or
Athletic Director should determine and request via MIAA.
12. School Attendance Policies
Each school should establish school/class attendance requirements for participation in
athletic practices and competitions provided that such requirements are not in conflict
with MIAA rules and regulations.
13. Equipment
Schools should ascertain that all athletic equipment is in first-class condition and that
no defective equipment is used.
14. Private Promoters and Sponsors
In any activity involving one or more MIAA members, schools should not endorse any
private promotion and/or sponsorship, which might result in the exploitation of
students or direct financial gain to the promoter or sponsor.
Schools should refer to the MIAA Office -- and when appropriate to the Board of
Directors -- all outside financial offers for supporting athletic programs among several
school districts.
15. Transportation
Schools should transport teams by such common carriers as bus lines, vans, or taxi
cabs. They should discourage the use of private cars.
16. Medical Emergency Evacuation
Each school should develop and disseminate a procedure for treating and transporting
an injured athlete.
17. Protested Contests
Protests during contests will be addressed according to the national code adopted for
play in each MIAA sponsored interscholastic activity. All results shall be final when
the contest has been concluded by the game officials.
18. Canceled Season Policy
A school which cancels a sport prior to an official contest being conducted will not
forfeit any wins to its anticipated opponents. (Opponents in this case may request
MIAA extensions for finalizing that sport's scheduling.) A school which cancels a sport
after completing at least one official contest must forfeit wins to its remaining
scheduled opponents. (Schools do not have the option of rescheduling other opponents
in this case.)
19. Complimentary Tournament Passes
19.1 Complimentary tournament passes will be issued by the Association to each
member school in numbers approved by the Board of Directors.
19.2 MIAA gold lifetime passes are to be honored at all activities.
20. Statewide Coaches' Organizations
To be eligible to serve on MIAA committees and to act on rule changes, each state
coaches' organization must submit a list of their officers to the MIAA Executive
Director by June 1st of each year.
21. Definition of a Jamboree
A jamboree is a sport competition involving any number of schools in which students
participate as a unit representing their own school. Game-day uniforms may be worn.
Only one jamboree may be conducted per season. Competition may be no more than
one-half of the length of a regular season contest, and the jamboree must be conducted
within three weeks of the first day of practice and not before the 12th calendar day (or
9th day for sports requiring only 11 days of practice) after and including the starting
date for practice. PLAY-DAYS must conform to all criteria of either a scrimmage or
jamboree.
22. Definition of Scrimmage
A team is not allowed to have an interscholastic scrimmage which will not count
against the game limitation rules unless the scrimmage meets the following
conditions:
22.1 A scrimmage is competition among any number of schools where no
admission is charged; no game-day uniform is worn; score is kept only by
segments; and the event is intended to be a practice, with instruction
occurring during competition. PLAY-DAYS must conform to all criteria of
either a scrimmage or jamboree.
22.2 If any of these restrictions are violated, the meeting must be counted as a
game and will count toward the total number of interscholastic contests for
that sport.
22.3 An "exhibition game" must be counted in the season limitation for the sport,
except for an alumni or faculty-student game.
23. Definition of Practice
A practice is a reporting of a group of potential athletes who are under the direct or
indirect supervision of a member of the high school coaching staff, and who are
receiving instruction in game skills or techniques.
24. Captain's Practice
The term "Captain's Practice" usually means the team's captain(s) organizing and
conducting, without adult supervision, out-of-season practice for that sport.
The MIAA does not in any way sanction, encourage, or condone "Captain's Practice" in
any sport. "Captain's Practice", depending on the member school's involvement, may
be a clear violation of the rule defining season limitations.
There is also a serious practical consideration. If it can be demonstrated that a school
is allowing "Captain's Practice", the liability responsibility for an injured athlete may
be quite serious.
25. Victory Celebrations
Student-athletes should be apprised of the potential for injury associated with
activities such as "piling on."
26. Club Teams
Confusion and problems are always associated with club teams. The term "club team"
would be best not used due to the confusion it creates (See Rule 32.12). All teams
which represent the school or compete with other school teams must comply with all
Association rules.
27. Conflict Of Interest Statement
The Board of Directors requires that each person serving as a committee member,
agent, or employee of the MIAA perform his or her duties without influence, or the
appearance of influence, by any other business or financial interest.
Potential conflicts of interest include, but are not limited to, a person's financial or
personal interest being affected by a decision of a committee on which the person
serves. The MIAA is not critical of such interests. It merely requests that persons
disqualify themselves from service to the MIAA on matters relating to such interests.
If a member of the Board of Directors or of any MIAA Committee, or any agent or
employee of the MIAA, should have or develop a conflict of interest, such person shall
immediately identify the conflict and remove himself or herself from any discussion or
decisions involving the matter in conflict.
28. Gender Equity and Leadership
28.1 The values of female role models and future opportunities for women are
important to high school athletic programs and their governance. This role
modeling will demonstrate to girls that they can become leaders who will have
impact upon the lives of others. Adult women should inspire female student
athletes in a manner that will ensure broadened participation of women in
future programs. Female student-athletes should have female role models in
leadership and decision-making positions.
28.2 It has been resolved by the MIAA Assembly that coaches' and game officials'
organizations encourage and recruit women with leadership interests or
abilities. The names of such women should be forwarded to the MIAA
Nominating Committee as potential committee members for service on MIAA
administrative and standing committees with responsibilities for female
student-athletes.
29. Resolutions Regarding Litigation
29.1 (This Resolution was adopted by a vote of 155-7 during the 15th Annual
Meeting of the MIAA on April 9, 1993.)
The administration and management of interscholastic athletics should not be
a function of the courts. Legal costs associated with litigation against the
MIAA impact every high school that is a member of MIAA. Therefore, the
Board of Directors is empowered to seek legal fees and associated costs from
any member school that has unsuccessfully brought litigation against the
Association. The Board of Directors is also empowered to seek reimbursement
of legal fees and associated costs from any institution seeking membership that
has unsuccessfully brought litigation against the Association.
MIAA Handbook July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2009
25
29.2 Court Orders and Resultant Forfeitures
(This Resolution was approved by a vote of 143-17 during the 22nd Annual
Meeting of the MIAA on April 6, 2000).
In the interest of fairness to all students, any contest in which an ineligible
student or coach participates under court order will be forfeited if the order is
dissolved or the plaintiff ultimately fails to prevail.
29.3 Court Orders and Tournament Seeding
Student or teams that have gained court injunctions forcing their entry into
MIAA tournaments will be seeded last.
30. Unattached Athletes
Unattached athletes may not participate in any MIAA-sponsored or MIAA-sanctioned
event. Those who know the values associated with school activities recognize that
complete participation is a primary goal. Season-long participation provides young
people with exposure to wellness strategies and education, sportsmanship and
citizenship, leadership, and other significant lessons or values that are best taught in
the “laboratory" of school activities over a period of days, weeks, and months.
An unattached athlete is not a school activity participant, but rather is an individual
single event athlete. Association tournaments were developed for season-long school
participants who practice and compete season long with their own high school teams.
The adoption of, and subsequent strong support for, the bona fide team member placed
emphasis on keeping student athletes involved daily in "the other half of education."
To quote from the MIAA tournament philosophy: ". . .The purpose of tournaments is
to permit qualifying schools and individuals who have achieved an established
standard of excellence during that sport season to compete in championship
tournaments. . . Care always must be taken to maintain the integrity and importance
of regular season activity so that the tournament will serve only as a culminating
athletic activity for those who have demonstrated a level of excellence during their
regular season."
The MIAA should not be providing the ultimate spotlight for young people who have
not been part of their school program. These individuals often have prepared
themselves outside of the parameters, limitations, rules, and regulations of high
school activities. Previous to the adoption of this policy, unattached athletes
dominated high school tournament events, which were designed as a conclusion to the
high school season for season-long participants.
A disproportionate amount of confusion, misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and anger
have resulted from improper procedures, representation, or supervision of unattached
tournament athletes. The potential liability issues raised by unattached regular and
tournament season involvement are significant. Past experiences established that it
was difficult to monitor rules evenly among all student athletes.
Local energies should be focused in ways that cause support for programs of interest to
the young people in that school, thereby truly increasing participation opportunities.
To allow for unattached tournament participation may subtly set up a scenario for
fewer opportunities. Furthermore, unattached tournament participation is not
possible in many Association-sponsored sports, thereby creating an inconsistency
affecting many students, were some form of unattached participation to be permitted.
A school community determines the nature of its schoolhouse which includes cocurricula
offerings desired and to be provided. This process identifies each school's
athletic program. The school joins the MIAA and submits this identification of its
program. The MIAA then provides support and services to that school in all of, but
only in, the program areas which the school chooses to sponsor. (At this time
approximately 197,000 students annually are participating in sport programs
sponsored within their own high schools and approved by MIAA.) The MIAA respects
this local autonomy which defines the boundaries of a school's athletic program for all
of its students. Opportunities exist in non-school sport programs for students who wish
to pursue an activity not sponsored at his/her high school.
31. Precautions Against the Transmission of Blood-Borne Pathogens
31.1 Before competing, cover any open wound.
31.2 Whenever possible, athletes should treat and cover their own wounds.
31.3 When rendering first aid to others, wear protective gloves at any time blood,
body fluid containing visible blood, open wounds, or mucous membranes are
involved.
31.4 If an individual gets someone else's blood or other body fluid containing
visible blood on his/her skin, the area should be washed with a solution
known to inactivate blood-borne pathogens.
31.5 If blood or other body fluids containing visible blood are present during
practice or competition, activity should be halted, and the injured athlete(s)
given proper attention. Any contaminated surfaces should be cleaned.
31.6 Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after exposure to blood or
other body fluid.
31.7 Do not use common towels to clean surfaces contaminated with blood or other
body fluid containing blood.
31.8 Wash all soiled uniforms, towels, etc. in warm or hot, soapy, water.
31.9 In general, use good hygienic practices.
Part III - General Rules
This section includes rules of a general nature that affect all schools and all athletic
contests that are played under MIAA rules.
PART III: GENERAL RULES
32. Application of Rules
32.1 As a condition of a high school's participation in interscholastic athletics
under MIAA Rules and Regulations, prior to the first fall season contest,
each principal and athletic director must read entirely, understand, abide
by, and be prepared to enforce all rules, regulations, and policies contained
within this Handbook. Only the Board of Directors (or executive staff) or
their designees may interpret or clarify rules of the Association. All disputes
will be resolved by the executive staff or Board of Directors. The principal
and athletic director must assure that each member of the school's coaching
staff is knowledgeable of, and will enforce, all requirements contained
therein. (It also is helpful to have the guidance staff familiar with student
eligibility rules.)
By MIAA Board of Directors policy Principals and Athletic Directors new to
the position or new to position in Massachusetts must attend an MIAA
Workshop within a year of their appointment.
32.2 Association rules apply to all teams and individuals, in all interscholastic
contests, at all levels of competition.
32.3 In order to be eligible to represent a MIAA member school in athletic
contests, teams and contestants must conform to all Association rules.
32.4 Postponed contests should be immediately re-scheduled on the first day that
the teams do not have a scheduled competition.
32.5 In the case of a postponed contest or one which results in a tie, the eligibility
of participants does not hold over until the contest is actually played. The
students who participate in any contest must be eligible by all rules on the
date when the contest is held.
32.6 No special privileges such as extra examinations, delayed marks, makeup
opportunities, or other opportunities not granted to every student in the
school are to be granted to athletes.
32.7 Whether or not their opponents are MIAA members, all member schools
must conform in each contest to all Association rules. MIAA member school
teams may not compete against teams that do not represent a school.
32.8 A principal may not make a private agreement with another school or any
other party to evade MIAA rules. Regarding the participation of ineligible
students, no ineligible individual may participate in any inter-school
competition (including scrimmages) regardless of any proposed agreement
between competing schools that his/her results would not be counted.
"Exhibition" or "unattached" participation are prohibited.
32.9 The Board of Directors or executive staff must approve all experimental
rules or exceptions. Experimental rules shall have an effective limit of one
year.
32.10 Neither member schools nor school committees may make rules that are in
any way less restrictive than those of the MIAA. More stringent rules may
be adopted locally.
32.11 A member school must report suspected rule violations to: the principal(s) of
the school(s) involved; the president of the league; the District Athletic
Chair; and the MIAA Executive Director.
32.12 In all interscholastic contests any team organized in the name of the school
or funded in whole or in part by the school must represent the school in
accordance with all MIAA rules. “Club teams" may not operate outside
Association rules. See Rule 26.
33. Coaches’ Education
All coaches (stipend or volunteer) first serving as an interscholastic coach after July 1,
2005 must complete an MIAA sponsored or approved coaches’ education course of
study. The approved course will consist of the National Federation of High Schools
(NFHS) Coaches’ Principles Course (must be passed prior to coaching a second year)
and the NFHS Sports First Aid course (must be passed prior to coaching a third year).
All coaches (stipend or volunteer) first serving as an interscholastic coach after July 1,
2007 must complete the NFHS Coaches’ Principles Course, the NFHS Sports First Aid
course and the NFHS Sport Specific Technical and Tactical Skills Course in the sport
they are coaching (must be completed prior to coaching a third year). Note: The sportspecific
requirement will begin on July 1, 2007 or when the particular sport-specific
course becomes available, if after this date.
The NFHS Coaching Principles Course requirement must be met through attending
an MIAA sponsored Coaching Principles Clinic.
The NFHS Sports First Aid and Sport Specific requirement may be met by completing
on-line courses.
34. Recognized Sports, And Scheduling Limits for Schools
Maximum # of Competitions
Boy’s Sport Per Season Per Week
Alpine Skiing 16 3
Baseball 20 3
Basketball 20 3
Cross Country 16 3
Football 11 1
Golf 20 3
Gymnastics 18 2
Ice Hockey 20 3
Indoor Track 16 3
Lacrosse 20 3
Nordic Skiing 16 3
Outdoor Track 16 3
Soccer 18 3
Swimming 18 2
Tennis 20 3
Volleyball 20 3
Wrestling 20 2
Maximum # of Competitions
Girls’ Sport Per Season Per Week
Alpine Skiing 16 3
Basketball 20 3
Cross Country 16 3
Field Hockey 18 3
Golf 20 3
Gymnastics 18 2
Ice Hockey 20 3
Indoor Track 16 3
Lacrosse 20 3
Nordic Skiing 16 3
Outdoor Track 16 3
Soccer 18 3
Softball 20 3
Swimming 18 2
Tennis 20 3
Volleyball 20 3
34.1 The number of events per season and per week that a school may schedule
includes dual, league, multi-school, and interstate competition in which a
team or any individual representing a school may compete. Exceptions: In
cross country, indoor, and outdoor track, MIAA approved interstate
competitions after the MIAA sponsored state tournaments will not count
toward the maximum number of competitions permitted within the season.
Also exempt is approved participation in tournaments sponsored by the
Council of New England Secondary School Principals' Associations.
In swim, a multi-school event may be held on a non-school day during a
week in which two dual meets have been scheduled.
34.2 The number of events per week in cross country may be two duals and one
multi-school event or two multi-school events and one dual meet; in spring
and winter track, two duals and one multi-school event are permitted.
34.3 Skiing shall be considered a single sport with two recognized disciplines
(Nordic and Alpine). The maximum number of competitions per season and
per week remain as listed above. Whether student-athletes remain
committed to one discipline or choose to participate in both, they remain
limited to no more than three events per week.
34.4 A week shall run from Sunday through Saturday except in football which
runs from Saturday through Friday. Exception: Thanksgiving and Friday
evening football games.
34.5 Member schools may exceed the above designated number of competitions per
week when game postponements dictate exceeding the above number.
35. Starting and Closing Dates for Tryouts, Practices, and Contests
35.1 Fall practice may begin for all teams as early as the second Thursday
preceding Labor Day (i.e., August 21, 2008; August 27, 2009, August 26,
2010). No team may have more than ten single practice sessions (i.e., "double
sessions" count as two single practice sessions) through and including the
Friday prior to Labor Day. Football teams must precede their initial contact
practice day with an additional three days of single non-contact sessions.
The Fall season must end with completion of the regular season varsity
schedule except for the varsity team or individual students completing their
participation in the MIAA tournament. Sub-varsity teams or individual
athletes may participate after the completion of the regular season varsity
schedule to complete their season schedule (maximum of two weeks beyond
varsity schedule completion) or to practice with the varsity team providing it
has qualified for the MIAA tournament.
35.1.1 Fall sports include cross country, field hockey, football, soccer, girls'
swimming, and girls' volleyball. A school may offer golf in either
Fall or Spring, but not both. Girls' swim may be a Fall or Winter
sport, but not both. When schools offer both girls' and boys' swim,
students must swim on the team of their gender.
35.2 The Winter season must not begin before the first Monday after
Thanksgiving. Winter sports include skiing, basketball, ice hockey,
gymnastics, swimming (see Rule 35.1.1), indoor track, and wrestling. The
Winter season must end with completion of the regular varsity season
schedule, except for the varsity team or individual students completing their
participation in the MIAA tournament. Exception: The Nordic ski season
must end by the Saturday preceding the third Monday in March. Sub-varsity
teams or individual athletes may participate after the completion of the
regular season varsity schedule to complete their season schedule (maximum
of two weeks beyond varsity schedule completion) or to practice with the
varsity team providing it has qualified for the MIAA tournament.
35.3 The Spring season must not begin before the third Monday in March. Spring
sports include baseball, golf (See Rule 35.1.1), lacrosse, softball, tennis, boys'
volleyball, and outdoor track. The Spring season must end with completion of
the regular season varsity schedule except for the varsity team or individual
students completing their participation in the MIAA tournament. Sub-varsity
teams or individual athletes may participate after the completion of the
regular season varsity schedule to complete their season schedule (maximum
of two weeks beyond varsity schedule completion) or to practice with the
varsity team providing it has qualified for the MIAA tournament.
35.4 Initial date for competition.
35.4.1 The first team competition may not occur before the 11th calendar
day after and including the first day of practice except golf, which
may not occur until after seven calendar days from the first practice.
35.4.2 In football each participant must have fifteen days of practice, and
each wrestler must have ten days of practice, before competing in an
interscholastic contest.
36. Multiple School Events: Involving Only MIAA Member Schools
36.1 A member school may not participate in any form of inter school competition
involving eight or more schools or in all-star games unless the event has
been authorized by the Board of Directors through the executive staff.
Exception: Multiple-school events which are sponsored by a league or
between two leagues, and which include league members only. Any request
for approval of an event including eight or more schools must be submitted
to the MIAA executive staff at least 45 days prior to the scheduled event
date. A listing of approved events is printed on the MIAA Web page.
36.2 Sub-varsity multi-school events are not allowed. Exception: Track,
Wrestling, and Cross Country sub-varsity multi-school meets may be
considered for approval unless (1) a team champion or winner is determined,
or (2) the meet is advertised as a tournament or championship.
No sub-varsity competition in cross country, track, or wrestling, nor any
event which combines sub-varsity with varsity level competition, will be
approved which seems to establish champions or which provides competitors
with any award and/or recognition not provided to all other participants
equally.
36.3 Multi-school events may only be sponsored by a member school or league.
The principal of the host school must sign the application for school or
league-sponsored events, and he/she must retain ultimate responsibility for
that event.
36.4 No MIAA member school may schedule any activity which is a part of a
double header or multiple event that includes college or professional
involvement unless approved prior to the season by the MIAA Board of
Directors or executive staff.
36.5 Any event involving non-MIAA member schools (except those covered by Rule
39 and single contests with bordering state association member schools) must
be approved by the MIAA.
VIOLATION of this rule may result in the elimination of the violating school from
participating in all multi-school events in any and all sports for one year from the date
of suspension.
37. Interstate Competition
37.1 The Board of Directors through the MIAA executive staff sanctions along
with the National Federation (NF) competition in any of the following
contests:
37.1.1 Any interstate event in which four or more schools participate.
37.1.2 Any interstate event which involves schools from three or more
state high school associations.
(If all participating schools above are from states which border the host
state, only sanction by each state association is necessary.)
37.2 The MIAA must approve and receive NF approval for competition by a
member school with a school from a foreign country, except for 2-school or 3-
school competition with a school or schools from Canada.
37.3 Member schools wishing to sponsor an interstate event must file appropriate
application forms at least 45 days prior to the scheduled event date.
37.4 The MIAA Board of Directors criteria for considering approval of interstate
contests are:
37.4.1 Participation involves no more than a one-day loss of school time.
37.4.2 No more than two consecutive days of competition are permitted.
37.4.3 The activity is sponsored by or under the ultimate control of
secondary school personnel.
37.4.4 The event only involves competition with schools that are members
of their state association or schools that have been approved for
competition by their state association.
PENALTY FOR VIOLATION: A member school which violates rules for interstate
competition may not participate in such competition in that sport for one year from the
date of the offense.
38. All Star Games
All Star games must be sponsored by a member school principal and directed by a
member school employee.
38.1 Requests for Approval must be submitted 60 days before the event to the
executive staff. Exception: All Star games which include only students from
a single league or two leagues as recognized by the MIAA committee for that
sport.
38.2 Leagues may play one all-star game within a league and one all-star game
between two leagues, and these will not count toward the season schedule
limit for games.
38.3 All Star games must be played before the end of the MIAA Tournament for
that sport.
39. Competition with Non-Member Schools
39.1 Member schools may scrimmage or compete with non-member
Massachusetts schools or out-of-state schools that are not members of their
own state high school associations (but only if the school is ineligible for
state association membership and complies with that association’s conditions
of alliance) only if the chief administrator of the non-member school agrees
in writing prior to the start of the season that:
39.1.1 The non-member team will not include a player who exceeds the
MIAA age limit.
39.1.2 The length of periods will not exceed the maximum length
prescribed by the MIAA rules for that sport.
MIAA Handbook July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2009
35
39.1.3 The competition adheres to all MIAA rules.
39.1.4 The principal of the member school involved sends a copy of this
written agreement to the MIAA Executive Director prior to the
start of the season.
39.1.5 Contests under these criteria do count toward the school’s weekly
and seasonal limits, but do not count toward tournament
qualification.
40. Out-of-Season Coach-Athlete Contact Limitations
40.1 Unless otherwise permitted in this rule, between seasons a coach may
conduct a meeting(s) with team candidates only to elect captains, collect
equipment, issue equipment, to provide for physical examinations, to
conduct legitimate fund-raising events, or to offer wellness workshops or
activities.
40.2 A coach is defined as any paid or volunteer member of the athletic staff.
40.3 The MIAA considers the last coach of record as holding that position until
replaced by the principal.
40.4 A coach may not directly or indirectly require an athlete to participate in a
sport or a training program outside of the MIAA defined sport season.
Voluntary conditioning sessions open equally to all students in a school and
which are entirely devoid of sports-specific activity may be conducted
between seasons provided no candidate is either required to participate or
penalized for not doing so.
A "candidate" is defined as:
40.4.1 A varsity or sub-varsity athlete who participated in a high school
program at some interscholastic level the previous year and has
eligibility remaining; or
40.4.2 A middle school student “selected” to participate in an out-ofseason
program.
40.5 A high school coach may be employed by a park or recreation department or
other organization or may volunteer for such a group to teach his/her sport
out-of-season provided the following conditions exist:
40.5.1 No candidate may either be required to attend or be penalized for
not attending.
40.5.2 School funds are not used.
40.5.3 A coach's high school candidates must constitute the minority of
those taking part in any out-of-season sport's program, and
competing on any team at any moment (e.g. no more than two
basketball candidates could be on the court, on the same team, at
any point during a game). In sports that are individual in nature,
or where competition involves a series of scoring events, candidates
of that high school coach must be fewer than 50% of those
participating in the overall competition or program.
40.5.4 High School Coaches (paid or volunteer) of one sport may be
involved in out-of-season activity of another sport during the
summer only.
40.6 A program is deemed to be an intramural rather than an out-of season
program provided that:
40.6.1 The program is available to all high school students on an
indiscriminate basis, and a representative number of non
candidates are regular participants.
40.6.2 No participants may receive any attention not offered to all other
participants.
40.6.3 Candidates in that intramural sport must constitute a minority of
those taking part in the program and of any team actually playing
or competing at any one time. (Example: Basketball is made up of
five members; therefore two would be a minority.)
40.6.4 The program must be a direct offering of the high school involved.
40.7 Fall coaches may address eighth grade students once after June 1st during an
advertised meeting for the singular purpose of providing organizational
information about physicals and practice schedules for their fall season.
PENALTY: Because these standards are designed to protect young people from unfair
and unequitable scenarios, any coach who violates, or does not prevent violations, of
these standards will be rendered ineligible to participate or be present at any MIAA
approved or sponsored interscholastic competition in that sport for one year from the
date of determination of a rule violation. If a violation is inadvertent or relatively
minor, this penalty may be reduced by the Board of Directors, or its designee.
41. Subsidizing Out-of-Season Activities
A school or a member of that school's coaching staff may not subsidize or support
students who might attend any sports-related activity outside of the authorized
seasonal limits for that sport. In addition, a coach may not provide transportation for
candidates of his/her team to an out-of-season athletic activity/camp. Student
participation in out-of season activities may not be funded in any way by booster clubs
or organizations. Schools may issue equipment (but not uniforms) during the out-ofseason
period, but school districts should review any liability issues that could arise
from such issuance. Students may not wear school uniforms, or be identified as a
school team, out of season and/or during non-school events.
42. League Organization & Membership Changes
42.1 Every school in the affected league(s), the District Athletic Committee(s)
affected, and the Association will be given written notification at least two
years in advance of any intent to disband, reorganize, join or leave a league.
No school may change from one league to another or withdraw from a league
without the approval in advance of the appropriate District Athletic
Committee(s). (Click icon for necessary forms)
42.2 The "sending league" must first act upon the school's request to depart the
league. The recorded vote and rationale are then to be forwarded to that
District Athletic Committee Chair. (Because petitions before the District
Athletic Committee must include plans for negatively-impacted schools, the
petitioning school must address this matter if the sending league vote
implies negative impact.)
42.3 The "receiving league" acts secondly upon the request of the petitioning
school. The recorded vote and rationale are then forwarded to that District
Athletic Committee Chair. (Because no league can be required to accept a
member, the District Athletic Committee(s) should not meet until after this
step.)
42.4 The affected District Athletic Committee(s) then meet for the purpose of
approving, or not approving, the petition. If a petition involves more than
one district, then a joint meeting of those districts must be conducted. This
meeting will be chaired by the District Chair of the petitioning school. Each
participating District Athletic Committee must have at least 50% of its
members present and voting.
42.5 Decisions of the District Athletic Committees may be appealed to the Board
of Directors.
42.6 All leagues must have in their by-laws provisions for disbanding the league,
which must include provisions for phasing out of the league over a period of
two years.
42.7 The chairman or president of a league shall be either a principal or an
assistant principal. In all matters of league reorganization, only the
principal of each affected school may vote for that member institution.
VIOLATION of this rule will result in suspension from the MIAA until rationale for a
new league has been filed with the Executive Director and approved by the Board of
Directors. This action would eliminate any violating school from league championship
eligibility as well as MIAA tournament competition.
43. Boys and Girls on the Same Team
43.1 No student shall be denied in any implied or explicit manner the opportunity
to participate in any interscholastic activity because of his or her gender. A
school may establish separate teams for males and females for interscholastic
competition in a sport provided that teams comprised primarily or solely of
persons of one gender shall be granted equal instruction, training, coaching,
access to available facilities, equipment, opportunities to practice and
compete as teams engaged in a similar activity comprised primarily or solely
of persons of the opposite gender.
43.2 A girl may play on a boys' team if that sport is not offered in the school for
the girl, and a boy may play on a girls' team if that sport is not offered in the
school for the boy. When a sport is offered in two different seasons, each
individual must participate on the team of his/her gender.
43.2.1 Any MIAA member school sponsoring a “mixed gender” sub varsity
or varsity team must report to opponents the mixed gender status
of their team(s) at least 72 hours prior to each scheduled
competition. The “mixed gender” status must also be included on
the tournament entry form in the space provided. The combined
male & female enrollments will be utilized to determine
tournament divisional placement.
43.2.1.1 Any school, which does not conform to the notification
requirements above, will be ineligible for MIAA
tournament competition in that sport.
43.2.1.2 Students from mixed gender regular season teams
will participate in the regional and state tournaments
of their own gender in the sports of cross country,
indoor track, outdoor track, skiing, winter swimming
and diving, individual golf, and individual tennis.
43.2.2 Softball and baseball are competitively equal sports. Therefore,
girls shall participate in softball and boys in baseball provided
each sport is offered at that school. Length of game is one basic
difference (i.e. time required to play baseball and softball differ).
43.2.3 Any single gender team may forfeit its competition to a mixed
team because of safety reasons without tournament qualifying
penalty (e.g. the 50% rule would apply only to games played).
Notification of forfeit must be documented with the MIAA
Executive Director and the opponent school principal(s), stating
the reason for not competing. This notification must be given at
least 24 hours prior to the contest.
43.2.3.1 Reasons of Safety: Generally anything which can be
specifically stated that demonstrates a bona fide
concern by a player, athletic director, or principal that
a potential opponent will pose a threat to safety
during an interscholastic athletic competition.
43.2.3.2 Specific Reasons:
(a) A bona fide reason of safety will arise when a
potential opponent has caused injury during a
prior interscholastic athletic contest.
(b) A bona fide reason of safety will arise when the
potential opponent has previously altered the
method or manner of play, in a substantial way,
by means of the style of play during a prior
interscholastic athletic contest.
(c) A bona fide reason of safety will arise when
through the actual knowledge of the person
claiming a reason of safety exists, a substantial
concern is present that the opponent poses a
threat to safety. In such situations, the specific
basis or facts relied upon shall be disclosed.
43.2.3.3 Exceptions:
(a) It shall not be a reason of safety that a potential
opponent may have an advantage due to greater
physical skills.
(b) It shall not be a reason of safety that a potential
opponent by reason of gender alone is more likely
to cause injury than another player.
(c) A reason of safety does not include the possibility
that a potential opponent may cause a threat to
the safety of the potential opponent's teammates.
43.2.3.4 Implementation: Any team which invokes the
application of Rule 43.2.3 shall notify the opponent's
principal by telephone and in writing as early as
possible. Said notice shall contain a concise
statement of the reason(s) of safety that cause the
application of the rule. Said notice shall also be
concurrently transmitted to the MIAA.
44. Recruitment
44.1 To maintain a proper relationship between the academic mission of schools
and their athletic programs, all individuals in any way affiliated with a
school must refrain from recruitment, inducement, or other forms of
persuasion which would encourage an athlete to enroll in, or transfer to, a
school.
44.2 A school shall be deemed to be in violation of the rule against recruitment if a
representative or agent of the school or any group or individual associated
with athletic programs of that school approaches an athlete and directly or
indirectly attempts to persuade or induce the athlete to enroll in, or transfer
to, that school.
44.3 Any attempt to place a student in a member school by any person for the
purposes of enhancement of that student's athletic development, or for
increased exposure, shall be deemed to be recruitment.
PENALTIES - Any student who enrolls in a school as a result of direct or indirect
recruitment activities shall be ineligible for a period of one calendar year from the
date of transfer. A school adjudged to have recruited any student will cause that
school to be under probation in that sport or all sports for one calendar year from the
date of the adjudication. Such probation will include ineligibility for tournaments and
league championships in that sport or all sports during the period of probation.
Part IV - Rules Affecting an Individual Student
Athlete or Coach
PART IV: RULES AFFECTING AN INDIVIDUAL
STUDENT-ATHLETE OR COACH
45. Loyalty to the High School Team: Bona Fide Team Members
A bona fide member of the school team is a student who is consistently present for,
and actively participates in, all high school team sessions (e.g. practices, tryouts,
competitions). Bona fide members of a school team are precluded from missing a high
school practice or competition in order to participate in a non-school athletic
activity/event in any sport recognized by the MIAA. First Offense: Student athlete
is suspended for 25% of the season (see chart on Rule 62). Second Offense:
Student athlete is suspended for an additional 25% of the season, and is
ineligible for tournament play immediately upon confirmation of the
violation. See Rule 96 for additional tournament restriction and Rule 86 for waiver
guidelines.
46. Only One School Sport Per Season is Permitted
A student-athlete shall participate in only one MIAA interscholastic sport in any
defined MIAA sport season (Fall, Winter, or Spring), including tournaments and/or
championships in that season. For the purposes of this rule only, a student-athlete
officially becomes a member of his/her team for the sport season on the date of that
school's first regular season contest in that sport.
46.1 Exception: If a licensed physician recommends that an athlete
terminate participation in a sport for medical reasons after the first
contest, the athlete will be permitted to join another team if he/she
receives the written approval of a licensed physician.
46.2 Exception: A school may approve a varsity or sub varsity request to join
a second varsity or sub varsity team after terminating his/her
membership with the first varsity or sub varsity team, providing written
approval is received from the principal, athletic director, and both
coaches involved with the change, and it happens within the first ? of
the season.
PENALTIES - If a student-athlete violates this rule, he/she will be ineligible for that
season, and all contests in which he/she participated in both sports must be forfeited.
47. Amateurism -- Definitions and Loss of Amateur Standing
47.1 A student who represents a school in an interscholastic sport shall be an
amateur in that sport. An athlete forfeits amateur status in a sport by:
47.1.1 Competing for money or other monetary compensation (MIAA preapproved
travel, meals, and lodging expenses may be accepted);
47.1.2 Receiving any award or prize of monetary value which has not
been approved in advance by the MIAA;
47.1.3 Capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of
monetary value (scholarships to institutions of higher learning are
specifically exempted); or
47.1.4 Signing a professional playing contract in that sport.
47.2 Accepting a nominal standard fee or salary for instructing or officiating in an
organized sports program or recreation, playground or camp activity shall not
jeopardize amateur status. "Organized youth sports program" includes both
school and non-school programs. Compensation for giving private lessons is
permissible if approved in advance by MIAA. A high school student who
loses amateur status may apply to the MIAA for reinstatement after a
waiting period of one calendar year.
47.3 Only awards of no intrinsic value and approved by MIAA may be accepted by
a high school student-athlete as a result of participation in school or nonschool
competition in any sport recognized by the Association. Individual
interscholastic athletic awards and similar mementos to athletes shall be
limited to those approved and administered by the institutions, league, or
MIAA in keeping with traditional school requirements as to what constitutes
an acceptable reward.
47.4 Participating under an assumed name in any athletic contest shall make the
student ineligible for one year.
48. Sportsmanship: Taunting
48.1 Taunting includes any actions or comments by coaches, players, or
spectators which are intended to bait, anger, embarrass, ridicule, or demean
others, whether or not the deeds or words are vulgar or racist. Included is
conduct that berates, needles, intimidates, or threatens based on race,
gender, ethnic origin or background, and conduct that attacks religious
beliefs, size, economic status, speech, family, special needs, or personal
characteristics.
Examples of taunting include but are not limited to: "trash talk", defined as
verbal communication of a personal nature directed by a competitor to an
opponent by ridiculing his/her skills, efforts, sexual orientation, or lack of
success, which is likely to provoke an altercation or physical response; and
physical intimidation outside the spirit of the game, including "in the face"
confrontation by one player to another, standing over/straddling a tackled or
fallen player, etc.
48.2 Athletic participants may wear sun glare black only under their eyes.
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48.3 In all sports, officials are to consider taunting a flagrant unsportsmanlike
offense that disqualifies the offending bench personnel or contestant from
that contest/day of competition. In addition, the offender shall be subject to
all existing MIAA Disqualification Rules. A review of the MIAA taunting
policy and a warning shall be given to both teams by game officials prior to
each contest.
48.4 At all MIAA contest sites and tournament venues, contest management may
give spectators one warning for taunting. Thereafter, spectators who taunt
players, coaches, game officials, or other spectators should be ejected.
49. Sportsmanship: Athlete and Coach Contest Disqualifications/Suspensions
49.1 The contest official who disqualifies a student or coach under the provision of
this rule should immediately inform the coach of each team, official scorer (if
any), and state the violation. If the game official fails to file his/her written
report, the individual is nevertheless bound by the suspension. An Official
who fails to complete the form required as a result of an athlete or coach
disqualification shall be suspended from officiating any MIAA contest in that
sport for at least two weeks or until the form is completed and received by
the principal of the disqualified athlete or coach. Judgments of game officials
are not subject to appeal. If the event does not have officials (e.g. golf, tennis)
it is the responsibility of the site manager to report any suspension to the
Athletic Director who in turn will complete the MIAA suspension form.
49.2 The athletic director in charge of the contest, or his/her designee, is
responsible for: (1) having the official disqualification forms available for
game officials, and (2) sending copies to the principal of each school involved,
the athletic director of each school involved, and the executive director of the
MIAA. Contest official(s) should complete the forms before leaving the site
of the contest.
49.3 A student who is disqualified from a competition (including a jamboree,
scrimmage, etc.) shall not participate in the next (note that baseball, ice
hockey and soccer require a 2 game suspension) scheduled interscholastic
competition that is part of their regular season schedule or in
tournament play. The disqualified student is ineligible for any contest in
that sport until the next contest at the same level has been completed.
(Exceptions: field hockey - see rule 68.3, basketball--five personal fouls; ice
hockey--six minutes in penalties; wrestling--technical disqualification, girls
lacrosse—2 yellow cards, see rule 74.8).
49.3.1 A two (2) game suspension will be given to any studentathlete
who is ejected from any contest for the following
reasons:
o Fighting
o Punching or kicking an opposing player
o Spitting at someone
49.4 Any coach disqualified by an official from an inter-school competition
(including a jamboree, scrimmage, etc.) is ineligible to coach any competition
in that sport until the next contest (but two contests in ice hockey, soccer
and baseball) at the same level (e.g. junior varsity, varsity, etc.) has/have
been completed. During the suspension the disqualified coach may not be
present at the competition site. Whenever a coach is disqualified by an
official from an inter-school competition, the official shall file a written
report of the incident with the coach's principal. The coach also shall file the
completed form designated for that purpose. Both reports should be
completed and forwarded by the official and coach within 24 hours of the
competition. The principal should immediately forward copies of the reports
to the athletic director, superintendent, and MIAA executive director. If the
game official fails to file his/her report, the coach is still bound by the
suspension. An official who fails to complete the form required as a result of
an athlete or coach ejection shall be suspended from officiating any MIAA
contest in that sport for at least two weeks or until the form is completed
and received by the principal of the disqualified athlete or coach.
49.5 A student or coach ruled out of a contest twice in the same season shall be
suspended from further participation in that sport and in all sports during
that season for a year from the date of his/her second disqualification.
(Exception: See soccer rule 77.2.6).
49.5.1 A coach who is twice disqualified in a season must officially enroll
in the Coaches’ Education course or recognized MIAA certified
program before returning from suspension. The course must be
completed before the start of the next season for that sport. (also
see Rule 49.11)
49.6 A student or coach who physically assaults an official shall be expelled from
the activity immediately and banned from further participation or coaching
in all sports for one year from the date of the offense.
49.7 Any student in any sport who willfully, flagrantly, or maliciously attempts to
injure an opponent shall be removed from the contest immediately and shall
be ineligible in all sports for one year from the date of the incident.
("Fighting" does not apply to this section unless warranted in the judgment
of the game official.)
49.8 Fighting and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties will be within the authority
of the official at all times at the contest site. The official’s authority extends
to pre and post game oversight.
49.9 Some of the reasons that an official may disqualify a student or coach from a
contest that would lead to a game disqualification are:
49.9.1 Fighting
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49.9.2 Flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct which is defined but not limited
to violent action toward a player, official, or spectator, the use of
foul or abusive language, taunting, trash talk, and the like.
49.10 If a coach or student is ruled out of the last contest of the season, the penalty
carries over to the following year in that same sport season. However, if a
team is playing in tournament competition, it is considered an extension of
the sport season. A senior and/or a student in his/her last year of eligibility
who is disqualified from the last contest of the season will be penalized at
the start of the next season in which he/she is a participant.
49.11 Any coach who is disqualified from an MIAA interscholastic athletic contest
or had three (3) athletes disqualified during his/her sport season will be
required to attend a Sportsmanship Compliance meeting before being
eligible to coach interscholastic events the following year in that sport or
before coaching any other sport at any MIAA member school.
49.11.1 Any coach who fulfills the Sportsmanship Compliance meeting
requirement stated in rule 49.11 and is then suspended from
another MIAA interscholastic athletic contest, either in the same
sport or a different sport, will be required to officially enroll in the
Coaches' Education course or a recognized MIAA certified program.
The course must be completed before the start of the next season
for any sport that the coach is eligible.
49.12 In addition to being in violation of Massachusetts General Laws, hazing is a
most flagrant example of lack of respect for both self and others.
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 269, section 17-19 was enacted in
1988. The law requires that secondary schools provide all school groups (e.g.
athletic teams) a copy of the law. Click here to access the "hazing law".
50. Coach/Media Relations
50.1 It is important that communication between coaches and the media reflects
and promotes high standards of sportsmanship, integrity and ethics.
50.1.1 Coaches must not publicly criticize any game official, or permit
anyone under their supervision to criticize game officials
50.1.2 Coaches should cooperate with the media in the interpretation and
clarification of rules and/or other aspects of the game, but not
make critical comments about specific decisions of game officials.
50.1.3 Coaches must make an effort, in their communication with the
media, to stress positive displays of sportsmanship demonstrated
by the student-athletes, coaches, fans, spectators, and the schools
involved in the competition.
50.2 Any coach found in non-compliance with the above will be subject to penalties
determined by the Committee on Sportsmanship, Integrity, and Ethics.
51. Student Eligibility: Baseline Eligibility Requirements
For a student to practice with, or to represent a MIAA member school in athletic
competition, the student must be duly enrolled in that school. Additionally, the
student must be a candidate for that school’s diploma, subject to the jurisdiction of
that school’s principal (i.e. the principal must have the authority to suspend the
student from classes), and under the supervision of that school principal (i.e. the
principal must have control and knowledge of the student’s daily attendance and
achievement).
Ultimately the interpretation and application of Association rules rests with the MIAA
executive director/staff and the Board of Directors. Principals (or athletic directors)
must contact the Association executive staff to resolve any possible eligibility issues
before permitting a student to represent your school. This rule complements Rule 52,
53, 54 and 55.
52. Student Eligibility: Alternative, Collaborative, Detached or Other Non-
Traditional Educational Programs
Students who are not being educated on the high school campus that will issue their
diplomas are not eligible to represent that, or any member high school, unless the
criteria within this rule are satisfied. If the student is not eligible at the attending
college or the alternative institution does not offer any athletic participation
opportunity, a student may participate in the diploma-granting MIAA high school if
that principal:
• has the authority to suspend the student from all academic programs; and
• receives daily reports of the student’s attendance and achievement; and
• Certifies the student is eligible by all other MIAA and local standards that
must be satisfied by the student’s teammates.
(The above conditions must be agreed to in writing by the non member-school director
prior to any practice or athletic participation by the student at the high school that is
awarding the diploma.)
These non-traditional students may not participate if they do not meet all of the
eligibility standards that are required of their teammates. Principals, athletic
directors, and guidance personnel should counsel students regarding athletic
eligibility prior to committing to non-traditional educational pursuits.
53. Student Eligibility: Middle School Students on Senior High Teams
A middle school student is eligible to represent a senior high school on its athletic
teams only when the MIAA member high school includes those grades and they are
under the direct “jurisdiction” and “supervision” of the high school principal (see Rule
51 for definitions).
54. Student Eligibility: Home Educated Students
A home-educated student is eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics if the
following conditions are met:
The local school committee of a MIAA public school member institution has adopted a
policy regarding participation of home educated students on the high school teams,
and the local building principal has indicated such on the annual MIAA membership
form while including all home schoolers in the annual MIAA enrollment report.
The Educational Plan for the home-educated student has been approved by the public
school Superintendent or his/her designee.
The Principal has determined appropriate high school grade level placement (9-12) for
each home educated student in conjunction with chronological age and educational
plan.
The student resides in the school district that serves the high school, and is living with
his/her parents or legal guardians in the family residence. In multiple school districts,
a home-educated student must be assigned to the school of record in the same manner
as other students.
The Principal is satisfied that the student meets the standards for athletic
participation required for all other students as defined in the current MIAA
Handbook. This includes, but is not limited to, those rules governing transfers,
academic eligibility, age requirements, and the number of consecutive seasons of
athletic eligibility beyond grade eight.
MIAA requirements relative to academic eligibility must be certified by the Principal
at the same times that all other student athletes are to be certified as academically
eligible.
If the Principal determines that all eligibility standards detailed above have been met,
the Principal may declare the student eligible to participate in interscholastic
competition. The rights, privileges, and responsibilities associated with all other
student athletes attending MIAA member schools will apply to home educated
students who have satisfied the requirements above.
55. Student Eligibility: Membership in School
55.1 A student shall have been a member of the MIAA member secondary school
for a minimum of two months (exclusive of the Summer vacation) and have
been issued a report card preceding the contest, unless entering from an
elementary or junior high school at the start of the school year or transfers
in from another school. A pupil's attendance at school does not start when
he/she registers in that school, but rather when he/she begins attending
classes.
55.2 When a student drops out of school and then decides later to return to the
same school, he/she cannot become eligible for athletics until a report card
has been issued and until the expiration of a minimum of two calendar
months from the date of his/her return to the same school.
55.3 Except as may be otherwise specified by statute or state regulation, a
student must be a resident of and domiciled in a municipality which
normally contributes student population to the school.
56. Student Eligibility: Physical Examinations/Medical Coverage
56.1 All students must pass a physical examination within thirteen months of the
start of each season. Students who meet this criteria at the start of the
season will remain eligible for that season. Physical examinations must be
performed by a duly registered Physician, Physician’s Assistant or Nurse
Practitioner. The Sports Medicine Committee recommended physical
examination form is in the MIAA White Book.
PENALTY: A student in violation shall be suspended for the number of contests in
which he/she participated without a proper physical.
56.2 Whenever a medical person is on duty at an athletic event, he/she shall be
responsible for both teams (unless the other team has its own medical person
present). His/her judgment will be final with regard to the condition of a
player after injury. Physical disqualification by the medical person renders
the student ineligible. The Penalty for playing an ineligible student is
forfeiture.
56.3 Medical Alert Bracelets/Anklets are approved for wearing in all sports,
provided they are taped to the body and marked in red.
57. Student Eligibility: Transfer Students
Rules 57.1 through 57.5 deal with school transfers that were not required due to the
move of parents or transfers without the move of parents.
57.1 A student who transfers from any school to an MIAA member high school is
ineligible to participate in any interscholastic athletic contest at any level for
a period of one year in all sports in which that student participated at the
varsity level or its equivalent during the one year period immediately
preceding the transfer. (see exemptions listed in Rule 57.7) For the purpose
of this rule, no transfer will be deemed to have taken place if a student
returns to his/her former school on or before the eleventh school day from the
date of last attendance there.
57.2 "Varsity participation" is defined as any appearance, as a competitor, in a
varsity inter-school contest other than a scrimmage. The "equivalent" will be
judged by the MIAA executive staff on the basis of the quality of non-school
sport program participation.
57.3 Before a transfer student can be certified as eligible in a specific sport within
the year of his/her transfer, the sending school principal and athletic director
must certify on Form 100 or Form 200 by signature that the student did not
participate at the varsity level or on a non-school team (see Rule 57.2) during
the year prior to the actual transfer.
57.3.1 If it is later determined that the sending school falsely or
erroneously certified eligibility, then the sending school will be
subject to minimally a letter of censure, copies of which will be
mailed to the school committee, superintendent, principal, athletic
director, and reported on the MIAA website.
57.3.2 The MIAA certification Form 100 must be dated and filed at the
receiving school before the student is declared eligible (as to the
transfer rule only) by the receiving school principal.
57.4 The receiving High School Principal may utilize Form 200 to declare a
transfer student eligible, providing it is prior to the start of the season and
the student did not participate on a non-school team (see Rule 57.2), if the
sending school Principal certifies the following:
a. Recruitment was not involved in any way.
b. At the time of transfer, the student was in good standing.
c. The student would be academically eligible at the sending school.
d. The transfer was in no way motivated by athletics.
e. The student would have been eligible by MIAA and local rules at the
sending school.
57.5 A student who transfers after the start of the practice season is ineligible in
all sports during that sport season.
57.6 Foreign Students
57.6.1 A student who transfers from a foreign country without parental
change of residence accompanying the transfer will be ineligible
unless such transfer is sponsored by a CSIET (Council on
Standards for International Education Travel) approved foreign
exchange program. Students who enter a member school under a
CSIET approved program may be declared immediately eligible for
athletic participation by the building principal as long as all other
MIAA eligibility standards are met and it is not a direct
placement. If a direct placement, according to CSIET
Standard 6b, a waiver is necessary. A CSIET student who has
graduated from a secondary school in his/her own country will be
exempt from the MIAA graduation rule (#61) if that student has
not completed thirteen (13) years (including kindergarten) – or
twelve (12) years (not including kindergarten) – of formal
education.
57.6.2 Foreign athletes who are not in this country under the auspices of
a CSIET approved program or attending a MIAA member school as
the direct result of the change in residence of the parents, shall not
be eligible for interscholastic athletics regardless of the length of
stay in this Country.
57.7 Exemptions to the transfer rule -- a transfer student may be eligible
immediately provided all other eligibility requirements are met:
57.7.1 Change of residence of a student’s parents: A student’s transfer is
necessitated by a change of residence of his/her parent(s) to the
area served by the school to which he/she transfers. The academic
standard of the receiving school will determine eligibility.
Therefore, in such transfer cases, academic ineligibility is not
portable. (This exception does not apply to a change in custody,
guardianship, or to a student’s change in residence from one parent
to another, nor does it apply when the student could continue to
attend the former school.)
57.7.2 Middle school transfer: A student who enters the ninth grade of a
four-year high school and who has not been enrolled previously in
the ninth grade.
57.7.3 Elementary/Middle School graduate: A student who has completed
the last grade available in the school previously attended.
57.7.4 Closed school: If a school no longer exists, a student may be eligible
at the school of his/her choice immediately after the closing of that
school.
58. Student Eligibility: Academic Requirements
58.1 A student must secure during the last marking period preceding the contest
(e.g. second quarter marks and not semester grades determine third quarter
eligibility) a passing grade, and full credit, in the equivalent of four
traditional year long major English courses. A transfer student may not
gain academic eligibility if he/she was not, or would not be, eligible at the
sending school, unless transfer was necessitated by a move of parents and
then eligibility would be determined by receiving schools eligibility
standards. (see Rule 57.7.1)
58.2 A student cannot at any time represent a school unless that student is taking
courses which would provide Carnegie Units equivalent to four traditional
year long major English courses.
58.3 To be eligible for the fall marking period, students are required to have
passed and received full credits for the previous academic year the equivalent
of four traditional year long major English courses.
58.4 Academic eligibility of all students shall be considered as official and
determined on the published date when the report cards for that ranking
period are to be issued to the parents of all students within a particular class.
Note: The MIAA academic eligibility standards are designed to ensure that a student
is fully enrolled in school and actively engaged in his/her academic life on a consistent
basis throughout the school year. When utilizing a 4 x 4 block schedule, a student
must pass at least two of the four required ‘major’ courses (or equivalent) in each
academic marking period.
The questions you must ask in determining equivalency are:
*How many minutes per day/week/semester does this course meet?
*How many credits toward graduation as approved in advance by school committee
policy will be offered for this course?
*Is this equivalent to past academic requirements?
(If further clarification is necessary, principals and athletic directors are encouraged
to contact a member of the MIAA executive staff.)
58.5 Incomplete grades may not be counted toward eligibility until they are made
up following school policy.
58.6 A student who repeats work upon which he/she has once received credit
cannot count that subject a second time for eligibility.
58.7 A student cannot count for eligibility any subject taken during the summer,
unless that subject was pursued and failed during the immediately
preceding academic year.
59. Student Eligibility: Time Allowed for Participation After First Entering
Grade Nine
59.1 A student shall be eligible for interscholastic competition for no more than
four consecutive years after initially entering Grade 9. This limitation shall
apply without regard to actual participation or attempt to participate.
59.2 In no case may a student be eligible to participate in more than four of each
of the three annual athletic seasons. In special cases where a student has
been absent from school because of an accident or illness, the executive
director, or his/her designee, shall have the authority to extend the student’s
eligibility upon presentation of a doctor’s certificate on the student’s behalf
and a letter from the principal attesting to the inability of the student to
attend school during a specific period because of an accident or illness. In
instances where an extended eligibility is granted, the student may be
declared eligible only for the season(s) that the student’s accident/illness
prevented participation.
60. Student Eligibility: Age
A student shall be under 19 years of age, but may compete during the remainder of
the school year, provided that his/her 19th birthday occurs on or after September 1 of
that year. For Freshman competition, a student shall be under 16 years of age but
may compete during the remainder of the school year provided that the sixteenth
birthday occurs on or after September 1 of that year. Principals must exercise great
care in determining age of contestants, and in all doubtful cases, must secure birth
certificates from the town clerk of the pupil’s place of birth.
61. Student Eligibility: Graduation
61.1 A student must be an undergraduate: i.e., he/she shall not be a graduate of
any secondary school. Any student who has the credits required for a
diploma shall be regarded as a graduate with the following exceptions:
61.1.1 An early graduate of a high school may represent his/her school in
athletics until the end of the sport season in which he/she is
participating, if otherwise eligible. The diploma must be withheld
until at least the season is completed, and the student may not
attend classes outside of that high school during that season.
61.1.2 A student who earns the credits required for a diploma prior to
attending eight semesters in a four-year high school, and who is
not granted a diploma may continue to participate if he/she
continues to take at least the equivalent of four traditional year
long major English courses.
62. Student (and Coach) Eligibility: Chemical Health/Alcohol/Drugs/Tobacco
62.1 From the earliest fall practice date, to the conclusion of the academic
year or final athletic event (whichever is latest), a student shall not,
regardless of the quantity, use, consume, possess, buy/sell, or give away any
beverage containing alcohol; any tobacco product; marijuana; steroids; or any
controlled substance. This policy includes products such as “NA or near beer”.
It is not a violation for a student to be in possession of a legally defined drug
specifically prescribed for the student’s own use by his/her doctor.
This MIAA statewide minimum standard is not intended to render “guilt by
association”, e.g. many student athletes might be present at a party where
only a few violate this standard. This rule represents only a minimum
standard upon which schools may develop more stringent requirements.
If a student in violation of this rule is unable to participate in interscholastic
sports due to injury or academics, the penalty will not take effect until that
student is able to participate again.
Minimum PENALTIES:
First violation: When the Principal confirms, following an opportunity for the
student to be heard, that a violation occurred, the student shall lose eligibility
for the next consecutive interscholastic contests totaling 25% of all
interscholastic contests in that sport. No exception is permitted for a student
who becomes a participant in a treatment program. It is recommended that the
student be allowed to remain at practice for the purpose of rehabilitation. All
decimal part of an event will be truncated i.e. All fractional part of an event will
be dropped when calculating the 25% of the season.
Second and subsequent violations: When the Principal confirms, following an
opportunity for the student to be heard, that a violation occurred, the student
shall lose eligibility for the next consecutive interscholastic contests totaling 60%
of all interscholastic contests in that sport. All decimal part of an event will be
truncated i.e. All fractional part of an event will be dropped when calculating the
60% of the season.
If after the second or subsequent violations the student of his/her own volition
becomes a participant in an approved chemical dependency program or
treatment program, the student may be certified for reinstatement in MIAA
activities after a minimum of 40% of events provided the student was fully
engaged in the program throughout that penalty period. The high school
principal in collaboration with a Chemical Dependency Program or
Treatment Program must certify that student is attending or issue a
certificate of completion. If student does not complete program, penalty reverts
back to 60% of the season. All decimal part of an event will be truncated i.e. All
fractional part of an event will be dropped when calculating the 40% of the
season.
Penalties shall be cumulative each academic year, but serving the penalty could carry over for
one year. Or, if the penalty period is not completed during the season of violation, the penalty
shall carry over to the student’s next season of actual participation, which may affect the eligibility
status of the student during the next academic year. (e.g. A student plays only football: he
violates the rule in winter and/or the spring of same academic year: he would serve the
penalty [ies] during the fall season of the next academic year).
1st Offense - 25%
# of Events / Season # of Events / Penalty
1-7 1
8-11 2
12-15 3
16-19 4
20 or over 5
2nd Offense - 60%
# of Events / Season # of Events / Penalty
1-3 1
4 2
5-6 3
7-8 4
9 5
10-11 6
12-13 7
14 8
15-16 9
17-18 10
19 11
20 or over 12
2nd Offense w/Dependency Program - 40% if in the program throughout the penalty
period.
# of Events / Season # of Events / Penalty
1-4 1
5-7 2
8-9 3
10-12 4
13-14 5
15-17 6
18-19 7
20 or over 8
62.2 During practice or competition, a coach shall not use any tobacco product (penalty:
same as students’ – see chart above).
62.3 Steroid Use - Anabolic androgenic steroid use at the high school level is of
grave concern. Steroids are used by some athletes, and the seriousness of the
problem has been well documented. A recent study indicates that over 3% of
high school seniors have tried steroids in their lifetime (NIDA, 2004). High
school coaches may not be able to prevent the use of steroids altogether, but
they can clearly and forcefully discourage their use. Coaches should take a
proactive role, learning about steroids, and then providing this information to
their athletes.
Steroids can, with proper diet and weight training, increase muscle
development; however, as is typical with most “get-rich-quick” schemes,
steroid use has serious short and long term consequences.
Normal and equal musculature development can occur without steroid use.
Although the natural process takes longer, muscle tone will last longer and
does not carry the harmful side effects of steroids.
Most coaches would not promote steroid use intentionally. Total silence by
coaches however condones use in some young people's minds. Even though
steroids may not be mentioned when it is suggested to an athlete that his/her
success is limited only by a lack of weight and/or strength, without a
disclaimer the statement can be a motivation to use steroids. The
pervasiveness of the drugs that allow for development of increased weight
under the aforementioned circumstances is a coercive power that is difficult
for young athletes to resist without knowing what the side effects of the drugs
may be.
The issue goes beyond protecting the integrity of sport. The use of steroids in
sports is cheating. We must oppose the use of steroids for both health and
ethical reasons.
63. Good Citizen Rule
63.1 Student-athletes may not represent their school if they are on in-house or
out-of-house disciplinary suspension. A suspended student is ineligible for
practice or competition for at least the number of days (or partial days) equal
to the number of days of the suspension. Local policies will determine the
actual days of ineligibility. (The Board of Directors suggests that policies be
included in local Student Handbooks.)
64. Protested Student Eligibility
64.1 Upon request a member school principal must provide student eligibility
certification for any student-athlete who might be questioned by a principal
or the Association.
64.2 When the eligibility of a member or members of any team are protested at a
contest site, the contest shall be played as scheduled and the protest filed
with the MIAA Executive Director for settlement later.
Part V - Sport Rules
In this section rules for the individual sports are referenced along with the MIAA
modifications to those national rules. Four-year tournament alignments for each
sport can be viewed on the MIAA web site (www.miaa.net)
PART V: SPORT RULES
65. Baseball
65.1 The rules pertaining to baseball are the same as major league baseball and
65.2 Leagues may amend a rule, provided such an amendment is not a
substantive change to MIAA rules. However, leagues may wish to change
such things as the type of ball, free substitutions, or similar acts to speed the
game.
65.3 Batting helmets of the full-protection type must be worn by all players while
at bat or on the bases. These helmets of the full-protection type shall have
extended ear flaps which cover both ears and the temples. In addition, the
helmet must carry the NOCSAE stamp, indicating it meets the NOCSAE
standards, and must have an exterior warning label regarding the risk of
injury. Batting helmets of this type shall be required of each batter, base
runner, and on-deck batter. After an initial warning to a player and the
coach by an umpire, failure to adhere to the rule by any subsequent player
shall result in that player being removed from the contest (but for that game
only). The penalty is to be enforced when the batter is in the box and the
pitcher is in contact with the rubber ready to pitch.
Defensive players are permitted to wear face/head protection in the field. If a
pitcher or any defensive player wears face/head protection, its outer covering
shall have a non-glare surface.
65.4 Metal bats may be used, but they must meet the safety specifications adopted
by the National Federation. All non-wood bats shall meet the Ball Exit
Speed Ration (BESR) performance standard and such bats shall be labeled
with a silk screen or other permanent certificate mark.
65.5 A full-crown helmet must be worn by the catcher while behind the plate.
65.6 All catchers during game competition and any player warming up a pitcher
at any location shall wear a mask with a throat protector.
PENALTY: First violation by a team will result in a warning. Second
violation by a team will result in the offending player being removed from the
contest.
65.7 Schools may not schedule five (5) inning baseball games.
65.8 Mouth guards are recommended for all baseball players while on the field.
65.9 Jewelry may not be worn by baseball players during practice or games.
65.10 Safety bases are recommended. The Sports Medical Committee recommends
a breakaway or impact base.
65.11 The NCAA sliding rule will be in effect.
65.12 Any coach ejected from an Interscholastic Baseball game will be
suspended for the next 2 games. Any player ejected from a game
also is ineligible for the next 2 games. (see Rule 49.3)
65.13 A Strike Two Program is in force:
A baseball umpire at any time will voice "strike one" when a
warning for inappropriate comment or actions is warranted, and
that "strike one" will be recorded in the scorebook. Upon the need
for a "strike two" call, an ejection of the coach would occur.
Exception: In the case of a flagrant unsportsmanlike infraction
and/or physical assault an immediate ejection will occur.
66. Basketball
Boys' and girls' high school basketball shall be played under the rules of the National
Federation of State High School Associations, as modified by the MIAA.
66.1 Mouth guards are highly recommended for all basketball players while on
the court.
66.2 The 30-second shot clock will be utilized at all levels in both boys and girls
games.
66.3 The ten-second back court count does not apply to girls' games.
66.4 All varsity contests shall be played in four, 8 minute quarters. Sub-varsity
contests also shall be played in equal quarters of no more than 8 minutes.
66.5 Three 60-second and two 30-second time-outs may be charged to each
team during a regulation game. Each team is entitled to one additional
60-second time-out during each extra period. Unused time-outs accumulate
and may be used at any time.
66.6 A coaching box, as described in current National Federation rules, shall be
utilized in all games.
66.7 Athlete Participation Limitations
66.7.1 A student may practice or play for their high school basketball
team only once in any one day.
66.7.2 No member of a high school basketball squad shall participate in
more than four quarters per day. (This does not include official
over-time periods.)
66.7.3 On a given day a student may participate in more than one high
school basketball contest only if they are at the site of the same
host, one immediately follows the other, and the single contest
limit is not exceeded.
67. Cross Country
67.1 High school cross country shall be governed by the current National Federation
of State High School Associations Track and Field Rule Book.
67.1.1 Competitors representing the same school must wear the same school
uniform both in color and design, with the school's name and insignia
in sight. Only solid colored T-shirts may be worn under the regular
uniform.
67.2 Scoring of a triangular cross country meet will not count as two competitions for
the participation limit for the season.
67.3 Athlete Participation Limitations:
A competitor may run in a meet on two consecutive days only once during a
week. No competitor may run in a meet on three consecutive days.
68. Field Hockey
68.1 National Federation of State High School Associations Field Hockey rules shall
be used.
68.1.1 All players must wear eye protective goggles approved for field
hockey.
68.1.2 No team shall be allowed to compete without wearing team
uniforms displaying identifying numbers with a minimum height
of four inches. It is recommended that team uniforms display
identifying numbers on front (4”) and back (6”).
68.1.3 The goal keepers' uniform top shall be either the same color as
teams' uniform top or of a color which contrasts to the uniform tops
of both teams.
68.1.4 If a league elects to play a tie breaker, teams must play two 25-
minute halves, and the overtime period must not exceed ten
minutes. The overtime period must be played to completion or
sudden victory.
68.2 Match Length
The maximum length of match is to be 60 minutes including overtime play.
68.3 A student athlete who receives a red card due to an upgrade (i.e. green card to a yellow
card to a red card - third minor offense) should not be suspended from the next game
and the official need not fill out the MIAA Student Disqualification Form.
69. Football
69.1 Massachusetts high school football shall be played under the NCAA Rules, with the
following modifications:
69.1.1 Each team is entitled to five time-outs per half, three of which are a full 90
seconds and two of which will be 20 seconds. Teams may not go to the
sideline during a 20 second time-out.
69.1.2 A conference with any number of players and coaches may be held during the
one minute intermission between periods.
69.1.3 Goal post uprights which were legal by the 1985 NCAA code continue to be
acceptable.
69.1.4 The 40 yard line shall be the initial kick-off point.
69.1.5 Use of kicking tee will be permitted for extra point and field goal
attempts.
69.1.6 Football helmets of the same color are not required.
69.1.7 It is not required that football jerseys be long enough to reach the top of the
pants and be tucked in.
69.1.8 Allow 2” tee
69.1.9 After any dead ball and the placement of the ball according to rule –
the referee shall declare the ball ready for play and the offensive team
will have 25 seconds to snap the ball. (voted by MIAA B.O.D. for 2008
season)
69.1.10 Clock stops when a ball carrier fumbles backwards out of bounds or
the backward pass goes out of bounds. The game clock will next start
on the snap. (voted by MIAA B.O.D. for 2008 season)
69.1.11 There will be no instant replay in MIAA contests.
69.1.12 Following TV timeouts the ready for play time will be 25 seconds.
69.1.13 There shall be 2 warnings before any sideline infraction will be
penalized. (voted by MIAA B.O.D. for 2008 season)
69.2 A doctor, licensed trainer or certified EMT must be in attendance and on duty
for all interscholastic football games. The medical person shall be responsible
for both teams unless the visiting team has its own medical coverage. His/her
judgment will be final with regard to the condition of a player after injury. No
player may continue to play against the medical person's advice. The penalty
for violation of this provision is forfeiture of the game.
69.3 Tie-Breaker Options (Kindly Note: during the regular season leagues and
schools also may opt to play no overtime).
69.3.1 To eliminate confusion and misunderstanding, coaches must give a
written notice to the referee prior to the kick-off stating whether or not
a tie-breaker will be used if the game ends in a tie. It also is important
that the news media and the public address announcer be notified
before kick-off if a tie-breaker rule is to be used.
69.3.2 The NCAA Football Tie-Breaker Rule, as modified by the MIAA, may be
used on an optional basis for high school varsity teams.
69.3.2.1 Immediately following the conclusion of the fourth
quarter, the teams will go to their team areas for two
minutes.
69.3.2.2 The officials will escort the captains to the middle of the
field for the coin toss. The winner of the toss shall choose
one of the following options: (1) offense or defense; or (2)
which end of the field shall be used in both series of the
overtime period (ten- yard line).
69.3.2.3 There shall be only one (1) series per team, during the
overtime period. If the score is still tied, the game ends in
a tie. The defense may score during the tie-breaker.
69.3.2.4 Each series shall begin at the ten-yard line unless a
penalty overrides. First down chains will not be used. It
is always goal-to-go. If penalty enforcement calls for an
automatic first down, it will be first and goal.
If there is a change of possession during the last play of
overtime, fouls by opponents on the team in possession
give the team in possession the option of putting the ball
in play, where the penalty leaves the ball, for one down
free of penalty. This option is exercised only if the
offensive team is free of foul during the down.
Example: Second Series - Team B intercepts Team A's
pass and, during Team B's run back, Team A commits a
personal foul.
Ruling: Extend the overtime for one down free of penalty,
with Team B putting the ball in play where the penalty
leaves the ball, provided Team B has not fouled during
the down.
69.3.2.5 Each team is allowed one full time-out in the overtime
period. Time-outs remaining from the second half do not
carry over to the overtime period.
69.3.3 Conferences or schools also have the option of adopting the following tie
breaking modification (which permits more than a single possession by
each team in order to insure that no game ends in a tie). For the first
and subsequent tie breaking periods, any team that scores a touchdown
must attempt a two point conversion by run or pass from scrimmage.
69.4 Scheduling Limitations:
69.4.1 The season shall end on Thanksgiving Day. When it is necessary to
postpone the final scheduled game because of inclement weather, it
must be played the weekend following Thanksgiving.
69.4.2 An intra-squad or interschool scrimmage is not to be allowed before the
third day of "contact" practice.
69.4.3 The maximum length of periods shall be 12 minutes except when a
game ends in a tie, in which case the tie-breaker rule may be used only
for varsity games, and if adopted by a majority vote of all schools in the
league or by mutual consent in advance of non-league games.
69.5 Participation Limitations:
69.5.1 The first three days of football practice must be non-contact
conditioning sessions consistent with the limitations described below.
Daily activities shall be limited to a single session of no more than two
hours. Non-contact shall mean that there will be no contact by a player
with another player, with a machine, or with stationary pads. Sleds are
not allowed. Physical activity during these three days of pre-season
practice shall be limited to non-contact conditioning drills. Neither
football gear nor protective equipment other than head gear, shoes, and
porous light-weight jerseys and pants shall be worn by players during
the three-non-contact day period.
Violations of these rules will result in a letter of censure by the
Board of Directors to the Superintendent of Schools and to the
Chairman of the School Committee.
69.5.2 High school football practices prior to the first day of classes shall not
exceed the following:
69.5.2.1 No more than four physical sessions per day, no more
than two of which may involve physical contact.
69.5.2.2 No physical session shall exceed two hours in length.
69.5.2.3 No team shall conduct more than a total of four and
one half hours of physical sessions in any one day. A
physical session includes, but is not limited to,
calisthenics, walking through plays, etc.
69.5.3 A player must participate in at least 15 football practice days
before taking part in a football game.
69.5.4 Players may not participate in more than equal time (48 minutes)
of one game per week. A week will be from Saturday through
Friday except for the week of Thanksgiving Day. (The intent of
this rule is to limit participation of each student to no more than
one game in any six-day period.)
70. Golf
70.1 Except as modified by the individual leagues, Massachusetts high school golf
shall be played under the USGA Rules with the following modifications or
exceptions.
70.1.1 Local club rules shall be in effect.
70.1.2 No coaching is to take place during a match or tournament.
70.2 Female golfers on a boy’s team or a girl’s team must hit from the front tees.
71. Gymnastics
71.1 Boys' Gymnastics
71.1.1 Boys' gymnastic meets shall be conducted within the rules of the
National Federation of State High School Associations except as
modified by MIAA.
71.1.2 Each team may enter up to six gymnasts in each event. The four
highest scores in each event count for team score.
71.1.3 An all-around gymnast is one who enters all six events. An
unlimited gymnast may enter any or all of the six events. All other
gymnasts may enter no more than three events.
71.1.4 One all-around is allowed. If the all-around does not enter a
particular event, the team will be limited to five entries in that
event.
71.1.5 Up to two unlimited gymnasts may each enter up to six events.
71.1.6 The all-around and unlimited competitor(s) shall be designated by
the coach prior to the start of the meet.
71.1.7 Substitutions will be accepted only before the particular event has
begun. No substitution for the designated all-around competitor is
allowed.
71.1.8 In dual and league meets, the top four scores in each event will
count for team scores. The bottom scores will be dropped.
71.1.9 Exhibition performances are not permitted.
71.2 Girls' Gymnastics
71.2.1 Girls' gymnastic meets shall be conducted within the rules of the
National Federation of State High School Associations as modified
by MIAA.
71.2.2 Each team may enter up to six gymnasts in each event.
71.2.3 An all-around gymnast is one who enters all four events. All other
gymnasts may enter no more than three events.
71.2.4 No more than two all-around competitors are allowed. None is
required.
71.2.5 The all-around competitor(s) must be designated by the coach prior
to the start of the meet.
71.2.6 In dual and league meets, the top four scores in each event will
count for team scores. The bottom score(s) will be dropped.
71.2.7 Substitutes will be accepted only before the particular event has
begun.
71.2.8 Exhibition performances are not permitted.
71.2.9 Warm-up between the first two events and the second two events
shall be ten minutes. At least 30 minutes warm-up time must be
allowed prior to the meet.
71.2.10 Retain the squat, straddle and stoop vaults.
71.3 There may be no exceptions to rules by coaches' agreements, except where
expressly allowed by rule.
71.4 Apparatus may be held down (steadied) with no deduction.
72. Ice Hockey
72.1 Ice hockey shall be played under the National Federation Rules, as modified
herein.
72.2 A minor penalty shall be 1.5 minutes, a major four minutes, and a misconduct
7.5 minutes.
72.3 A doctor, licensed trainer or certified EMT must be in attendance and on duty
for all varsity ice hockey games. (It is strongly recommended that such
medical coverage and an emergency transport system be in place for all
games.) The medical person shall be responsible for both teams unless each
team has its own medical coverage. His/her judgment will be final with regard
to the condition of a player after injury. No player may continue to play
against the medical person's advice. The penalty for violation of this provision
is forfeiture of the game.
72.4 During the regular season and MIAA tournament, the National Federation
player limitations will be amended so as to allow a maximum of 22 players to
be dressed and on the bench. During the MIAA tournament, two of these 22
players must be dressed as goaltenders.
72.5 The MIAA Score Sheet must be utilized for all games.
72.6 No overtime games are permitted during the regular season, except during
MIAA sanctioned multi-school events. Overtime games will be counted as ties
for both teams for purposes of MIAA tournament qualification.
72.7 If a player, including the goalkeeper, deliberately removes his helmet and/or
full face protector, the nearest official shall assess a minor penalty and a
misconduct. If a player loses his helmet and/or full face protector during play
within the scrimmage area, an automatic whistle must be blown stopping all
action, and the player must replace the helmet and/or full face protector. If a
player is sufficiently removed from the scrimmage and he loses his helmet
and/or full face protector, a delayed whistle may be used. If a goalkeeper
deliberately removes his helmet and/or full face protector during a breakaway
during the last two minutes of play, or anytime during overtime, the nearest
official shall assess a penalty shot and a misconduct.
72.8 Any player or coach ruled out of a game for engaging in a fight, for
unsportsmanlike conduct, or a game disqualification or game misconduct
penalty shall not participate in the next two succeeding regularly scheduled
games to be played with a member of the MIAA or in tournament play.
72.9 Any member of a squad who willfully, flagrantly or maliciously attempts to
injure an opponent shall be removed from the game immediately and shall be
ineligible in all sports for one year from the date of the incident. (Buttending
is to be interpreted under the NF rule and then, under this rule, if
warranted).
72.10 Any penalty after a whistle shall include a misconduct on the penalized
player(s).
72.11 Upon receipt of six total minutes of penalties -- any combination of a major or
minors -- a player will be excluded from the remainder of that game.
72.12 Any team whose players receive collectively more than three game
misconducts and/or disqualification penalties during pre-season competitions
and/or regular season games shall not qualify for the MIAA tournament.
72.13 Any coaching staff member who receives two game misconducts and/or game
disqualification penalties during the pre-season and/or regular season games
shall not participate in the MIAA tournament.
72.14 After four game misconducts and/or game disqualification penalties, each
subsequent game misconduct and/or disqualification penalty received by a
team will result in forfeiture of the subsequent MIAA contest. These
penalties will carry over to the next season should a violation occur in the
final game of the season. A status report relative to such penalties,
forfeitures, and local remediation must be immediately filed with the MIAA
office.
72.15 An Ice Hockey player or coach who is ruled out of an MIAA tournament game
for a game misconduct or a game disqualification will be ineligible for the
remainder of the tournament. If it is the last game of the tournament for
that team, the player or coach will be ineligible for at least the first two
hockey games of the next season.
72.16 If the opposing team scores a goal while a team is shorthanded by one or more
minor or bench-minor penalties, the shorthanded team shall be permitted to
immediately replace on the ice the first player whose penalty caused his team
to be shorthanded; however, the originally penalized player must remain in
the penalty box until the full 1.5 minutes of his penalty has elapsed, after
which time he may be released from the penalty box at the next stoppage in
play.
72.17 All Ice Hockey Officials will be required to meet in locker rooms with players
and coaches before all regular season games.
73. Indoor Track
73.1 High school Indoor Track shall be conducted under the rules of the National
Federation of State High School Associations with the following
modifications.
73.1.1 Any alteration of these rules must be sent in writing in advance of
the event by the league or meet director to the schools involved.
73.1.2 The number and type of events will be determined by the by-laws
of league or directors of multi-school events.
73.1.3 No competitor or team will be allowed to compete without wearing
a proper uniform that has the school's name and/or insignia and/or
colors.
73.1.4 In relay races, each team member shall wear the same color and
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