SECTION 1: STUDENT REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION
1.1
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING/DEFINITIONS
The NCHSAA administers high school athletics among public school units pursuant to a memorandum
of understanding (“MOU”) with the Superintendent of Public Instruction (“Superintendent” or “State
Superintendent”), in accordance with state law. Pursuant to that MOU, the NCHSAA shall apply, enforce,
and administer all rules adopted by the State Board of Education (“State Board Rules”) to govern interscho-
lastic athletics at the high school level, codified at Title 16, Subchapter 6E, Section .0200 of the North Car-
olina Administrative Code, without alter- ation or expansion. The State Board Rules are encompassed in the
State Board of Education’s ATHL Policy Series (“State Board Policies”), which the NCHSAA applies. The State
Board Rules and Policies are available in full at no cost on the NCHSAA website, and the State Board Policies
relevant to the NCHSAA’s administration of high school athletics are set forth below with commentary
(Application Notes) on how the NCHSAA applies, enforces, and administers the State Board Policies. The
Application Notes (whether included in this Section 1 or other sections of the Handbook) are binding on all
member schools and failure to comply with an Application Note will be deemed failure to comply with the
associated State Board Rule and Policy provision.
1.1.1
For purposes of the State Board Policies, the following definitions (from ATHL-001, Section 1 Definitions)
apply:
a.
“Administering organization” means a nonprofit organization that has entered into and is in compli-
ance with a memorandum of understanding with the State Superintendent to administer and
enforce the adopted rules and requirements for interscholastic athletics at the high school level,
as required by Chapter 115C, Article 17 of the General Statutes.
b.
“Aggrieved party” means a student, coach, participating school, PSU, or other party that is directly
and adversely affected by a final decision of a rule administrator that applies or enforces the
policies of the SBE related to interscholastic athletics. Such rules and policies include a determina-
tion of ineligibility under ATHL-005, a finding of undue influence or a recruiting violation under
ATHL-009, or a penalty imposed under ATHL-012. If a student is affected, the student’s parent shall
be allowed to appeal the final decision pursuant to ATHL- 013.
c.
“Bona fide purpose” means for a purpose not primarily related to participation in interscholastic
athletics.
d.
“Final decision” means a written decision of a rule administrator regarding the application or
enforcement of rules under SBE policies on interscholastic athletics to a set of facts or circumstanc-
es. A ruling by a referee or official enforcing gameplay rules during an athletic competition, as re-
corded by the referee or official in the game record maintained by the rule administrator, that
results in the ejection or suspension of a player or coach shall be deemed a final decision upon
exhaustion of any available mechanisms for review under the rule administrator’s internal policies
and procedures.
e.
“Immediate family member” means a spouse, parent, legal guardian, or custodian, grandparent,
child, grandchild, brother, sister, half-sibling, or step-sibling. The term applies to any such relation-
ship whether by blood, adoption, or marriage.
f.
“Initial entry” means:
i.
A student’s first day of attendance at a participating school in which the student is enrolled
as recorded by that school; or
ii.
The first day on which a student practices or otherwise participates as a member of an
interscholastic athletics team at a participating school.
g.
“Interscholastic athletics” or “interscholastic athletic activity” means any extracurricular athletic
activity that:
i.
Involves students in any Grades 6 through 12;
ii.
Is sponsored by an individual school, PSU, or administering organization; and
iii.
Includes students from more than one school or PSU.
h.
“Local superintendent” means the superintendent of a local school administrative unit, as provided
in Chapter 115C, Article 18 of the General Statutes, or the staff member with the highest decision
making authority for a PSU, if there is no superintendent.
i.
“Parent” means the parent or legal guardian of a student participating or seeking to participate in
interscholastic athletics activities.
j.
“Participating school” means a middle school, junior high school, or high school that elects to partic-
ipate in interscholastic athletic activities.
k.
“Principal” means a school administrator employed as the principal of a school, as provided in
Chapter 115C, Article 19 of the General Statutes, or the staff member with the highest decision-
making authority at a school, if there is no principal.
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