2025-2026-NCHSAA_Handbook

the student’s eligibility has ended.

(b)

The Master Eligibility Sheet shall be used for each sport and shall list all players, varsity and junior

varsity, participating in that sport. A copy shall be on file at the school prior to the first regular

season contest. PSUs must maintain a copy of the most current Master Eligibility Sheet in both the

office of the member school's principal and the office of the PSU's superintendent. Any other

membership entity must maintain a copy of the most current Master Eligibility Sheet in the office of

the member school's principal.

(c)

Master Eligibility Sheets are not required to be filed with the NCHSAA but must be made available

upon request. It is required that Master Eligibility Sheets be shared among conference schools in

each sport.

(d)

Ineligible players are NOT allowed to participate in practice, but this does not apply to summer

workouts or skill development.

(e)

When completing Master Eligibility Sheets, if a student’s primary residence is not within the bound-

ary provided in ATHL-005, Section 4.b and Application Note 1.2.4, please make all required entries

and enter one of the following eligibility criteria on the second page:

(1)

Any student proposed for a contest is eligible at the school to which the local board of edu-

cation assigns them within the unit of primary residence, within this state, subject to the

transfer rules in ATHL-005, Section 5 and Application Note 1.2.5.

(2)

When two boards of education within North Carolina, by mutual agreement, assign a stu-

dent to a different school, and if applicable, the governing authorities of each PSU mutually

agree to waive ineligibility pursuant to the transfer rules in ATHL-005, Section 5 and

Application Note 1.2.5.

(3)

If applicable, legal documents signed by a judge (ward of court) or social service (orphan-

age/foster home) are required to be submitted along with eligibility forms pertaining

to the student.

(4)

Foreign exchange students. [See ATHL-005, Section 3.a.vi] and Application Note 1.2.3.

(5)

The NCHSAA has approved or has been required by the decision of the appeals board (de-

fined in ATHL-013, Section 1) to approve a request to waive the residency requirement,

including for a student enrolled under the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Act

who is not eligible based on Application Note 1.2.2 (e)(1)-(4).

(f)

It shall be the responsibility of the principal, or his or her designee, to see that no ineligible student-

athlete participates. Schools should use the eligibility checklist developed by the NCHSAA and it is

recommended that the eligibility presentation be made available for athletes, guidance counselors,

other administrators, and parents, especially at the preseason meeting.

1.2.3

ATHL-005, Section 3 - Residency Requirements

a.

For purposes of this Rule, a student's primary residence shall be determined as follows:

i.

If both of the student's parents live together, the residence of both parents.

ii.

If the student's parents are separated or divorced, the residence of the parent to whom a

court of competent jurisdiction has awarded primary custody of the student. If no custody

order has been entered, the student and the student's parents shall designate one parent's

residence as the primary residence and communicate that designation to the participating

school prior to participation in interscholastic athletic activities. The designated primary

residence shall be one that would otherwise render the student eligible to attend that school

in accordance with state law and the policies of the governing body of the PSU.

iii.

If the student has only one living parent, the residence of that parent.

iv.

If a student lives with an individual to whom a court of competent jurisdiction has awarded

legal guardianship of the student, the residence of that individual.

v.

If a student has been emancipated in accordance with Chapter 7B, Article 35 of the General

Statutes, the student's residence at the time of emancipation.

vi.

If a student is a foreign national participating in a foreign exchange program authorized by

federal and state law, the residence to which the student is assigned by the program or host

PSU.

b.

A student shall not participate in interscholastic athletics following a change in primary residence

unless the change was made for a bona fide purpose and with the intent that it be permanent. The

relevant administering organization shall resolve, by a preponderance of the evidence, any disputes

regarding a high school student's primary residence or whether a change in a student's primary

residence was for a bona fide purpose.

c.

Notwithstanding Section 3.b and absent a transfer between participating schools as provided in

Section 5, a student shall be eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics on behalf of

a participating school in which the student is enrolled if the student has attended any school within

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