2025-2026-NCHSAA_Handbook

independently covered by catastrophic accident insurance.

NCHSAA Application Note 1.2.4. The requirements set forth in ATHL-005, Section 4 apply to students at all mem­

bership entities. A student may participate in athletics at any member school upon initial entry into ninth grade

provided the student meets applicable NCHSAA, membership entity, and SBE eligibility requirements. Initial entry

is defined in Rule 1.1.1 (ATHL-001, Section 1. f and Rule 1.1.2 above.)

(a)

To participate in interscholastic athletics on behalf of a member non-boarding parochial school, the

student must meet all enrollment criteria for that member school and attend that member school,

and shall not participate in interscholastic athletics on behalf of the member school unless the stu-

dent's primary residence is within either:

(1)

The county in which the member school is located; or

(2)

A 25-mile radius of the member school as determined by the NCHSAA.

(b)

Notwithstanding Application Note 1.2.4(a), there will be no boundary limitation if the student is a

member of a parochial church affiliated with a non-boarding parochial member school and submits

an authorized pastor verification form.

(c)

To document a home school student’s eligibility, a member school allowing a home school stu- dent

to participate pursuant to ATHL-005, Section 4.c must obtain the following:

(1)

Documentation from the Division of Non-Public Education must be presented upon initial

dual enrollment, i.e., attendance, immunization, transcript, school number.

(2)

Documentation of the home school student’s communication of athletic intent at a member

school supervised by the local board of education with jurisdiction over the address of the

student’s primary residence (with such communication made by informing the principal at

least ten (10) days prior to the first practice date of each sports season).

(3)

Documentation that the home school student has followed the enrollment and assignment

procedures/policies established by the local board of education for that member school.

(4)

Documentation of insurance, through either (A) a statement that the local board of educa-

tion agrees to cover the home school student under its catastrophic athletic accident insur-

ance policy or (B) a copy of an independent insurance policy establishing that the home

school student is covered by catastrophic accident insurance for participate in interscholas-

tic athletics.

(d)

Alternative or extended day school students who meet all other eligibility requirements may

participate in athletics for the school to which they would normally be assigned if local policy allows

it, provided the alternative/extended day school has no athletic program.

(1)

The alternative schools referenced here are those operated by the school system itself.

(2)

The principal of the school at which the students play shall be responsible for certifying

their eligibility and shall have on file all records necessary to verify eligibility.

(3)

Each such student shall be identified on the Master Eligibility Sheet, which shall be accom-

panied by a letter from the principal stating that these designated students meet all eligibili-

ty requirements.

(4)

The principal and coach shall have the same authority in player selection and application of

team rules and regulations with alternative school students as with those enrolled in the

regular school program.

1.2.5

ATHL-005, Section 5 - Transfer Requirements

a.

After a student's initial entry into Grade 9, and absent a change in residence for a bona fide purpose

as provided in Section 3.b:

i.

A student who transfers from one participating school to another participating school

within the same PSU shall not participate in interscholastic athletics for 365 calendar days

following the student's enrollment in the new school, unless the governing body of the PSU

has adopted a policy allowing immediate eligibility for students who are assigned by the

PSU to a different school within the same PSU.

ii.

A student who transfers from a participating school in one PSU to a participating school in a

different PSU shall not participate in interscholastic athletics for 365 calendar days follow-

ing the student's enrollment in the new school, unless the governing bodies of both PSUs

agree that the transfer was for a bona fide purpose.

iii.

If the governing bodies of the PSU disagree that a transfer by a high school student was for

a bona fide purpose, the relevant administering organization shall resolve the dispute by a

preponderance of the evidence.

b.

After a student's initial entry into Grade 9, if a student transfers to a new school within 365 calendar

days after that school hires a coach for an interscholastic athletics team who was previously em-

ployed as a coach for an equivalent sport by the school from which the student is transferring, the

student shall be ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics for that sport for 365 calendar

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