a.
Each PSU shall determine the age of a student participating in interscholastic athletics based on a
preponderance of the evidence known to the PSU.
b.
A student who is ineligible to participate at one grade level due to age shall be eligible to participate
at the next higher grade level only, provided that a student:
i.
[Not Applicable]
ii.
Shall be eligible to participate at the high school level for no more than eight consecutive
semesters, beginning with the student's initial entry into Grade 9.
iii.
[Not Applicable]
iv.
Shall not participate on a junior high school team if the student becomes 16 years of age on
or before August 31 of that school year.
v.
Shall not participate on a high school team if the student becomes 19 years of age on or
before August 31 of that school year.
c.
[Not Applicable]
NOTE: The NCHSAA has omitted sections that are not applicable to high schools.
NCHSAA Application Note 1.2.7. The requirements set forth in ATHL-005, Section 7 apply to students at all mem-
bership entities. Therefore, each membership entity shall determine the age of a student participating in interscho
lastic athletics based on a preponderance of the evidence known to the membership entity.
(a)
The member school's principal shall have on file evidence of the legal birth date of each student-
athlete.
(b)
For purposes of the membership entity’s determination of the student-athlete’s age, evidence of the
legal birth date may be established by a copy of the birth certificate or from other information suffi-
cient to establish age by a preponderance of the evidence, including but not limited to
a record from the State Bureau of Vital Statistics, Raleigh; a record from the county register of deeds
office; an infant baptismal record; a recording from the attending doctor’s registry or cash
book if specific; a news item at the time of birth from the local newspaper; or an official register
sheet from the first grade; or, for a foreign-born student, a birth date as shown on a passport.
(c)
An eighth grade student who is over-age for middle school competition may be eligible for high
school participation, subject to other eligibility requirements.
(d)
For students at all membership entities, enforcement of the eight-semester limit in ATHL-005, Sec-
tion 7.b.ii begins upon the student’s initial entry into ninth grade. Initial entry is defined in Rule
1.1.1 (ATHL-001, Section 1.f ) and Rule 1.1.2 above. Consistent with that definition, if an overage
seventh or eighth grade student participates in athletics at the high school level, the eight-semester
limit begins to run when the student first participates at the high school level and thus prior to the
ninth grade year. For stu- dent-athletes who skip the ninth grade and advance directly to the tenth
from the eighth, the year prior to entering the tenth grade is considered the year of first entry into
ninth grade for athletics.
(e)
The eight-semester limit encompasses any semester in which the student played on a team for any
school at the high school level, member or non-member, within or outside North Carolina.
(f)
The principal shall of every member school have evidence of the date of each player’s initial entry
into ninth grade. The North Carolina cumulative record is sufficient evidence if ATHL-001, Section
1.f.i applies.
1.2.8 ATHL-005, Section 8 - Biological Requirements. All students participating in interscholastic athletics
shall comply with the biological participation requirements as provided in G.S. 115C-407.59.
NCHSAA Application Note 1.2.8.
(a)
G.S. 115C-407.59 provides the following biological participation requirements for “all teams partici-
pating in interscholastic or intramural athletic activities”:
(1)
Each team shall be expressly designated by the biological sex of the team participants as one
of the following:
A.
Males, men, or boys.
B.
Females, women, or girls.
C.
Coed or mixed.
(2)
Athletic teams designated for females, women, or girls shall not be open to students of the
male sex.
(3)
For purposes of this sub-subdivision, a student's sex shall be recognized based solely on the
student's reproductive biology and genetics at birth.
(b)
Pursuant to G.S. 115C-407.59(f) and the MOU, the SBE, and not the NCHSAA, shall monitor compli-
ance with G.S. 115C-407.59. Therefore, all questions and concerns about compliance with
G.S. 115C-407.59 and ATHL-005, Section 8 must be directed to the SBE.
1.2.9 ATHL–005, Section 9 - Medical Requirements. To be eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics, a
student shall receive a medical examination every 395 days by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician
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