Master's Program in Athletic Administration

Test Drive a Module: Review


Introduction | Learning Activities | Review | Revisit the Challenge

  1. What state association or local school district policies should be researched to ensure there is no violation of policies related to residence-eligibility, recruiting, amateur status or undue influence?

    2. Sample Response


  2. Should research be conducted concerning the need for new residence-eligibility policies?

    3. Sample Response


  3. What data should be collected and studied concerning transfer students?

    4. Sample Response


  4. Can a school district enact policies that are more stringent than those of the state association without being inconsistent?

    5. Sample Response

Case 1

The traditional state association residence-eligibility rule for single school districts with one high school stipulates "a high school athlete is eligible for competition in the school district or attendance area in which his/her parents or legal (court appointed) guardian(s) reside." This rule is enforced even if the athlete reaches the age of majority and chooses to live at a residence other than that of his/her parents or guardian. Exceptions may be made for "betterment of life circumstances" but generally these cases must be documented by a court official or school social worker.

In some states, state association rules allow large cities and multiple high schools within their district to enact transfer rules that reflect their need to achieve racial/ethnic balances or to afford students an opportunity to have access to curriculum offerings not available in the high school they would normally attend.

In a particular district with open attendance policies, talented swimmers appeared to be transferring from one high school with a mediocre swim program to another district school with a very strong swim program. When parents and swimmers were queried about this practice, no curriculum differences could be identified. Parents of transferring swimmers asserted that the stronger swimming school had a much better academic environment because 80% of its graduates went on to college and numerous National Merit finalists graduated from the school each year.

After much discussion, a policy was proposed that would have made a transfer student ineligible for varsity competition for two calendar years from the date of transfer. This proposal was met with significant opposition from parents and athletes who indicated that policy constituted an undue punishment of those athletes who wished to transfer as authorized by Board of Education policy.

After much emotional debate, a compromise was reached which permitted transfers immediate non-varsity eligibility for one year. This policy comports with the state association regulation granting residence eligibility autonomy to multiple high school districts. The policy remains in effect after five years with little or no dispute or challenge.

What is the implication for an athletic administrator considering a policy proposal to the state association or local governance board?


Sample Response


Case 2

State association regulations usually require an athlete who transfers from one school to another in disciplinary status to complete the disciplinary requirements of the original school before eligibility is granted.

In a multiple high school district, an athlete was declared ineligible for a serious violation of the school’s athletic eligibility code. Following the disciplinary incident, the athlete and his parents moved from the attendance area of the original school to another high school attendance area within the same school district.

In the receiving school, the eligibility code stipulated a lesser penalty for the same violation. Because the athlete and his parents now resided in the attendance area of the receiving school, they argued for earlier return to eligibility because they were now under the jurisdiction of the new school with a lesser penalty.

The school district legal counsel and superintendent were involved in discussions with the attorney representing the parents and the ineligible athlete. After deliberation, the athlete was held to a more stringent eligibility policy because of the transcending state association policy requiring completion of the disciplinary requirements of the original school. The case was dropped without further legal challenge.

What is the implication for policy development within a large, multiple school district?


Sample Response


Introduction | Learning Activities | Review | Revisit the Challenge