NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

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NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

• 2014-2015 Eligibility Summary, Rules Regulations

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SPORTSMANSHIP

• HONOR YOURSELF
• HONOR YOUR TEAM
• HONOR YOUR COMMUNITY
• MAKE GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP A HABIT!

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Age

• Student may not participate if he/she becomes 19
  years of age on or before August 31, 2014.

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Attendance

• Attendance requirements are set by the LEA and
  the 85 rule is no longer an NCHSAA requirement.
• Excused and unexcused absences are the
  determination of the LEA.

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Attendance

• Attendance is regulated by local LEA policy in
  terms of length of day required to be counted in
  attendance.
• Local attendance policy may be more stringent in
  terms of counting/earning credit for courses.

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Academics

• Must pass a minimum load of course work the
  previous semester to be eligible at any time
  during the semester. Any student, including
  seniors, must also pass the minimum load even if
  they need fewer courses for graduation.
• All students must also meet local promotion
  standards, set by the L.E.A. and/or local school.
• Courses must be approved for credit, (i.e.,
  audited courses would not count).

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Academics

• Minimum load is defined as five (5) courses in
  the traditional school schedule.
• Minimum load is defined as three (3) courses on
  the block schedule. This applies to all
  student athletes, including seniors.

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Academics

• If the school is on an A/B form of block
  scheduling, a student must pass six (6) of eight
  (8) courses during what would traditionally be
  defined as a semester.
• No work previously passed by a student may be
  submitted as part of a minimum load.

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Academics

• A detailed example of the NCHSAA Academic
  Requirements, inclusive of HYBRID formats, can be
  found in the NCHSAA Handbook.
• Local units may be more restrictive, but not less
  restrictive, in regards to the academic
  requirements of the NCHSAA.

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Academics

• Summer school work used to make up part of the
  minimum load must be applied to the most recent
  semester.
• Credit for summer school work is the
  determination of the local unit.

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Academics

• A student not eligible at the beginning of the
  semester is not eligible at any time during the
  semester.
• Exception a student who receives an incomplete
  or is awaiting a final grade due to EOC
  re-testing or any other state mandated testing,
  which causes him/her to fail to meet minimum
  scholastic requirements is ineligible until the
  course is satisfactorily completed. Eligibility
  is restored immediately.

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Enrollment/Residence

• Student must be a regularly enrolled member of
  the schools student body.
• Student must participate at the school to which
  he/she is assigned by the local board of
  education.

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Enrollment/Residence

• School assignment is based on the residence of
  the parent or legal custodian (court ordered
  custody, not guardian) within the administrative
  unit.
• Student must live with the parents or legal
  custodian.

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Enrollment/Residence

• A legal custodian is a person or agency awarded
  legal, court-ordered custody of a child.
• A student may not have two residences for
  eligibility purposes.

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Enrollment/Residence

• In order for a change of residence to be bona
  fide at least the following facts must exist
• The original residence must be abandoned as a
  residence that is sold, rented or disposed of as
  a residence and must not be used as residence by
  any member of the family.
• The entire family must make the change and take
  with them the household goods and furniture
  appropriate to the circumstances.
• The change must be made with intent that the move
  is permanent.

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Enrollment/Residence

• A student transferring from a member school to
  another member school within the same local
  education agency (LEA) must sit out 365 days for
  athletic participation. The LEA may create
  criteria for immediate athletic eligibility for
  transfers within the LEA.

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Enrollment/Residence

• A student transferring from a member school in
  one LEA to another member school in another LEA
  (without a bona fide change of residence) must
  sit out 365 days for athletic participation.
• Exceptions for immediate athletic eligibility for
  transfers from one LEA to a different LEA will be
  heard by a special NCHSAA Transfer Committee.

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Enrollment/Residence

• A student is eligible at any school upon initial
  entry into the ninth grade. After initial entry
  into the ninth grade, transfer and boundary
  criteria shall apply as follows

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Enrollment/Residence

• 1. Student shall live in the county where
  non-traditional school is located, or student
  will live within a 25-mile radius of the
  non-traditional school as measured by NCHSAA
  designated computer program.
• 2. Student is a member of a parochial church
  and submits authorized pastor verification form.

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Enrollment/Residence

• No student may participate at a second school in
  the same sport season except in the event of a
  bona fide change of residence of the parent(s) or
  legal custodian. Change of schools must be
  contemporaneous with change of residence.

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Enrollment/Residence

• A student is eligible at their assigned school
  if he/she attended school within that
  administrative unit the previous two (2)
  semesters, provided it meets LEA policy.

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NCHSAA Regulations

• Falsification of information in terms of
  eligibility will result in the student athlete(s)
  being declared ineligible for a period of 365
  days from the point of notification to the
  NCHSAA.
• Student athlete will be prohibited from
  involvement in all athletic-related activity for
  the 180-day school year and any school-sponsored
  activity(s) during the summer.

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Medical Requirements

• Student must receive a medical examination once
  every 365 days by a duly licensed physician,
  nurse practitioner, or physicians assistant.
• Students absent from athletic practice for five
  (5) or more days due to illness or injury shall
  receive a medical release by a physician licensed
  to practice medicine before re-admittance to
  practice or contests.

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NCHSAA Regulations

• No student may be eligible to participate at the
  high school level for a period lasting longer
  than eight (8) consecutive semesters, beginning
  with the students first entry into ninth grade
  or an over-aged seventh or eight grade students
  participation on a high school team, whichever
  occurs first.

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NCHSAA Regulations

• No student may participate at the high school
  level for more than four (4) seasons in a sport
  (one season per year, i.e., A student could not
  play fall womens soccer in one state and then
  play NCHSAA womens soccer in the spring).

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NCHSAA Regulations

• A student must not be convicted of a felony in
  this or any other state, or be adjudicated as a
  delinquent for an offense that would be a felony
  if committed by an adult in this or any other
  state.

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NCHSAA Regulations

• A student may not play, practice or be on the
  roster if ineligible.
• This does not apply to summer workouts, but the
  student should be enrolled in your
  schoolstudents must have a valid physical to be
  involved in summer workouts.
• Managers, statisticians, etc. do not have to meet
  NCHSAA eligibility standards.
• There shall be no Sunday practice in any sport.
  This includes the assembling of athletic squads
  (full teams or selected individuals) for purposes
  of viewing films, chalk talks, or other materials
  pertaining to the coaching of the team.

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NCHSAA Regulations

• A student may not dress for a game or scrimmage
  when he/she is not eligible to participate in the
  game.
• If serving an ejection, student may be in the
  bench area but may not be in uniform.
• If ejected, coach may not be on the premises
  during the contest and is not allowed to
  communicate with the coaches/team during the
  contest.

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NCHSAA Regulations

• To maintain amateur status, a student must not
  accept money or awards having utilitarian value
  (golf balls, clubs, tennis rackets, etc.) for
  participation in athletics. A student may accept
  an award (gift certificate/food coupon), each
  sport season, that does not exceed a value of
  20.00.
• A student must not have signed a professional
  contract or played on a junior college /community
  college team.

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School Requirements

• Each coach must sign off on the eligibility
  summary form that is signed by the principal
  and/or athletics director.
• Master Eligibility sheets are to be shared with
  each member school of your conference for each
  sport program.
• A mandatory parent/guardian meeting must be held
  to have the parent sign the parental permission
  form to acknowledge eligibility and sportsmanship
  policies/expectations have been reviewed.

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Coaches Certification Requirement

• All non-faculty (non-teaching certified
  personnel) and all newly hired coaches (new to
  your LEA) must complete the NFHS FUNDAMENTALS
  OF COACHING certification prior to the first
  date of competition. This is for head coaches and
  assistant coaches. 500 fine for non-compliance.
• Course is an online offering through the
  National Federation (NFHS). To access and
  complete the course, go to nfhslearn.com . Cost
  of course is 35 and is a one-time completion
  requirement to be nationally certified.
• NCHSAA Board of Directors has mandated 100 of
  coaching staff(s) complete the NFHS
  FUNDAMENTALS OF COACHING course by August 1,
  2015. 500 per-game fine for non-compliance.

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State Rules Clinics

• Head Coaches must attend an NCHSAA State Rules
  Clinic (either the NCCA Coaches Clinic in
  Greensboro or a regional State Rules Clinic
  conducted by the NCHSAA) prior to coaching in the
  first contest of the season.
• 400 fine if coaches do not attend.
• 500 fine per game for non-compliance.

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NCHSAA Regulations

• UNPAID FINES Schools that have unpaid fines to
  the NCHSAA are not eligible to compete in the
  playoffs for that sport (i.e. baseball fine would
  be specific to baseball playoffs) unless the fine
  is paid two (2) days prior to the playoff
  reporting date for that sport.
• Any fine not paid at the end of the fiscal year
  (June 30) will carry over to the following school
  year making all teams at said school ineligible
  for playoffs until the fine is paid in full.

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NCHSAA Regulations

• Schools must pay their catastrophic insurance
  fees by October 1. Non-payment of fees by the
  deadline makes all teams at that school
  ineligible for NCHSAA Playoffs.
• Schools must pay their membership dues by
  November 1. Non-payment of fees by the deadline
  makes all teams at that school ineligible for
  NCHSAA Playoffs beginning with winter sports.

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NCHSAA Regulations

• Tobacco Products, Alcoholic Beverages and
  Controlled Substances at Game Site
• Participants, coaches, and other team
  representatives and game officials, including
  chain crew, official scorers and timers, should
  not use any tobacco product, alcoholic beverage
  or controlled substance at a game site violation
  of the policy will be ejection from the contest.

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NCHSAA Regulations

• Any head coach who has a student-athlete ejected
  for fighting, must take the NFHS Teaching
  Modeling Behavior course before returning to
  coaching.
• Cost of the program is 20.00. Fax copy of
  certificate to Mark Dreibelbis _at_919/240-7396.
  FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN FORFEITURE AND A
  500.00 FINE.
• This is in addition to the EJECTION POLICY
  criteria sanctions as stated in the NCHSAA
  Handbook.

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Player/coach ejection or Disqualification

• Any coach who is ejected from a contest must take
  the NFHS Teaching Modeling Behavior course
  (20 fee) before returning to coaching in
  addition to serving the game sanctions for the
  ejection.
• Any student who is disqualified or ejected from a
  contest must take the NFHS Sportsmanship course
  (we no longer utilize the STAR Sportsmanship
  program) before returning to play. There is no
  fee for this course.
• Fax a copy of the NFHS SPORTSMANSHIP CERTIFICATE
  to Mark Dreibelbis _at_ 919/240-7396.

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Ejection Policy

• FLAGRANT CONTACT added as a provision to the
  ejection policy.
• Flagrant contact includes, but is not limited to
  combative acts such as
• Maliciously running over the catcher/fielder
  without attempt to avoid contact
• Excessive contact out-of-bounds or away from
  playing action that is unwarranted and extreme in
  nature
• Tackling/taking down a player dangerously in a
  malicious manner
• Illegally hitting or cross-checking an opponent
  in an excessive manner with the Lacrosse stick
  (crosse)
• Flagrant Contact carries same penalty as all
  other NCHSAA Ejection Policy criteria 1 game in
  football and 2 games in all other sports.
• When the combative act causes an opponent to
  retaliate, it is a fight and carries a double
  penalty.

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NCHSAA Regulations

• Un-sanctioned Sports/Activities
• Schools may sponsor teams in sports not
  sanctioned by the NCHSAA (e.g. gymnastics,
  weightlifting, womens field hockey, mens
  volleyball).
• Even though such sports are not sanctioned by the
  NCHSAA, member schools should work, wherever
  possible, to adhere to the ideals and guidelines
  established by the NCHSAA for their member
  schools in sports which they do sanction. The
  need to promote sportsmanship, to protect
  instructional time, or the physiological and
  emotional needs of maturing teens should not
  disappear simply because it is not a sport
  sanctioned by the NCHSAA.

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Sports Medicine Concussions

• An online coach education course Concussion in
  Sports What You Need to Know is now
  available from the National Federation of State
  High School Association (NFHS) at
  www.nfhslearn.com. This course is required (or
  more comprehensive concussion program) of all
  coaches prior to the start of their sports
  season! It is a free course.
• 500 fine per-game for non-compliance.
• The course provides a guide to understanding,
  recognizing, and properly managing concussion in
  high school sports. The course is FREE, but you
  must register at www.nfhslearn.com.
• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has
  endorsed the course and has provided many useful
  resources.

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Sports Medicine Concussions

• A concussion is a traumatic injury to the brain
  and presents a wide variety of signs and symptoms
• Headache
• Confusion
• Amnesia (not remembering events before or after
  the injury)
• Vision changes
• Loss of consciousness
• Dizziness
• Irritability/emotional changes (inappropriate or
  atypical crying, laughing, etc)
• Nausea/vomiting
• Fatigue/feeling sluggish/slow/foggy
• Having bell rung
• Excessive fatigue/drowsiness
• ANY sign/symptom after a blow to the head is a
  concussion until proven otherwise

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Sports MedicineConcussion

• A high school athlete should NEVER return to play
  on the day they suffer a concussion
• Returning an athlete to play before complete
  resolution of symptoms can lead to recurrent
  concussion, prolonged post-concussion symptoms,
  OR even Second Impact Syndrome (which is often
  fatal)
• An athlete with suspected concussion cannot
  return to play until he/she is cleared by a
  licensed medical physician
• Managing concussions is difficult even for
  well-trained and experienced medical providers.
  Coaches, you do not want this responsibility (or
  liability).
• THIS IS NOW A STATE LAW!

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Sports Medicine Concussions

• Take home point At the end of the day, its not
  an athletes knee, ankle, or elbow its his or
  her brain and you cannot get this one wrong.
• WHEN IN DOUBT, SIT THEM OUT.

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Sports Medicine Neck Injuries

• Cervical spine injuries are typically caused by
  contact with a forward flexed neck
• spearing position
• Any numbness/tingling in BOTH arms is suspicious
  for a cervical spine injury
• a stinger never causes burning in both arms
• Take Home Point Any suspected cervical spine
  injury should be immobilized and evaluated by
  medical personnel

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Sports Medicine Heart Issues

• Sudden cardiac death occurs in young athletes for
  a variety of reasons
• Most are due to genetic abnormalities of heart
  rhythms or heart anatomy
• Drugs can trigger cardiac arrest (cocaine,
  stimulants, anabolic steroids, and ephedrine are
  common culprits)
• Heat stroke can lead to cardiac arrest
• Viral illnesses can cause myocarditis
  (infection of the heart muscle) which can cause
  sudden cardiac arrest
• Sickle cell trait makes athletes more likely to
  have sudden cardiac arrest (more common in
  African-Americans)

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Sports Medicine Heart Issues

• There are red flags which can tip us off to
  undiagnosed heart problems
• Chest pain with exertion
• Passing out/fainting from exertion this is not
  normal or due to being out of shape
• Family history of a sudden cardiac death or
  unexplained death before age 50
• Take home point Any athlete who passes out or
  has chest pain with exertion needs a medical
  evaluation

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Sports MedicineRespiratory Issues/Asthma

• Asthma attacks remain a leading cause of death
  among young people
• Be aware of common asthma triggers
• Respiratory infections
• Both extreme heat/humidity and cold/dry
• Pollen other allergens
• Take home point Know who your asthmatic athletes
  are make sure they have accessible inhalers

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Sports Medicine Heat Illness

• Death from heat illness is preventable
• Hydration is only one part of the solution
• Know who is at increased risk
• Obese, out of shape athletes
• Athletes with fever or recent stomach or
  respiratory infections
• Athletes with sickle cell trait
• Athletes with history of prior heat illness
• Athletes on illicit drugs, ADD meds, or
  supplements w/ stimulants

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Sports Medicine Heat
Illness

• Prevention is key
• Be aware of heat index (see handbook)
• General Rule for high risk
• 70 to 80 F with high humidity (gt 70)
• 80 to 90 F with moderate humidity
• 90 F with low humidity (lt 30)
• Practice at cooler times when feasible (mornings,
  evenings)

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Sports Medicine Heat Illness

• Allow athletes/teams to acclimate and become
  accustomed to heat over time
• Allow regular breaks for cooling and hydration
• Monitor body weight pre/post practice
• Recognize early and initiate cooling immediately
• confusion, collapse, nausea/vomiting

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Sports Medicine Skin Infections

• Skin infections are common in contact sports
• Most skin infections are relatively minor and
  self-limited
• Resistant staph infections (MRSA) have become
  quite common and can be severe
• Skin infections are spread by skin-to-skin
  contact, sharing pads/equipment/work-out gear,
  dirty equipment
• Any boil or abscess needs medical evaluation

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Sports Medicine Skin Infections

• Take home point the vast majority of skin
  infections can be prevented by good hygiene
• Shower right after every practice game
• Do not share equipment, pads, work-out clothes,
  towels, etc
• Wash hands frequently with soap/water or
  anti-bacterial towels/gels
• Wash equipment, mats, clothes, towels, etc
  regularly

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Mandatory Question Answer Session

• 1. Can you play sports at one school while
  enrolled and attending another school?
• 2. Do students have to have up-to-date physicals
  to participate in summer workouts?
• 3. Can a student participate in 2 sports in the
  same season (i.e. football and soccer)?

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Mandatory Question Answer Session

• 4. Are home-schoolers eligible to participate in
  athletics at a NCHSAA member school?
• 5. Can open gym and skill development be held on
  the same day?
• 6. What are the eight ejectionable criteria?
• 7. If I am a coach at a NCHSAA member school,
  and also coach a select soccer, AAU basketball,
  fall baseball team, etc, are there any
  restrictions with working with my high school
  team members outside the high school season?

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Mandatory Question Answer Session

• 8. What is the maximum number of days a student
  can be absent from school and still be eligible
  to participate in athletics?
• 9. What is the minimum number of courses a
  student must pass at your school to be eligible
  to participate in athletics?
• 10. What is the minimum number of courses a
  student must take at your school to be eligible
  to participate in athletics?

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Mandatory Question Answer Session

• 11. Are certified athletic trainers required to
  attend practices and games? If so, which sports?
  How many?
• 12. What is the age cut-off date (turning 19
  years of age) for participation in athletics in
  North Carolina?
• 13. Can you participate in the same sport for
  two different schools during the same season? If
  so, how?

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Mandatory Question Answer Session

• 14. What is the maximum monetary value of an
  award, an athlete can receive and retain their
  amateur status?
• 15. Are 8th-graders allowed to participate on
  your high school team?
• 16. What is the NCHSAA minimum GPA?
• 17. If a senior only needs 3 classes his senior
  year to graduate and takes 2 during the fall
  semester, is he/she eligible to participate in
  athletics during the spring semester?

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Mandatory Question Answer Session

• 18. How many days of mandatory summer practice
  does an athlete have to participate to be
  eligible for the upcoming season?
• 19. At which school would a student be eligible,
  if the parents are separated and they live
  part-time with each?
• Answers will be sent to Athletic Directors for
  discussion with all coaches

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THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK IN 2013 - 2014!!!!