CIF ARTICLE 6

California

Interscholastic Federation

Governing High School Athletic Programs

(High school teams from San Francisco to King City are in the Central Coast Section (CCS) of the CIF.)

CIF ARTICLE 6

OUTSIDE COMPETITION

600. COMPETITION ON AN OUTSIDE TEAM

A student on a high school team becomes ineligible if the student competes in a contest on an “outside” team, in the same sport, during the student’s high school season of sport. If the outside team has half or more of the team members as stated in the National Federation rulebook for that sport, it shall be considered the same sport. Examples: three on three basketball—outside team competition prohibited; two on two volleyball— outside team competition permitted. For purposes of this rule, touch football and flag football are considered to be a different sport than tackle football. In the sport of soccer only, it is permissible for a student on a high school team to compete in a contest on an “outside” soccer team except during the period of November 15 through March 15. During the period of November 15 through March 15, a student on a high school soccer team becomes ineligible if the student competes in a contest on an “outside “ soccer team during the student’s high school season for soccer. This rule shall not be in effect for those sports conducted outside the state adopted season of sport.

(The following Memo is NOT part of the CIF rule set.)

(Memo Interpreting Rule 600 by CIF North Coast Section (not CCS))

TO: League Commissioners, Principals, Athletic Directors, Boys and Girls Winter Soccer Coaches and Jack Hayes (State CIF Executive Director)

FROM: Gil Lemmon, Director of Operations

DATE: September 8, 2000

SUBJECT: Soccer season of sport interpretation as it relates to CIF Bylaw 600 (non-school competition)

In recognition of the facts stated below, the California Youth Soccer Association and the CIF entered into an agreement many years ago which provides an exception to CIF Bylaw 600. The exception defines November 15 through March 15 as the period of time during which CIF Bylaw 600 will be in effect for students involved in the sport of soccer.

Statement of Facts

* NCS member schools play soccer during three different seasons of sport (fall, winter & spring - unlike other sports in which a common season of sport exists) due to differences in weather conditions, limited field space, balanced sport offerings, etc.

* Community based soccer programs are conducted throughout the entire year. CIF member schools have been overwhelmingly committed to the protections for student athletes provided through CIF Bylaw 600. In order to limit student athletes to participation on the school team during the season of sport to protect students from over committing (e.g. participating in the practices and games of two or more teams during the same season), reduce the conflicts which occur when a player receives different instruction from two coaches or plays different positions on two different teams during the same season, and allow some time for students to participate in life other than athletic pursuits.

This memo is to review the application of that agreement.

1. The first day of soccer practice for NCS schools which play during the winter season is Monday, November 6, 2000. No school practice may be conducted before that day. (Coaches and/or students of NCS member schools may not interfere in anyway with a student who is participating on a non-school soccer team prior to November 15, 2000.)

2. From Monday, November 6, 2000, through Tuesday, November 14, 2000, students may participate in school practices, scrimmages and/or games, and may participate in non-school practices, scrimmages and/or games. Coaches and/or students of NCS member schools may not prohibit, coerce, discourage or attempt to negatively influence a student who desires to participate on a non-school soccer team prior to November 15, 2000.

a. When a conflict in schedules (e.g. the school team and the non-school team have games, scrimmages or practices that are in conflict) occurs, the student shall be allowed to make his/her choice without repercussions from coaches or students at NCS schools.

3. From Wednesday, November 15, 2000, students who have commenced their high school season of soccer (played in one or more high school games (games do not include scrimmages and/or practices) either prior to or after November 15, 2000) shall be prohibited from playing on a non-school team until their high school season is completed. The penalty for violation of this rule is stated below.

First Violation

...the student immediately becomes ineligible for participation with his/her high school team for a number of contests equal to twice the number of contests of outside (non-school) competition in which the student participated (see CIF Bylaw 601 [NCS Bylaw 2301])

Subsequent Violation

Any subsequent offense in the student’s high school career in any sport, the student becomes immediately ineligible for one year (365 days) from the student’s second infraction in all sports.

Please verify that this information has been received by your league’s soccer coaches during your pre-season meetings or with each school’s principal or athletic director. Please call with any questions or concerns!

* CIF rules prohibit any high school practice or games on Sunday.

cc: Tom Ehrhorn, Commissioner of Athletics, NCS/CIF

Bob Morris - CYSA District IV Representative

601. BYLAW 600 PENALTY

A. INDIVIDUAL

(1) First Offense in High School Career in Any Sport

The student becomes immediately ineligible for participation with his/her high school team for a number of contests equal to twice the number of contests of outside competition in which the student participated.

(2) Any Subsequent Offense in High School Career in Any Sport

The student becomes immediately ineligible for one year (365 days) from the second infraction in all sports.

(3) Appeals

Upon written appeal to the section commissioner, the student may petition his/her section for reinstatement of his/her eligibility status.

B. TEAM

(1) Games Forfeited

Games in which a student participated on his/her high school team after violation of CIF Bylaw 600 shall be forfeited.

(2) Appeals

Sections may establish rules and procedures to consider requests for waivers of game forfeitures.

602. SPONTANEOUS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY

603. PAN-AMERICAN OR OLYMPIC COMPETITION

During the high school season of sport, a high school student who has been selected or qualified for participation on the United States team which will engage in Pan-American or Olympic competition, may participate on that team.

604. SPECIAL PROGRAMS/OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

During the high school season of sport, a high school student who has been selected or qualified for an Olympic development program shall be permitted to participate in such a program without loss of interscholastic eligibility, if the following conditions are met:

A. The Olympic development program is:

(1) Certified as such by the National Federation, verified by the State CIF; AND (2)

(a) Conducted or sponsored by the United States Olympic Committee; OR

(b) Directly funded and conducted by the national governing body for the sport on a national level; OR

B. The student informs the high school principal at least thirty days prior to participating in the program; AND

C. The principal verifies the authenticity of the program; AND

D. The student makes prior arrangement to complete missed academic lessons, assignments, and tests before the last day of classes of the semester in which the student’s absence occurs.

605. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Each CIF section may grant approval, upon individual petition, for a gifted athlete to travel to a foreign country to participate in international competition sanctioned by the governing body for that sport in the United States.

606. UNATTACHED COMPETITION IN INDIVIDUAL SPORTS

Unattached competition is permissible for a student in other than school contests during the season of sport provided the student enters in the individual sports of badminton (singles and doubles), cross country, golf, gymnastics, skiing, swimming (including unattached entry on relays), tennis (singles and doubles), track and field (including unattached entry on relays), and wrestling. Swimmers may compete for an amateur team during the season of sport in the United States Junior and Senior National Championship Meet and the YMCA National Meet.

607. CERTIFICATION OF UNATTACHED ATHLETES

No official recognition or certification on the part of the CIF member school or personnel of the CIF member school may be given in order that unattached athletes may participate in contests.

608. RULES FOR UNATTACHED COMPETITION

An unattached athlete shall not represent any team. Points won by the athlete shall not be credited to any team. An unattached athlete shall not use a uniform which identifies a school or “outside” team. Any violation shall be considered an infraction of Bylaw 600.

609. REPRESENTATION IN CIF COMPETITION

Unattached competition is not permitted in any CIF competition (see Bylaw 302). Individuals or teams entered in CIF competition must represent a CIF member school. No other form of representation shall be permitted in CIF competition.

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