Introduction to the Southern Section Blue Book
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Introduction to the Southern Section Blue Book
The rules governing high school
sports can be confusing. The following
pages explain several of the basic rules
of eligibility as well as others that have
a direct bearing on students playing in
Southern Section.
This is not an exhaustive list, it is
meant as a helpful guide to our par-
ents.
The full text of the Blue Book can be
found at www.cifss.org
Educational athletics can be distin-
guished from other types of athletic pro-
grams because its intention is to further
the academic mission of our high
schools.
CIF does not propose to secure college
scholarships. CIF does not promote pro-
fessional sports contracts. We do not be-
lieve in the athlete as an object.
Our intention is to further the legitimate
goals of our high schools: to educate the
next generation of leaders for this coun-
try.
Athletics is a strong part of this process. 1Introduction to the Southern Section Blue Book
Structure of the Blue Book
The State CIF Constitution and Bylaws and Blue Book are parallel documents. The
State Bylaws form the basic structure of governance, the Blue Book adds Section
rules as well as rules on each sport and championship. Article 23 (Order of Jurisdic-
tion) establishes that the descending order of jurisdiction is: State (Federated
Council), Section, league and school. Each entity may, with the consent of their
governing bodies, establish rules and regulations as long as they are no less strin-
gent and do not violate State policy rules or intent. For clarity in reading the Blue
Book, State policy is printed in bold face type, Section specific rules are in regular
face type.
The Section has also added Questions and Answers throughout the book to add
clarity and address frequently asked questions.
Bylaw 200 - Eligibility Requirements
The 200 series of Bylaws deals with requirements for student eligibility. These re-
quirements start with a statement of philosophy that expresses beliefs about the
purpose of high school sports and its rules. The rule begins with the statement,
“(CIF), as the governing body of high school athletics, affirms that athletic competi-
tion is an important part of the high school experience and that participation in
interscholastic athletics is a privilege (not a right).”
Bylaw 203 - Age Requirement
Students who turn 19 before June 15 are not allowed to practice or play on any
team the following school year. In some instances, students may be allowed to play
if they appear before an appeal panel and are awarded eligibility. An appeal form
must be submitted to the Section office requesting an appeal before the student
may be cleared to practice and play.
Bylaw 204 - Eight Consecutive Semesters
Any student who has attended school for 15 days or more shall be considered to
have been enrolled. Students who enter school in the ninth grade are eligible to
2Introduction to the Southern Section Blue Book
participate in high school athletics during a maximum period of time that is not to
exceed eight consecutive semesters after initial enrollment in the ninth grade.
Bylaw 205 - Scholastic Eligibility
To be eligible, any student entering from the 8th grade into a CIF four-year high
school, a junior high or a junior high under the provisions of Bylaw 302, must have
achieved a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in enrolled courses at the conclu-
sion of the previous grading period.
205 A. (1) Probationary Period
School boards and private school governing boards, may adopt a policy that would
allow a student who does not achieve the required 2.0 GPA in the previous grading
period to remain eligible during a probationary period. The probationary period
may not be longer than a semester, but it may be shorter. A student who does not
meet the minimum eligibility requirement during the probationary period may not
be allowed to participate in the subsequent grading period.
205 B (1) Continuing Scholastic Eligibility
A student is scholastically eligible if:
The student is currently enrolled in at least 20 semester credits of work;
The student was passing in the equivalent of at least 20 semester credits at
the completion of the most recent grading period.
The student is maintaining minimum progress toward meeting the high
school graduation requirements as prescribed by the board.
It is important to note that to determine current eligibility, a student’s grades must
be checked at each regular report period of the school concerned. (Section Bylaw
205.2)
206 - Residential Eligibility (Bylaw 206 has been rewritten to apply to the 2007-
2008 school year)
Bylaw 206 establishes the basic eligibility rule: A student is eligible upon initial en-
rollment in the 9th grade of any high school upon completion of the eighth grade,
3Introduction to the Southern Section Blue Book
or the 10th grade if enrolling from a junior high. Students are free to choose a
school that is in their local high school attendance area or a private school, charter
school, magnet or a public school outside that attendance area. This basic rule ap-
plies only if there is no evidence that the student was induced to come to that
school to play sports.
Students retain eligibility for as long as they remain at that school (where initial
eligibility was established).
Students who change schools as the result of a valid change of residence may re-
tain varsity eligibility when the new school verifies a valid move has been made.1
A student who transfers to or from a full-time boarding school is eligible on the
first transfer (in or out), but any subsequent transfer will result in the application of
the transfer rule.
Students who transfer as the result of a court order will be ineligible in the new
school unless approved by the Section commissioner.
Students returning from military service may be eligible for athletic competition if
several conditions are met.2
207 - Transfer Eligibility
Bylaw 207 establishes conditions under which a transfer student may gain varsity
eligibility and gives permission for a one-time transfer free from limitation (207 A
3).
This rule begins with “valid change of residence” and affirms eligibility when a
family unit completes a move.
Rulings by school district governing boards may allow transfers because of bound-
ary changes or new policies.
207 A 3 establishes “A family decision to transfer the student prior to the first day
of the student’s third consecutive semester of attendance since the initial enroll-
ment when certain conditions are met:
• It is the first transfer since initial enrollment in the 9th grade.
• The transfer is not the result of a disciplinary transfer.
1 Note: a valid change of residence is defined in Bylaw 206 B 2 b iv, and in Bylaw 208.
2 See 206 8 a-e
4Introduction to the Southern Section Blue Book
• The student was scholastically eligible at the previous school (does not in-
clude probation)
• There is no evidence of pre-enrollment contact.
• The student is not seeking to play the same sport at two different schools in
the same season of sport or the same school year.
207 B establishes the rule that applies to ninth grade students who are transferring
for a second time or any 10th, 11th or 12th grade students who transfer without a
valid change of residence. Those students will have limited eligibility for one year
from the date of transfer (regardless of the level they played at their former
school(s)).
The student will become varsity eligible under the rule after one calendar
year from the date of first attendance at the new school.
207 (5) a-g deals with Pre-enrollment contact and undue influence.
This section of the transfer rule is new. It addresses the principle established in By-
law 200 that our rules should “serve as a deterrent to students who transfer schools
for athletic reasons and to individuals who recruit student-athletes.”
Section c. introduces “prima facie” 3 evidence of recruiting. In this instance, if a stu-
dent who competes for a club coach and then follows that club coach to a new
school to participate, that student will be declared “ineligible to represent the new
school in interscholastic athletic competition for a period of one calendar year form
the date of the student’s enrollment in the new school unless sufficient proof is
presented to the satisfaction of the CIF Section Commissioner that rebuts or dis-
proves the evidence of undue influence/recruiting for athletic reasons.”
205 (5) d. Assesses a similar limitation on students who follow their high school
coach from one school to a new school, however that student will be ineligible to
participate in the sport(s) coached by that coach for one calendar year from the date
of enrollment in the new school”
3 Prima facie - based on the first impression; accepted as correct until proved otherwise.
5Introduction to the Southern Section Blue Book
208 Hardship Waivers - To provide relief to students who suffer sudden, unfore-
seeable circumstances in their lives, CIF bylaws establish a procedure to receive a
waiver from the limitation attached to any student who transfers schools. The hard-
ship rule also provides waivers for students who are over the age of 19 years, have
not achieved 20 units of credit in the previous semester or who have exceeded the
eight semester limitation. Such waiver requests are scrutinized for the support they
provide to the student’s case, the accuracy of circumstances and the intent of the
rule.
208 A Defines a hardship as “an unforeseeable, unavoidable and uncorrectable act,
condition or event that causes the imposition of a severe and non-athletic burden
upon the student or his/her family.” Sections may only waive the transfer limita-
tions if the conditions of hardship are met. There must be sufficient documentation
to support the hardship claim.
The State and Section Bylaws provide answers to frequently asked questions about
the circumstances that can be cited to allow a waiver.
209 Foreign Student Eligibility
Students in the United States, under a properly recognized foreign exchange pro-
gram are eligible to participate in varsity sports. Every year the CIF office generates
a list of properly credentialed programs. Upon receipt of the paperwork from a re-
questing school, a student may be declared eligible.
209 B (1) International Students
The CIF distinguishes between students placed by foreign exchange programs and
international students who have come to study. International students must meet a
number of requirements before they can be considered for limited eligibility.
210 Discipline, Expulsion and Transfer for Disciplinary Reasons
210 A “A student who is expelled by a public school district in the State of Califor-
nia pursuant to the provisions of Education Code Section 48900 et seq., or from a
public school from any other State, or any private or parochial school or district,
shall be ineligible to practice or compete with any CIF team or individual sport
program that is under the jurisdiction of the California Interscholastic Federation
CIF for the period of the expulsion.”
6Introduction to the Southern Section Blue Book
While there are various types of disciplinary transfers and in some cases expulsion
orders are “suspended” the basic rule will allow eligibility as long as he/she remains
at his/her home school.
If he/she is compelled to transfer for a disciplinary reason that does not include
expulsion, he/she may not be eligible for one year from the date of transfer.
221 - Basic Eligibility Requirements for Participation:
221.1 Be under nineteen years of age. (Bylaw 203)
221.2 Meet the attendance requirements. (Bylaw 204)
221.3 Be eligible scholastically. (Bylaw 205)
221.4 Have met the residence requirements. (Bylaw 206)
221.5 Met citizenship requirements. (Bylaw 218)
221.6 Not participate in any tryout for a professional or collegiate team
(Bylaw 213)
221.7 Not compete with outside teams. (Bylaw 600)
221.8 Be an amateur. (Bylaw 213)
The rules of the Southern Section Blue Book work to protect students from par-
ticipating in contests that are inherently unfair because of manipulation of rules,
deception or deceit. Every student who participates in an interscholastic contest
should have been certified by the athletic director at the school as having met the
requirements outlined above.
While there may be disagreement about who the rules affect and how they affect
students, they serve as a standard for fair play and equal opportunity.
Four times a year, Southern Section league representatives meet to discuss rules
and find ways to best serve the student athletes of the Section. The meetings are
public. The agendas are posted at the Section office and on the web site.
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