2012-13 TSSAA Handbook

2012-13 TSSAA Handbook
Age Limit
Section 9. No student shall be eligible to participate in any athletic contest during any school year if he/she
becomes 19 years of age on or before August 1. The age rule may be waived for the Tennessee School for the
Blind when this school is competing with other schools for the blind provided such schools are permitted by their
state associations to waive the age rule in competing with other schools for the blind.
Please see FAQ’s on Pages 40-57.
Physical Examination and Parental Consent
Section 10. It is required that no student be permitted to participate in practice sessions or in athletic contests
until there is on file with the principal a preparticipation medical evaluation form signed by a doctor of medicine,
osteopathic physician, physician assistant, or certified nurse practitioner stating that the student has passed a
physical examination, not prior to April 15, and that in their opinion the student is physically fit to participate in
interscholastic athletics. In lieu of the form, the principal may accept a signed statement from the health care
provider certifying that the student has passed a physical examination that encompasses all elements on the
preparticipation medical evaluation form and attesting that in their opinion the student is physically fit to participate
in interscholastic athletics.
No student shall be required to submit to a physical exam if his/her parent(s) or legal guardian shall file with the
principal a signed, written statement (affirmed under the penalties of perjury) declining such physical examination
on grounds of sincerely held beliefs or practices.
It is required that no student be permitted to participate in practice sessions or in athletic contests until there is on
file a parental consent certificate signed by a parent or legal guardian stating that the student has the consent of
his/her parent(s) or legal guardian to participate
Students Changing Schools
Section 11. General Provisions.
Residence. A student changing schools for any reason, to be eligible, must live at home with his/her
parent(s) or guardian(s), unless:
(a) the student is moving to a boarding school and has no athletic record the previous twelve months
in any sport;
(b) the student is moving as a direct result of the dissolution of the student's home due to death;
(c) the student is moving as a direct result of the divorce of the student's parents; or
(d) the student is moving as a direct result of the separation of the student's parents, provided a
complaint or petition for absolute divorce has been filed with a court having jurisdiction to grant
the divorce.
"Transfer Student" Defined. A transfer student is any student changing schools for any reason other
than having completed the highest, or terminal, grade at another school. A student who must change schools
because he/she has completed the highest grade at his/her previous school is not considered a transfer student
and is eligible to participate in athletics at any school he/she attends, without further approval, provided he/she
satisfies the residence requirement above.
Executive Director Approval Required. A school may not allow a transfer student to participate in
athletics until his/her eligibility has been verified and approved by the Executive Director. The school is
responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the information supplied to the Executive Director for this
purpose.
Participation While Ineligible. If a student who is ineligible, under these provisions regarding students
changing schools, competes in a contest while ineligible, then the student upon becoming eligible under these
provisions will nonetheless be ineligible to participate in twice the number of contests in which he/she participated
as an ineligible student or will be ineligible for the remainder of the season, whichever is less.
Page 13 July 18, 2012