1. *PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND PARENTS PERMIT — Any student who intends to participate in high school interscholastic
athletics and cheerleading activities must have on file in the school, a record of a physical examination performed within the
previous three (3) years. A health questionnaire shall be completed annually and could indicate the need for a physical
examination prior to participation. The signature of the parent or guardian approving participation is required.
2. LAST DATE TO JOIN A TEAM — To be eligible for section and state competition, a student must be a member of that school’s
team not later than the fourth Monday from the official start of that sport season. Gymnasts must be on the school’s team
not later than the third Monday from the official start of that season. When a sport season begins on a Monday, that day
shall be counted as the first Monday.
3. NON-SCHOOL COMPETITION AND TRAINING FOR TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
A. During the High School Season: During the high school season a student may not participate as a member of a team or
as an individual competitor in non-school sponsored games, meets, tournaments or contests, in the same sport.
Participation defined: practice, training, tryouts, scrimmaging and competing. Season Defined: The high school season
shall run from the first date that practice may begin until the team is eliminated in MSHSL tournament competition.
Baseball, Softball and Skiing are exceptions to this rule.
Exception: Non-School Training During the High School Season for Athletes Who Qualify as Individual competitors to the
State Tournament: (Swimming, Cross Country, Tennis, Skiing, Gymnastics, Wrestling, Synchronized Swimming, Golf, and
Track and Field)
1. Lessons/Training: During the MSHSL high school season athletes may take lessons from professionals and other nonschool coaches without limit as to where, when or who may provide the training. Athletes may not miss a high school
practice, game, or meet to take a lesson or train for a non-school event. Athletes may take lessons and or train with a
non-school team/club during the high school season in the same sport.
2. Competition: Athletes will be able to compete in non-school events/competitions that do not match the events in
which athletes currently compete in high school competition.
Exception: Summer Vacation Period — Students may participate in non-school competitions, meets, games,
tournaments in the same sport they currently play at the high school level during the summer vacation period. See
definition of summer vacation below: 14.C.
Summer Coaching waiver: If a student participates on a team coached by a member of the high school coaching staff,
coaching contact shall end on July 31 unless a conditional extension to the summer waiver is granted by the school’s
athletic director.
Students may take private lessons during the MSHSL season.
B. During the School Year, Prior To and Following the High School Sports Season — A student may participate in contests,
meets or tournaments as an individual competitor or as a member of a non-school team provided that these activities
are voluntary and not influenced or directed by a salaried or non-salaried member of the student’s sophomore, B-squad,
junior varsity or varsity high school coaching staff.
1. A student may not use any type of high school uniform.
2. A student may not receive coaching or training from a salaried
or non-salaried member of the student’s sophomore, B-squad, junior varsity or varsity high school coaching staff in that
sport. Power skating, tennis, gymnastics, and indoor soccer are
included in this limitation.
3. A student may receive training through private lessons from a person who is not a salaried or non-salaried member of
the student’s sophomore, B-squad, junior varsity or varsity high school coaching staff in that sport.
4. A student’s fee for non-school coaching or training must be provided by the student or the student’s parent(s) or
guardian(s) unless approved by the Board of Directors.
C. Summer Vacation Period
A student may compete as an individual or as a member of a non-school team even though competing on a high school
team in the same sport. Summer shall be defined as June 1 through Labor Day. Summer for the sport of soccer shall be
defined as June 1 through Sunday immediately preceding the official starting date of the MSHSL high school soccer
season.
Note: Students may participate in activities during the summer, as defined above, even though their high school sport
season in the same sport has begun. For example, students may play in a non-school tennis tournament while a member
of the high school team or participate in road races while a member of the cross country team through Labor Day. Soccer
is excluded from dual participation as defined above.
D. Penalty
1. First Violation: After confirmation of the first violation, the student shall lose eligibility in that sport for the next two
(2) consecutive interscholastic contests or two (2) weeks of that season, whichever is greater. If there are fewer than
two (2) events remaining in that sport, the loss of eligibility will continue into the next season in that sport. Note: This
means that a senior who violates the bylaws at the end of one sport season will lose eligibility for two (2) games in the
next sport season in which the student participates.
2. Second Violation: After confirmation of the second violation, the student shall lose eligibility in that sport for the next
six (6) consecutive interscholastic contests or three (3) weeks, whichever is greater.
3. Third Violation: After confirmation of the third or subsequent violations, the student shall lose eligibility in that sport
for the next twelve (12) consecutive interscholastic contests or four (4) weeks, whichever is greater.
4. Penalties are progressive and consecutive.
E. Special Considerations
1. National Teams and Olympic Development Programs
The MSHSL may permit participation by high school students on bona fide national teams or in Olympic development
programs if:
a. The program is approved and supported by the national governing body of the sport or if there is an Olympic
development program of training and competition.
b. Directly funded by a national governing body on a national level.
c. Authorized by a national governing body for athletes having potential for future national team participation.
Students who are invited to participate on National Teams or in Olympic Development Programs must contact their
high school principal to obtain an application form. This must be completed at least thirty (30) days prior to
participation.
2. During the school year, students who participate for their school in a sport may participate through training, try-out or
competition on a National Team or in a United States Olympic Development Program provided the student receives
an individual invitation from the United States Olympic Committee or the United States National Governing Body on
the national level for that sport.
3. Students who have completed their eligibility in a sport are exempt from the non-school competition and training
rules in that sport.
4. ATHLETIC CAMPS AND CLINICS
A. School Year — Students may attend athletic camps and clinics which have been approved by their high school principal.
B. Summer Vacation Period — Non-school specialized athletic camps and clinics do not require approval.
1. The non-school sponsored camp or clinic fee must be provided by the student or the student’s parent(s) or
guardian, unless other arrangements are approved by the Board of Directors.
2. A student may attend a camp or clinic where a member of the school’s coaching staff (sophomore, B-Squad, junior
varsity or varsity) in that sport owns, administers, directs, organizes, or serves as an instructor or is a staff member
during the student’s attendance.
C. Penalty
1. First Violation: After confirmation of the first violation, the student shall lose eligibility in that sport for the next two
(2) consecutive interscholastic contests or two (2) weeks of that season, whichever is greater. If there are fewer than
two (2) events remaining in that sport, the loss of eligibility will continue into the next season in that sport. Note: This
means that a senior who violates the bylaws at the end of one sport season will lose eligibility for two (2) games in
the next sport season in which the student participates.
2. Second Violation: After confirmation of the second violation, the student shall lose eligibility in that sport for the next
six (6) consecutive interscholastic contests or three (3) weeks, whichever is greater.
3. Third Violation: After confirmation of the third or subsequent violations, the student shall lose eligibility in that sport
for the next twelve (12) consecutive interscholastic contests or four (4) weeks, whichever is greater.
5. TRANSFER RULE — Bylaw 111
A. A transfer student is eligible for varsity competition provided the student was in Good Standing on the date of
withdrawal from the last school the student attended and one (1) of the provisions in Section B (below) is met.
B. A transfer student is eligible for varsity competition if:
1. 9
th Grade Option: The student is enrolling in 9th grade for the first time.
2. Family Residence Change: The student transfers from one public school district attendance area to another public
school district attendance area at any time during the calendar year in which there is a change of residence and
Updated: June 28, 2022 7
occupancy in Minnesota by the student’s parents. If the student’s parents move from one public school district
attendance area to another public school district attendance area, the student will be eligible at the public school in
the new public school attendance area or a non-public school if the student transfers at the same time the student’s
parents establish a new family residence. (Please see Definitions for further explanation.)
OR
If the parents move from one public school district attendance area to another public school district attendance area,
the student shall continue to be fully eligible if the student continues enrollment in the prior school for the balance of
the current marking period or for the balance of the academic school year. If the student elects either of the current
enrollment options above, the student will be fully eligible upon transfer to the new school in the public school
district attendance area where the student’s parents reside or a non-public school.
A student who elects not to transfer upon a parent’s change in residence shall continue to be eligible at the school in
which the student is currently enrolled.
3. Court Ordered Residence Change for Child Protection: The student’s residence is changed pursuant to a child
protection order placement in a foster home, or a juvenile court disposition order.
4. Divorced Parents: A student of divorced parents or parents who were never married, who resides with one parent
and moves to reside with the other parentshall be eligible at the time of the move:
a. At the public school in the new public school attendance area as determined by the district school board where the
new residence is located; or
b. At any non-public school.
The student may utilize this provision only one time during grades 9-12 inclusive.
The new residence cannot be located in the same public school attendance area as the previous residence.
Please Note: This provision can only be applied the first time the student moves between parents and
changes schools and only if the specific requirements of this provision are met. The intent of this provision is
to provide varsity competition eligibility for a student who is living (solely) with one parent and who desires
to move to live with the other parent. Additionally, a student of separated parents, who resides with one
parent and moves to reside with the other parent shall be eligible at the time of the move.
5. Move from Out of State: if a student’s parents move to Minnesota from a state or country outside of Minnesota and
if the student moves at the same time the parent establishes a residence in a Minnesota public school district
attendance area, the student shall be eligible at the first school the student attends in Minnesota.
C. If none of the provisions in Athletic Rule 5.B.1-5 (above) are met, the student is ineligible for varsity competition for a
period of one (1) calendar year beginning with the first day of attendance at the new school.
1. Students are immediately eligible for competition at the non-varsity level.
2. A student may not obtain eligibility as a result of a transfer. If at the time of transfer the student was not fully eligible
in the previous school, the student shall be ineligible in the new school. A student who was not in good standing at
the time of transfer shall be ineligible until the penalty from the previous school has been served.
3. Multiple Transfers: A student who is serving a one-year varsity competition suspension as a result of a transfer
shall have an additional varsity competition suspension for each subsequent (additional) transfer. A new, oneyear varsity competition suspension will begin on the first day of attendance or the first day of participation in a
fall sport practice at the new school each time the student transfers.
D. Enrollment Options Program: a student who utilizes Minnesota Statute 124D.03 Enrollment Options Programs, and
transfers without a corresponding change of residence by the student’s parents shall select one of the participation
options identified below:
1. Retain full eligibility for varsity competition for one (1) calendar year at the school where the student was enrolled
prior to the transfer after which time the student shall become fully eligible at the school to which the student has
transferred; or
2. Be eligible only at the non-varsity level in the school to which the student has transferred for one (1)
calendar year.
3. Participation is defined as practice, training, scrimmaging, tryouts and competing.
E. Return to Former School Policy: A student who transfers from one MSHSL member school to another MSHSL member
school is ineligible for varsity competition for a fifteen (15) calendar day period from the first day the student attends
practice in the fall or attends classes in the new school for the first time.
1. Upon transfer, the student will be ineligible at the former school and may practice at the new school but may not
compete in any varsity activity at the new school.
2. The student will retain full eligibility at the former school if the student chooses to return to the former school during
the fifteen (15) calendar day period.
3. If the student remains at the new school, following the fifteen (15) calendar day period, the student will become
eligible at the varsity level only when the student has fully met all of the transfer criteria and has been deemed to be
eligible both by the new school and the League office.
4. If any of the transfer criteria has not been met, the student will be ineligible for varsity competition at the new school
and must then choose between varsity eligibility at the former school or JV eligibility at the new school.
5. The student may elect to decline the fifteen (15) calendar day period to become eligible to compete at the varsity
level at the Receiving School once the school administration determines the student has met all of the varsity
participation eligibility criteria.
6. A student may utilize this provision one time per 365 calendar day period.