RMS RULES FOR ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY

 

Section 1 . A student must not have reached their sixtenth (16th) birthday by July 1. A school will have on file in its school, copies of the state birth certificates of all students participating on interscholastic teams.

 

Section 2 . A student must not participate under an assumed name.

 

Section 3 . A student must meet the following academic requirements:

A. To be eligible in the first semester, a student must pass all classes during the second semester of the previous school year, and any classes taken in summer school. The student will lose eligibility if at the end of the first nine weeks any grade drops below a 70 average.  

B. To be eligible during the second semester, the student must meet the following conditions:

a. If the students met first semester eligibility requirements, then they must pass all classes during the first semester.  

b. If the student did not meet first semester eligibility requirements, then they are ineligible to participate.

C. To participate in interscholastic athletic activities, students in grades 7-8 must achieve passing grades in addition to the above listed requirements.  

 D. Schools will follow the procedures outlined in the STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITED HIGH SCHOOLS OF SOUTH CAROLINA (published by the State Department of Educa­tion) in accepting or rejecting credits received by a student while the student is enrolled in private schools and/or in out-of-state schools.

 

Section 4 . A student must meet the following attendance requirements:

A. A student must have attended school at least eighty-five (85) days in the semester im­mediately preceding the contest or sport. The attendance must be in one accredited school unless a change of residence forces attendance elsewhere. Unexcused absences cannot be made up.

B. If a student fails to enroll and attend classes for one day by the eighth calendar day of the first semester, he will not be allowed to take part in any contest or activity of the League until he has been in bona fide regular attendance for thirty (30) calendar days. This enrollment must be in the school in which he is in attendance or in the school from which he was forced to transfer.

C. If an interscholastic contest occurs before the formal opening of school, a student is eligible to represent the school if he attended the school during the previous semester or is living in the attendance area of the school because of change of residence on the part of the parent or legal guardian.

D. All student athletes are to go to the gym after going to their lockers immediately after school. No loitering upstairs in the school or in any off-limits area. The penalty for viola­tion of this rule will be determined by the head coach of each sport. Student athletes may receive a disciplinary referral for being in an off-limits area.

E. If a student athlete has placed himself/herself in a situation where they have been charged with a misdemeanor by law enforcement and the student athlete admits fault or guilt: 

1st time - in season - 2 game suspension

2nd time - dismissal from squad

F. If a student athlete has placed himself/herself in a situation where they have been charged with a felony by law enforcement:

1st time - out of season or in season - the athlete, parents, coach, athletic direc­tor, and school administration will meet to determine the future of the athlete in Riverside Middle athletics.

Any student athlete who has been charged with a violation of the law will be prohibited from participating in athletics until the athletic department and school administration has met and reviewed the situation.

 

Section 5. A student must observe the following limitations on participation:

A: A student whose name appears on the school’s Certificate of Eligibility shall not practice, nor participate on any other SCHSL sanctioned athletic team (Varsity or Junior Varsity) other than a team representing his school during the season for which he has been certified. Violation of this section will render the student ineligible in that sport for the remainder of present school year.

B. A student may only participate at the middle school level, when athletic extracurricular teams are offered at their school of attendance. Only when there is no team may the student participate on the Varsity or Junior Varsity level.

 

Section 6 . A student must meet the following residence requirements:

A. A student must live with his parent or parents or legally appointed guardian.

B. A student must attend the high school which serves the attendance area in which his parent or parents, or legally appointed guardian reside.

An attendance area must be considered as an area set up by the proper school authorities (local, district, or county trustees) from which pupils in such area attend the high school designated for that area. If no attendance area is designated, the area previously served by the high school must be observed.

C. A student may remain at his original school as long as the school exists. When there exists the option of remaining in his original school or transferring to the high school of the new attendance of his parents, a student may transfer to the new school at the time his parents change residence or at the end of the semester or school year and be eligible im­mediately. If the transfer is at any other time, the student will have a one year’s waiting period before being eligible.

 

Section 7 . A student must be governed by the following provisions when he transfers from one school to another.

A. A student who transfers because of a bona fide change of residence of his parents or legal guardian (of at least one year) becomes eligible to represent his new school immediately upon becoming a bona fide student, provided he was eligible to represent the school from which he transferred and is eligible in all other respects.

B. A student who transfers from one school to another without a corresponding bona fide change of residence by parents or guardian will be eligible after one calendar year.

C. If legal custody is granted to one parent, the student must live with his parent if he is to be eligible. If the parents of a student are separated and reside in different attendance areas and legal custody is not granted to either parent, the student has the option of establishing eligibility with either parent. He will have a one year’s waiting period if he later transfers to the other parent.

 

Section 8 . A student must be governed by the following provisions when a guardianship is involved:

  A. If the parent, or parents, are living and a legal guardian is appointed, the student must live with that legal guardian one year from the inception date of legal papers as recorded in the office of the County Clerk of Court before he can become eligible.

B. A student whose parents reside outside the continental United States will be eligible at the home of his temporary guardian immediately. He may not transfer from his school unless there is a bona fide change of residence on the part of the temporary guardian.

C. A student who transfers because of the change of legally appointed guardians shall wait one year before becoming eligible.

D. If both parents are dead, the student will become eligible on the day legal guardianship papers are recorded in the office of the County Clerk of Court.

 

Section 9 . A student must maintain an amateur status.

A. A student may not have competed for money or consideration other than prizes with symbolic value. No participant may accept material awards in excess of actual expenses, including hotel bills and transportation. The word symbolic is used to mean that the award must have some relationship to the sport being played. The following are permitted: regular letter awards of the school; miniature gold or silver footballs, basketball, track shoes or other similar emblematic awards; sweaters or jackets given by school; ribbons, banners, medals, trophies, plaques, cups, etc.; and banquets. The following are not permitted: wearing ap­parel; service (such as board, laundry, dry cleaning, etc.) membership in other than school letter organizations; watches, fountain pens or similar articles that have distinct economic value and may be sold freely and easily on the regular market.

B. The recruiting or proselyting of student athletes shall be considered a violation of the spirit and philosophy of the rules and regulations governing high school athletics. A stu­dent may not be subjected to undue influence or any special inducement by any person, or group, in any attempt to entice him to transfer for athletic purposes. Some examples of undue influence as follows:

1. Asked by a member of the school faculty or member of a “booster

organization” of a school to transfer from one school to another.

2. Given any consideration not afforded other students.

3. Financial aid for transportation, room board, or guardian.

4. Promise of a job for either the student and/or parent or guardian.

5. Special privileges given to parents such as employment, free or reduced rent, etc.

6. Promise of help in securing a college scholarship.

7. Other privileges or consideration made to induce or influence the student to transfer from one school to another because of his athletic ability. Any student transferring as a result of recruiting or undue influence shall be ineligible for a period of one calendar year from the date of his transfer. Any school adjudged guilty of being a part of such undue influence shall be subjected to disciplinary action by the League.

 

 

INSURANCE INFORMATION

All participants of high school / middle school athletic programs are required to purchase athletic insurance through the school. Students will not be allowed to either practice or become a member of the team without this coverage. Because this policy is mandatory, it covers only injuries received during practice for, or participating in, a high school sport. This required policy should not be confused with the school time/24 hour plan which is optional and covers all school time injuries including all athletic injuries except football. Again, the athletic insurance is mandatory while the school time/24 hour plan is optional. This fee covers all South Carolina High School League sponsored sports. If your student participates in one (1), two (2) or three (3) sports during the year, he/she will be covered.

 

 

PERMITS FOR PARTICIPATION IN ATHLETICS:

Athletes must fill out both an Athletic Permit form and an Athletic Protection Fund Form. Athletic Permit Form: This form requires the signature of the parent, student, and doctor upon completion of a physical examination. All athletics MUST present a copy of his state Birth Certificate to the coach as part of his eligibility record.

All student athletes should read and become familiar with the Student Extracurricular Code of Conduct implemented by Greenville County Schools.