The following statements were adopted March 27, 1992, as Representative Council recommendations for local school district policy with respect to out-of-season programs, with the intent that these statements encourage and guide local school districts’ prevention of or solutions to out-of-season abuses:
1. The mission of MHSAA member schools is to provide well-rounded individuals. The purpose of interscholastic athletics is to help educate boys and girls and not to prepare students for college athletics, which is a by-product of interscholastic participation available to less than 1% of high school athletes.
2. For almost all students, specialization in a single athletic activity is not in their best long-term interests.
3. Students should be encouraged by coaches, administrators and parents to participate in a variety of school activities, including more than one sport during the school year.
4. Schools should not allow priority use of school equipment and facilities by non-school organizations which promote a philosophy contrary to Numbers 1, 2 and 3 above.
5. There should be no promotion or publicity within a school for non-school programs which promote a philosophy contrary to Numbers 1, 2 and 3 above.
6. Neither students nor school coaches should engage in non-school activities during the school year which resemble in any way a school team practicing or competing out-of-season, and thus violate the spirit of rules adopted by Michigan schools to limit out-of-season sports activities sponsored by schools.

SUMMER POLICY STATEMENT OF THE MHSAA REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL
The following statement was adopted by the Representative Council of the Michigan High School Athletic Association on May 7, 1990, as a recommendation to be considered by school administrators and their boards of education as well as their leagues and conferences, and to be communicated to educational groups in Michigan.
The Representative Council is opposed to the tradition of a small but possibly growing number of schools and/or their coaches to arrange for some or all of the members of a team to practice together regularly and to participate together extensively in summer leagues or a series of team camps. The Representative Council urges MHSAA member schools to discourage their coaches and athletes from engaging together in any regular schedule of practice and competition in the summer, and reminds all involved that mandatory practices, competition or camp attendance in the summer is a violation of MHSAA regulations (as are similar activities limited exclusively to prospective members of the interscholastic teams in a particular sport).
The Representative Council also cautions school districts to reduce their exposure to liability for athletic injuries during summer programs by providing no funding or equipment for students to participate in athletic activities at facilities and in programs that are not controlled by the school district. Do not become the “deep pocket” for a personal injury by handling funds for or lending equipment to a student in a program that is not under school district control. (MHSAA catastrophic athletic accident insurance does not cover out-of-season activities.)
In addition to all other policies governing the involvement of schools and coaches outside the school year (Regulation II, Section 11[G]), it is recommended that school districts and conferences consider these or more restrictive limitations during the month of July and/or other periods of the summer:
a) A school district may not conduct or hold in its indoor facilities any summer leagues or team camps which involve students entering grades 7 through 12.
b) A school district may not allow its equipment (including football helmets) to be used in summer leagues or team camps which involve any of its students entering grades 7 through 12.
c) A school district may not allow its personnel, including designated nonfaculty coaches (whether paid or volunteer), to be involved in organizing, directing or coaching in a summer league or team camp in basketball, football, soccer, volleyball, ice hockey, or wrestling if it involves more than three of its students entering grades 7 through 12.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ATHLETIC CAMPS, CLINICS, COMBINES, COMPETITIONS
As a service to its member schools and their students, parents, coaches and administrators, and for the purpose of promoting high standards at athletic camps, clinics, combines and competitions for junior high/middle school and senior high school students, the Michigan High School Athletic Association Representative Council adopted the following recommendations on May 5, 1997:

#1 — EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
A. The program should be designed and scheduled to require no loss of classroom instructional time for participants’ travel or actual participation. It should not encourage lengthy travel on school nights to practice or compete. It should not be so lengthy or exhausting on Sundays that students miss school on Monday to recover from competition and/or travel.
B. The program should be designed and scheduled so no interference is created with the practice or competition schedule of a student on his or her school team. It should not discourage students from participation in other school activities.
C. There should be written assurances from the sponsors and organizers that there is compliance with all MHSAA regulations.
D. In addition to the teaching of sports skills and strategies, educational programs should be provided to participants at multi-day events.
E. The emphasis of the program should be to teach skills and to conduct drills rather than to provide competition where participants display skills which have been developed at other times and places.
F. Coaches and counselors should be screened, selected and trained for appropriate interaction with youth. No one who would fail the background check for employees of schools and/or child care facilities should have assignments as either paid or volunteer staff.

#2 — FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
A. All participants must be charged the same fee. All teams must be treated the same: if one team receives reimbursement, all must be reimbursed by the same formula.
B. No fees or admissions may be charged to spectators for any portion of a camp, clinic or combine.
C. Merchandise gifts and symbolic awards to participants must not exceed $15 retail value.
D. Equipment and apparel given to participants for use during the program must not be retained by the participants at the conclusion of the program unless the actual cost of those items is included in the fee paid by all participants.
E. No compensation may be paid either directly or indirectly to any person for facilitating the attendance of any participant or group of participants.
F. All participants should be covered by excess accident medical insurance with a deductible no higher than $25,000 and a maximum benefit per injury no lower than $100,000.
G. The program sponsor should have in force a comprehensive general liability policy with a per occurrence limit of $1,000,000 or higher.

#3 — PROMOTION
A. Participants must not be solicited or admitted on the basis of past performance or future potential in interscholastic athletics.
B. Promotional literature should not suggest attendance by college recruiters or that participation in the program will enhance the prospects that a participating student may receive an intercollegiate athletic scholarship.
C. Promotional literature should accurately reflect the content and schedule of the program.

_______________________ High School will enforce upon a transfer student any period of ineligibility to which that student would have been subject as a result of a student or athletic code violation(s) at that student's most recent previously attended school.

A student who transfers to _______________________ High School after becoming ineligible because of a student or athletic conduct code violation(s) at the previously attended school shall remain ineligible at ____________________ High School for not less than the period of ineligibility imposed by the previously attended school. This would be the case even if the student's situation would otherwise satisfy one or more of the exceptions to the transfer regulation of ____________________ High School and the Michigan High School Athletic Association (Regulation I, Section 9), and even if the act which caused the student's ineligibility at the previous school would not be a violation or cause the same period of ineligibility at ___________________ High School.

That student was subject to the rules and penalties of the previous school and shall not be allowed to escape the consequences of his/her conduct and, in doing so, displace students of ______________________ High School from teams, positions, events and awards at least until the full period of ineligibility has been served.

Note: The name of the school adopting this policy would be inserted on each blank line above.

Policy
For coaches and officials at all MHSAA tournaments, use of tobacco products of any kind within sight of players and spectators and use of alcohol during a contest or at any time before it on the day of the contest is prohibited.

Enforcement
Tobacco: It is not intended that a violation of the tobacco policy should lead to immediate ejection of a coach. He or she should be reminded of the policy and reported to his or her school administration after the contest. Only if the coach is unwilling to comply promptly should he or she be disqualified from coaching at the event.
Officials should be reminded of the tobacco policy and reported in writing by the tournament manager to the MHSAA.

Alcohol: Historically, officials promptly disqualified coaches, and tournament managers immediately replaced officials who were under the influence of alcohol; and no change in such procedures is intended by these policies.

Comments and Interpretations.
1. Regardless of the number of outs pitched, no player may pitch more than three consecutive days.
2. MHSAA tournament pitching regulations shall not displace regular season pitching regulations. The “30 out” tournament rule is not automatic unless the player has not pitched for two consecutive calendar days prior to the MHSAA tournament in question.
3. Following the 30th out in any sequence which does not include a two-day rest period, a player may not pitch for two calendar days.
4. Violations of the 30 out rule are considered the same as a school using an ineligible player. The minimum penalty in this case is forfeiture of the game.
5. At the beginning of each day of competition coaches of teams competing shall exchange up-to-date "rotation” records.
6. Failure to present the up-to-date Pitching Rotation Record form will require verification by the violating school athletic director the next school day. If verification is not provided the penalty will be the same as for using an ineligible player.
7. A pitcher is allowed a maximum of 30 outs in each of the following rounds of the baseball tournament: District Quarterfinal Round; District Semifinal and Final Round (if preceded by at least two days rest); Regional Semifinal and Final Round; Quarterfinal Round; Seminfinal and Final Round.
NOTE: If a pitcher exceeds the 30-out limit because a batter hits into a double or triple play, that pitcher will be credited with 30 outs and removed from the game as a pitcher. The one or two outs beyond the 30 will not be credited to any pitcher.
It is critical to recognize that the Pitching Limitation Rule can be observed in two ways. First, a player may qualify for a new set of 30 outs by voluntarily resting two calendar days after pitching less than 30 outs. Secondly, a player may qualify for a new set of outs following a required rest of two consecutive calendar days after pitching the 30th out. Finally, in order to begin a new set of 30 outs, there must be two days of required or voluntary rest, regardless of the number of outs credited to a player. The “three-day period” is interpreted as the most recent three days.

Girls Gymnastics
(May, 1992)
Many high school coaches of gymnastics work with gymnasts who also take lessons and participate in Club Gymnastics. Therefore, high school coaches and the school administration must make decisions regarding the amount of time a club gymnast spends in high school practice during the high school season.
The MHSAA Gymnastics Committee developed, and the Representative Council approved, the following guidelines regarding this concern:
The school administration should determine the amount of practice time each gymnast must participate with the high school team. In addition, the school administration should determine a reasonable date in the season when no more athletes may become part of the team. This suggestion is based on the philosophy that steps should be taken to keep the team concept intact."

Requirements for Regular Season Meets
Dual Meets
(1) Exhibition performances are prohibited.
(2) There can be no more than 6 competitors per team event when 2 judges are contracted to judge the events.
(3) There can be no more than 7 competitors per team per event when 4 judges are contracted and 2 events are conducted simultaneously.
Double Dual Meets or Quad Meets
(1) Exhibition performances are prohibited.
(2) No more than 6 competitors per team can compete in each event.
(3) There can be no more than 7 competitors per team per event when 4 judges are contracted and 2 events are conducted simultaneously.
Tri Meets
(1) Exhibition performances are prohibited.
(2) There can be no more than 5 competitors per team per event when 2 judges are contracted to judge each event.
(3) There can be no more than 7 competitors per team per event when 4 judges are contracted and 2 events are conducted simultaneously.

Volleyball Recommendations
(May, 1992)
The MHSAA recommends the following guidelines for local school districts, understanding that the location and conference affiliations (or lack thereof) of some schools may require variation from these recommended standards:
1. A school should compete in no more than 6 invitational meets during a season, preferring member school-sponsored meets over those conducted by colleges and other organizations which might be less familiar with the standards and practices of member schools.
2. No meet should exceed 10 hours in length or extend beyond 10:00 p.m.
3. Before school administrators agree to allow a team to compete in an invitational tournament, they are encouraged to review the tournament information and determine how many schools will compete and how many courts will be used, as well as how many games a team is guaranteed. Such an evaluation of the tournament will assist administrators in determining whether the stay at the site, as well as travel time, is too lengthy and not worthy of a team’s participation.
4. To assist in MHSAA approving member school and non-school invitational tournaments, the following policies should be forwarded to the hosts:
a) MHSAA registered officials must be contracted to work as umpires and referees.
b) Rally scoring is permitted at multi-school invitational tournaments only.
c) Timed games are discouraged.
d) Two-game matches are approved for pool-play.
The following Interpretation will be added to MHSAA HANDBOOK Regulation II, Section 5 — Approved In-State Meets or Tournaments.
“The MHSAA will not approve non-member school sponsored tournaments in volleyball which can be reasonably anticipated by MHSAA staff to exceed 10 hours.”

Baseball/Softball (1997)
Game Shortening Adoptions: (Schools, leagues or invitational tournament management shall determine which are to be utilized with prior mutual written consent):
1. Require games to be terminated when there is a 15-run difference after 3 innings or a 10-run difference after 5 innings;
2. Allow a team to discontinue play anytime it trails by more than 15 runs;
3. Establish shortened games of 5 or 6 innings;
4. Establish a time limit to terminate games of regular season varsity tournament events and any sub-varsity game (1 hour, 45 minutes recommended).

Basketball (1998)
When in the second half a point differential of 40 points is established, a running clock will be in effect for the remainder of the game. The clock shall be stopped as normal for all timout, including injury and the third-period break.
The clock will revert to regular time schemes when the score is reduced to a 30-point differential or less.

Ice Hockey (1997)
(NFHS Rule Book – Rule 6-37B)
Individual schools, by previous agreement or by league adoptions, may terminate games after two periods or during the third period when a team leads by 10 or more goals. This rule will be in effect during MHSAA Regional Tournaments, but not during Quarterfinal, Semifinal and Final games.

Football (1998)
The running clock, 35-point margin mercy rule will be used for all football games, regular season and playoffs, varsity and sub-varsity, high school and junior high/middle school.
After the first half, any time the score differential reaches 35 points or more, the following changes, and only these changes, will be made regarding rules determining when the clock will and will not be stopped:
The clock will run continuously except for the following situations when it will be stopped:
1) Timeouts (charged to a team)
2) Intermission (between 3rd and 4th quarters, and after a score)
3) Penalty enforcement (whistle to ready-to-play)
4) Safety reasons (injuries, etc.)
Normal timing procedures will resume if the point differential is reduced to less than 35 points.
NOTE: The use of this option does not preclude the use of Rule 3-1-3 which reads: “A period or periods may be shortened in any emergency by agreement of the opposing coaches and the referee. By mutual agreement of the opposing coaches and the referee any remaining periods may be shortened at any time or the game may be terminated.”

Soccer (1994)
Leagues and independents may adopt or agree by contract to invoke the mercy rule to end a game when a team is ahead by 10 goals or more and the game is beyond 10 minutes in the second half.
NOTE: Officials must be made aware of this adoption.
The mercy rule is in effect for all MHSAA tournament competition, excluding the District Championship, Regional Championship and the Championship Final Games.

I. IF THERE IS A WATCH OR WARNING AT A TOURNAMENT SITE —
A. Watch or warning issued at least three hours prior to the event:
1. If the local district policy closes the tournament facility, all participating teams must be called and informed of postponement with information pertaining to next playing date and time included in the call.
2. If the host district policy does not close the facility, all participating schools who have not called the host must be called to be sure all who are scheduled to play will be present. (The participating school local policy must prevail).
a. If one team of a dual type competition (i.e. Baseball Tournament) cannot be present by their policy, no contest will be held. The competition for that day/night must be rescheduled on the next possible day, not including Sunday.
b. If the competition is multiple team type (i.e. Track, Tennis), the meet will be conducted as long as a reasonable number of teams (60%) can be present.

B. Watch or warning less than three hours before event:
1. If the competing teams are enroute, no decision can be made and until both teams in a bracket have arrived or contact has been made, unless local policy forbids use of facility once the watch or warning has been issued.
2. If competing teams arrive, are on the premises, and local policy permits, play the contest when and if time permits.
3. If it is not possible that date, reschedule for next playable date, not including Sunday.
4. Local policy will always prevail.

C. Watch or warning during contest:
1. Suspend play.
2. Take necessary steps and precautions as directed by local policy.
3. Resume play at the point of suspension as soon as permitted. If not that day/night, then reschedule for the next possible date, not including Sunday.

II. IF THE WATCH OR WARNING IS IN AN AREA OF ONE OR MORE COMPETING SCHOOLS AND NOT AT A TOURNAMENT SITE:
A. It shall be the responsibility of the competing school to inform the manager of the tournament immediately.
B. The decision as to play or not to play will be made by the Tournament Manager, based on the information presented and the type of sport event involved.
1. If one or more local policies do not permit travel or competition, the game, games, or tournament will be postponed.
2. If the scheduled competition is of a multiple team nature (i.e. Track and Field), the competition may take place even though all teams are not able to be present. (60% is suggested guideline).
3. The rationale for #1 and #2 hinges on the fact that in #1, both teams of a dual type competition must be present if a contest is to take place. Number 2 permits competition, even though all teams cannot be present.
C. If one or more schools are on the road to the tournament site at the time of watch or warning, no decision shall be and until contact has been made with all concerned. (An authorized person from the assigned schools).
D. If one school arrives on site and the opponent cannot travel due to local policy, the game shall be postponed and rescheduled on the next possible date, not including Sunday.

GENERAL GUIDELINE: The local Tournament Manager has full jurisdiction over the policies of the tournament site. If the above guidelines do not cover a certain situation, the decision on the matter shall be that of the Tournament Manager.

I. On threatening days, game management should consult with contest officials about steps to be followed if conditions worsen.
II. When suspending an outdoor contest, officials and game management shall follow these guidelines.
A. Lightning necessitates that contest be suspended. the occurrence of lightning is not subject to interpretation or discussion — lightning is lightning.
B. Severe weather in the form of rain or snow may make the field unplayable.
III. When a contest is suspended, the home school administration shall attempt to arrange for the security of all participants.
A. Contestants and support personnel shall be moved to appropriate indoor facilities.
B. When lightning is observed and the contest is suspended, contestants shall not return to the playing field until lightning has been absent from the local sky for 15 minutes.
C. Spectators shall be advised of the action being taken to seek shelter. (Some hosts may be able to offer shelter to spectators burt are not required to do so.)
IV. In considering resumption of competition, the following steps should be followed.
A. Suspension for contest scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. should not exceed one and one half hour. Delays for contests scheduled for 7 p.m. or later should not exceed one hour. A postponed contest should be rescheduled on a date/time mutually agreed to by the schools involved.
B. A decision to resume the contest within the time frame must be made by the officials who will consult the home team administration and visiting school administration present at the contest.
C. The home school is responsible for facilities and will be given priority consideration in the final decision if there is not consensus among the three parties.
D. The final decision shall consider liability and conditions of facilities as well as future schedules, need to play the contest and finally the quality of all other options.

NOTE: More restrictive local policies and MHSAA tournament policies would supersede these guidelines and should be shared with the opponents and officials prior to the contest, preferably in writing.
Otherwise, and to the extent allowed by the playing rules code, the official(s) will make the final decision regarding game suspension once the game begins.

When a league or conference does not have a written policy regarding late contest start time, the following MHSAA policy will apply:
1. If a team fails to arrive for a regular-season contest at the time stated on the contract, it will be necessary for the host administration to delay the contest, declare the game forfieted, reschedule the contest, or declare the event “no contest.”
2. If the host management has been notified of the reason for the delay and projected arrival, the officials must stand by for 60 minutes beyond the scheduled starting time. When the team arrives, a reasonable amount of time must be provided for the visiting team to conduct a pregame warm-up. In any case, warm-up may not be less than 15 minutes.
3. If the host management has not been nontified that there is a delay and the reason for it, the officials have permission to leave the site, without obligation, 30 minutes after the contracted start time has passed.
(In MHSAA tournament play, the General Information Bulletin for each sport will prescribe the specific action to be taken. For regular-season play, league and conference policy supercedes the policy above, so coaches and officials should inquire with their league to see if any policy exists.)