2000 MHSAA Handbook--Regulation I

SECTION 9—TRANSFERS
SECTION 9 (A)—A student enrolled in grades 9 through 12 who transfers from one high school or junior high/middle school to another high school is ineligible to participate in an interscholastic athletic contest or scrimmage for 1 full semester in the school to which the student transfers (see Section 9 [B]), UNLESS the student qualifies under one or more of the following exceptions:
1. A student moves into(changes his or her residence to) a new public high school district with the persons with whom he or she was living during his or her last school year of enrollment (not summer school). (1998)
2. A student who has not been living with a parent or parents and moves into (changes his or her residence to) a new public high school district to reside with his or her parents, the single parent if divorced, or only living parent who already reside in that district or attendance area of a multi-high school district. (1989)
3. A student is a ward of the court or state and is required to reside in a public high school district or school service area by court order. Guardianship does not fulfill this requirement.
4. A foreign exchange student is placed with a host family in a public high school district or school service area by a bona fide exchange program (as determined by the MHSAA) for a minimum of one and a maximum of two semesters.
5. A student marries and establishes a new residence in a new public high school district or new attendance area of a multi-high school district.
6. A student transfers to another school because his or her school ceases to operate.
7. A student in attendance at a school designated by the governing body of that school as the result of reorganization of attendance areas, consolidation or annexation, or at the public school in the district where he or she resides.
8. A student of parents who are divorced moves from one public high school district into a new public high school district (changes his or her residence) with or to one of those parents, and the principal of each of the two schools involved signs the Educational Transfer Form which certifies the reason for the move as it relates to the divorce. The transfer is permitted under this exception one time and must be approved by the Executive Director before the student competes in interscholastic athletic competition. (1981)
9. A student is transferred within a school system, for other than athletic or disciplinary purposes, as a result of the initiative and order of the board of education or the governing body of a private or parochial school system.
10. A student enters in the ninth grade of a four year high school and has not been previously enrolled in the ninth grade or a student completes the ninth and highest grade of a junior high/middle school in which he or she was enrolled for at least the two most recent consecutive school years and enrolls for the first time in the tenth grade of a three or four year high school, and has not participated previously in the interscholastic athletic program of a three year or four year high school. (1997)
11. A student completes the last grade available to any students in the school system previously attended. (1971)
12. A student eighteen (18) years or older moves out of the public high school district or attendance area of the multi-high school district he or she previously attended and into a new public high school district or attendance area (changes his or her residence), without being accompanied by a parent or parents, and both principals sign the Educational Transfer Form certifying the transfer is in the best educational interest of the student. The transfer is permitted under this exception one time and must be approved by the Executive Director before the student competes in interscholastic athletic competition. (1983)
13. A student becomes a bona fide boarding student of a boarding school, as defined in the school code, and the principal of each of the two schools involved signs the Educational Transfer Form. The transfer is permitted one time and must be approved by the Executive Director before the student competes in interscholastic athletic competition. (1982)
14. A student returns to the school from which he/she was expelled by the board of education/governing body after successfully completing the expelling board of education’s/governing body’s documented pre-existing criteria. Athletic eligibility would require (a) the student passed at least 20 credit hours of course work during each semester of attendance at another school, (b) that student did not participate for any school in any sport under MHSAA jurisdiction during the expulsion, and (c) the student is eligible in all other ways. The transfer is permitted one time. (1996)
15. A student enrolls on the first day of the first grading period of a high school which is being established and opened for the first time and has not represented another school in interscholastic scrimmages or contests in any sport that school year. (1996)

SECTION 9 (B)—The Executive Committee has the authority to grant immediate eligibility at the sub-varsity level for transferring 9th or 10th grade students (after entering 9th grade, before completing 10th grade) who have not previously participated in an interscholastic scrimmage or contest in any MHSAA sport at the high school level (whether MHSAA member schools or not) and who do not qualify for one of the 15 stated exceptions to the transfer regulation and have transferred for reasons having nothing to do with athletics, discipline or family finances and would not require Executive Committee evaluation or comparison of school demographics or curriculum. (1998)

SECTION 9 (C)—The Executive Committee has the authority to grant immediate eligibility for students transferring between schools involved in a cooperative agreement. Immediate eligibility may only be granted in the sport(s) in which the student actually participated during the previous season for that sport and the transfer has nothing to do with athletics, discipline or family finances and would not require Executive Committee evaluation or comparison of school demographics or curriculum. Reasons for the transfer must be clearly stated and support presented from both schools. The transfer is permitted one time.

SECTION 9 (D)—A full semester is defined under this Regulation as one in which a transfer occurred not later than the fourth Friday after Labor Day (first semester), the fourth Friday of February (second semester), or 90 school days from the date of enrollment in the receiving school for those requests approved by the Executive Committee. (1991)

SECTION 9 (E)—When the administration of the school from which a student who is ineligible under 9 (A) has transferred, alleges that the motivation for the transfer is primarily for athletic reasons, the granting of eligibility after one semester is not automatic. The burden of proof will be for the administration of the accusing school to demonstrate to the MHSAA Executive Director or designee that the transfer has more to do with interscholastic athletics than with other compelling factors. A transfer for athletic reasons is defined as, but not limited to:
1. The student, or a parent or guardian, or an adult with whom the student resides, is dissatisfied with the student’s position or the amount of playing time which he/she receives;
2. The student, or a parent or guardian, or an adult with whom the student resides, has a problem with a coach at either a personal or professional level;
3. The student, or parent or guardian, or an adult with whom the student resides, seeks relief from conflict with the philosophy or action of an administrator, teacher or coach relating to sports;
4. The student, or parent or guardian, or an adult with whom the student resides, seeks to nullify punitive action by the previous school, relating to sports eligibility;
5. The student follows his/her coach to another school to which the coach has relocated.
6. The student, or a parent or guardian, or an adult with whom the student resides, desires that the student play on a less successful or lower profile team in order to be ranked higher among the players on that team;
7. The student, or a parent or guardian, or an adult with whom the student resides, desires that the student play on a more successful or higher profile team to gain a higher level of competition and/or more exposure to college scouts.
8. The student seeks to participate with teammates or coaches with whom he/she participated in non-school competition during the preceding 12 months.
A challenge that a transfer is athletically motivated must be received by the MHSAA Executive Director in writing with initial proofs by the fourth Friday after Labor Day (first semester) or fourth Friday of February (second semester) of the first full semester after the student’s transfer. Notification of the challenge will be made to the school that the student is currently attending so the receiving school has the opportunity to respond and to have input into the determination by the Executive Director.
An ineligible transfer student who is confirmed to have transferred for athletic reasons is ineligible for two full semesters to participate in an interscholastic contest in the school to which the student transfers. If undue influence is alleged, Section 10 applies. (1997)
SECTION 9 (E)—A student whose name has been entered into an MHSAA meet or tournament is not eligible during the meet or tournament in the same sport in the same season at a second school, even if the student completes an otherwise legal transfer to the second school. In football, a student may not change schools after the sixth playing date that season and become eligible to compete in the football play-offs at the second school. (1979)

INTERPRETATIONS—SECTION 9
57. A. If, in cities or towns which have more than one public or nonpublic high school, no definite geographical attendance lines between the different schools exist, such cities or towns will be considered as one school district.
B. If there are defined geographical attendance lines between the different high schools in a multi-school district, each school will be treated as a separate district for eligibility purposes. Whenever reference is made to new school districts in the interpretations, the same is true for board of education defined geographical attendance areas of high schools in multi-school districts.
58. When a student moves into (changes his or her residence to) a new public school district under the conditions of exceptions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, or 12, the student is eligible immediately at:
(a) the school he/she had been attending, or
(b) the public school of the new district, or
(c) the public school academy under PA 362 closest to the student’s new residence, or
(d) the nonpublic school which is closest to the student’s new residence:
(1) the nonpublic school of the same denomination if the student had most recently been attending such a high school, or
(2) a nonpublic, non-denominational, non-religious school if the student had most recently been attending such a high school.
59. Even if Interpretation 58(b), (c), or (d) is not satisfied, when a student who has not been living with a parent or parents returns to live with that parent or parents in the same public school attendance area as before and re-enrolls at the same high school he or she attended while living in that public school attendance area, the student is immediately eligible at the school to which he/she returns insofar as the transfer regulation is concerned. (exception [2])
60. When a school ceases to exist (exception 6), or a student completes the last grade available to any students in that school system (exception 11), and the student does not change his or her residence into a new public school district, then that student has the same choice as students under Exception 10.
61. References to parent/parents in all interpretations are intended to include stepparent/stepparents.
62. If a student remains at the school he or she has been attending, after the only parent, parents, guardian or other persons with whom the student has been living during the period of his or her last high school enrollment move into (change their residence to) another school district, the student still is eligible at the original school as far as this Regulation is concerned. The student may transfer at any time and be eligible immediately as outlined in Interpretation 52.
63. A student who has been attending a public school and moves (changes residence) by himself or herself into a new public school district, attends a new school, and then returns to his or her parents’ residence in the original public school district, is immediately eligible at either the public school of that district or the closest non-public school under exception (2) of Regulation I, Section 9 (A).
64. If a student was living with one parent only, the student must move (change residence) with that parent to be immediately eligible. If a student was living with both parents or grandparents or with an aunt and uncle, the student must move (change residence) with both persons to be immediately eligible. (exception [1])
65. If the only parent, parents, or guardian of a student, or other persons with whom he or she has been living during the period of his or her last high school enrollment, move into (change residence to) a new school district having a high school, and the student enters a school other than one in his or her new home district, that student is not eligible in that school until there has been attendance for one full semester.
66. If the only parent, parents, or guardian of a student, or other persons with whom he or she has been living during the period of his or her last high school enrollment, move into (change residence to) a new public school district which does not have high school grades in that district as yet not completed by the student, he or she is free to attend any other high school and become eligible immediately for athletic competition. (exception [11]).
67. If a student moves (changes residence) during the summer with his/her parents from one school district to another, and before the school year begins moves back to the original school district or to another school district, that student is eligible for interscholastic athletics at either the previous school of enrollment or the school in the district where his/her parents reside at the start of the school year.
68. When a student moves (changes his or her residence) from one school district to another without the persons he/she had most recently been living and is ineligible under Section 9(A), and before the completion of at least one semester that student moves back to the original district or to a third school district with the persons he or she had been living in the second district, that student remains ineligible.
69. A ninth grade student, who practices or competes with a team in August before school begins, is not immediately eligible in that sport at any school if he or she actually enrolls at a school other than the one with which he or she had practiced or competed unless another of the 15 stated exceptions to the transfer regulation applies. (exception [10])
70. If a student and the person(s) with whom the student has been living move (change residence) to a residence in a new school district and the student participates in an interscholastic scrimmage or contest in that district, and then the student and/or the person(s) with whom the student has been living move (change residence) back to the former district before the completion of one semester, the student is ineligible for any interscholastic athletic competition at any school until approved by the two school districts and the MHSAA.
71. A change of residence for eligibility purposes must be full and complete. Before being deemed eligible, the student and his or her parents must attest to the facts and produce documentation that all of personal belongings have been moved from the prior residence, mail is received at the new residence, telephone listing, driver’s license and voter registration have been changed to the new address. Additional proofs, including, but not limited to, proof of rental or completed sale of the former residence and rental or completed purchase of the new residence, may also be required. The former residence must be either vacant, sold or rented to persons other than family members. A former residence may not be occupied for any residential purposes at any time by the student or his or her parents. At the time of registration, the school to which the student transfers shall inform the student and his or her parents in writing of the proofs required for eligibility and shall complete documentation thereof before the student is deemed eligible to participate.
72. If a student enters a member school from a home school, the student is not eligible for interscholastic athletics for one semester unless, after attendance at that home school for at least 270 calendar days, the student transfers under the terms of Exception 6 or 11 of Section 9(A). The transfer is permitted with immediate eligibility one time only.
73. When an accredited senior high school becomes available to a student in that student’s home district for the first time, he or she may transfer from the school of previous attendance to such an accredited senior high school and be eligible there immediately provided a transfer to the new home district accredited senior high school is made at the first opportunity (beginning of the semester) that such transfer possibility existed and the student is eligible under all other Regulations.
74. A student entering the ninth grade for the first time is immediately eligible regardless of where that student attended the eighth grade, unless the student participated in a 9-12 grade program as an eighth grader. In such case, the student is eligible immediately at the 9-12 grade school for which he or she had participated as an eighth grader. (exception [10])
75. A student moving into (changing residence to) a new public school district with or to one of his/her separated parents becomes immediately eligible when the divorce settlement becomes final and the educational transfer form has been completed. (exception [8])
76. A foreign exchange student is considered “placed with a host family in a district or school service area” when (a) the school had no input into the selection or assignment of the student, and (b) the host family placement is approved by the national headquarters of the sponsoring organization. (exception [4])
77. Student exchange programs which have been accepted for listing by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel for 1997-98 are considered “bona fide exchange programs.” Additional programs may be included after they have been reviewed and approved by the MHSAA. A student placed in a program and enrolled in a school before the program has been reviewed and approved is ineligible during the semester in which he or she first enrolls. (exception [4])
78. To be immediately eligible for interscholastic athletics, a resident alien must either move with the persons with whom he or she is living or be enrolled through a CSIET or MHSAA listed student exchange program, and in either case, be eligible under all MHSAA Regulations. Eligibility through student exchange programs is for a maximum of the first two consecutive semesters, after which the student is ineligible for further interscholastic athletic competition in Michigan. (exception [4])
79. If in advance of a resident alien’s participation in interscholastic athletics, a member school can determine that the secondary school education he or she completed in another country before enrolling in a member school is a year or more deficient in comparison to a completed secondary school education at that member school, a request with documentation may be made to the MHSAA office to permit that student eligibility for interscholastic athletics insofar as Regulation I, Section 6 (undergraduate standing) is concerned. (exception [4])
80. A student who would be ineligible for any reason in the next semester at a school is ineligible at any school to which he or she is assigned under school consolidation or any school he or she attends after his or her school ceases to operate. (exception [7])
81. A student must turn 18 years of age before his or her transfer to a school in order to be immediately eligible at that school, unless, to facilitate educational continuity, the student enrolls in the new school district during the school year in which that student will turn 18 years of age. In that case, the student becomes eligible after turning 18 years of age when the Educational Transfer Form has been completed by both principals and the MHSAA office. (exception [12])
82. A boarding school is defined as a school which has an enrolled boarding school population of at least 25 students or 10% of the full student enrollment, whichever is larger. Boarding students must spend at least an average of five days per week living and boarding on campus while school is in session. Additionally, the school shall be recognized as a boarding school through its own literature and be licensed by the State of Michigan as a boarding school. (exception [13])
83. If a student participates under exceptions 8, 12, or 13 without first fulfilling the requirements of the Educational Transfer Form, he or she may not transfer a second time under the same exception and qualify for the one-time exception.
84. A newly-established school may include one which is substantially different than a school that has previously occupied the same site (for example, public to nonpublic, secular to non-secular, Missouri Synod to Wisconsin Synod). It does not include a school that has simply relocated from one building to another. (Exception [15])
85. A student who is not enrolled at any school by the fourth Friday after Labor Day (First Semester) or the fourth Friday of February (Second Semester), may not transfer any time thereafter to another school and be eligible immediately.
86. Any change in the eligibility status of a student under this Section occur:
(a) First semester, on the first day of practice or competition for the school team; or
(b) Second semester, at the beginning of the first full day of the new semester on which regularly scheduled classes are held.
(c) In schools not having defined semesters, or which have “trimesters,” the total number of weeks of the regular school year shall be divided approximately equally in two halves, as determined by the local board of education, to determine a semester of ineligibility under the transfer regulation.
87. If a student transfers at the conclusion of a first trimester of the school year at one school and is not immediately eligible at the new school under one of the 15 exceptions to the transfer regulation, that student becomes eligible on the first day of practice or class (whichever is earlier) of the next school year, insofar as the transfer regulation is concerned. This is always the case, even if the receiving school also has trimesters.
88. If a student transfers at the conclusion of the second trimester and is not immediately eligible at the new school under one of the 15 exceptions to the transfer regulation, that student is eligible on the first day of practice or class (whichever is earlier) of the next school year if the change of enrollment is on or before the fourth Friday of February. Otherwise, the student becomes eligible on the first day of classes of the second semester of the next school year, insofar as the transfer regulation is concerned. This is always the case, even if the receiving school also has trimesters.

SECTION 10—UNDUE INFLUENCE
SECTION 10—The use of undue influence for athletic purposes by any person or persons directly or indirectly associated with the school to secure or encourage the attendance of a student or the student’s parents or guardians as residents of the school district, shall cause the student to become ineligible for a minimum of one semester and a maximum of one year. The offending school shall be placed on probation for one year and offending coach or coaches not be permitted to coach for a one-year period. Examples of undue influence would include but not be limited to offers of or acceptance of: financial aid to parents, guardians or student; reduced or eliminated tuition and/or fees; any special privileges not accorded to other students, whether athletes or not; transportation allowances; preference in job assignments; room, board or clothing; promotional efforts and admission policies for athletes which are in excess of efforts for other students. (1975)

INTERPRETATIONS—SECTION 10
89. Funds which have been donated to schools by clubs and individuals may be given as financial aid to students through the normal financial aid program of the school for all students, without regard to athletic potential. Financial aid based even partially on athletic potential or performance is not permitted from the school or from groups that exist because of or for the benefit of the school (e.g., booster clubs).
90. Individuals not exclusively representing athletic interests of a high school may make general presentations (not just athletic) to seventh and eighth grade students (not just athletes). There should be a diversity of presenters, speaking on a variety of topics to students of all interests.
91. It is a violation of this section for a coach or any other unauthorized representative of a school to suggest or promise that any part of tuition will be waived for a prospective student for any reason, including financial need. The only person who may address the possibility of fee reduction is that person who has specific responsibility for admissions and financial aid policies and procedures.
92. If it is a faculty member’s responsibility to recruit students (not just athletes) and that person makes such contact irrespective of athletic eligibility, such contact is permitted. However, anything done for athletes that is not done in a comparable fashion for all students is undue influence.
93. When a student at a junior high/middle school or other high school, or the parents of that student, contacts the coach about attending the coach’s school, the coach shall refer the student or parent to the appropriate school personnel (those who have the responsibilities for seeking and processing prospective students).
94. A high school coach may not initiate contact with a student at a junior high/middle school or other high school, or the parents of that student, about attendance at the school. It is not a violation for a coach to have normal community contact with a student who attends a junior high/middle school of the same system which is a feeder to the high school.
95. It is a violation of the undue influence regulation if coaches or their representatives call, send questionnaires, cards or letters or visit prospective athletes and their families at their homes.
96. High school coaches or their representatives may not attend grade school games for the purpose of evaluating and recruiting specific prospective athletes.
97. High school coaches and administrators may not request booster clubs, players or alumni from the high school to discuss the merits or their athletic program with prospective athletes or their parents by phone, in person or through letters.
98. Any high school may allow all students of any junior high/middle school to attend its athletic events without charge.
99. A coach may conduct an athletic camp at his or her school or another site during the summer if enrollment at the camp is open to all students at all schools. The coach is subject to the limitations of Regulation II, Section 11(G)
100. Persons “indirectly associated with the school” include but are not limited to parents of players and booster club members. Such persons are prohibited from providing or performing any of the examples of undue influence listed in this Section and its Interpretations.
101. Only those schools which qualify as boarding schools under Section 9 (Interpretation No. 82), may provide any assistance for room and board and only if based on financial need. In no other schools may room and board expense be included in the determination of school expenses and financial need.

SECTION 11—AWARDS
SECTION 11 (A)—A student may accept, for participation in athletics, a symbolic or merchandise award which does not have a value or cost in excess of $15.
SECTION 11 (B)—Awards for athletic participation in the form of cash, merchandise certificates, or any other type of negotiable documents are never allowed.
SECTION 11 (C)—Banquets, luncheons, dinners, non-competitive trips, and fees or admissions to be a spectator at events, if accepted in kind, are permitted under this Regulation.
SECTION 11 (D)—A student shall be ineligible under this Regulation if he/she accepts awards in violation of its provisions only in the following activities: baseball, basketball, competitive cheer, cross country, football, (11-man, 8-man, or 6-man), golf, girls gymnastics, ice hockey, skiing, soccer, girls softball, swimming, tennis, track, girls volleyball, or wrestling. (1977)
SECTION 11 (E)—A student violating this Regulation shall be ineligible for interscholastic competition for a period of not less than one full semester from the date of the student’s last violation. (1954)
SECTION 11 (F)—A full semester is defined under this Regulation as one in which a violation occurs not later than the fourth Friday after Labor Day in the first semester, and the fourth Friday of February in the second semester. If the violation occurs after either date a student is ineligible for the balance of that semester and the succeeding semester.

INTERPRETATIONS—SECTION 11
102. Rings and jewelry presented in any form or manner which have a full retail value in excess of $15 are violations of this Regulation.
103. Special offers to purchase rings, plaques, jackets, sweaters, or other mementos to com-memorate sport seasons are permitted so long as the opportunity to purchase such items is made available to all students, not just athletes.
104. A school, organization, or individual may present one or more symbolic or other acceptably defined awards to athletes, provided the cost of each award does not exceed $15.
105. Acceptance of game balls from contests in which students participated does not violate the Awards Regulation.
106. When any part of the purchase price of an award is paid by the student or the school, is donated, or is raised through individual or group action to reduce the cost to $15, it is a violation.
107. Acceptance of an award by an athlete for accomplishments outside the athletic program is not considered a violation.
108. The cost of the regular letter award of the school is not limited to the $15 maximum. Chenille lettering on school letter awards is permitted. In addition, the cost of engraving on medals or similar awards need not be included in determining the value of a medal or other similar award.
109. Knowledge that there will be presentation of an award at or after graduation, or the previous acceptance or holding of an award by anyone, which would render a student ineligible if accepted by that student during the school year, is regarded as a violation of the Regulation calling for disciplinary action.
110. Senior athletes may accept prior to graduation monetary awards designated for continuing education prior to graduation without a loss of high school eligibility as long as the award is based wholly or in part on academic achievement.
111. Players may purchase at full retail price and keep personal equipment such as shoes, gloves, and personalized jerseys, jackets, and award sweaters without incurring a loss of eligibility.
112. Fundraising by team members to purchase athletic equipment, clothing, shoes or other items specific to that team membership is allowable as long as the item(s) remains a part of the school athletic department inventory.

SECTION 12—AMATEUR STATUS
SECTION 12 (A)—After once representing a MHSAA member school in competition in any sport, a student shall not be eligible to represent his or her high school if that student: (1) receives money or other valuable consideration from any source for participating in athletics, sports, or games listed in Section B; (2) receives money or other valuable consideration for officiating in interscholastic athletic contests, except as allowed by Interpretations 120 and 121; or (3) signs a professional athletic contract. (1987)
SECTION 12 (B)—A student shall be ineligible under this Regulation if he or she violates its amateur provisions only in the following activities: baseball, basketball, girls competitive cheer, cross country, football, golf, girls gymnastics, ice hockey, skiing, soccer, girls softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, girls volleyball, or wrestling. (1977)
SECTION 12 (C)—A student ineligible under this Regulation may not apply for reinstatement until the equivalent of one full school year of enrollment has elapsed following the date of his or her last violation. (1925)

INTERPRETATIONS—SECTION 12
113. “Valuable consideration” includes, but is not limited to rent, room and board, discounts, privileges from individuals or companies, memberships or privileges in clubs or organizations, or personal services. Items or privileges accepted by students as prizes or payments will result in a loss of athletic eligibility.
114. Students may not accept reduced or waived tuition from those who sponsor or conduct specialized (single-sport focus) camps, clinics or combines (not competitions) unless such is available to all other participants or based on economic need (as interpreted by a neutral, non-athletic interest), not athletic ability or potential. Acceptance of reduced or waived fees to athletic camps or leagues is permitted under this Section only to the degree allowed by Interpretations 115 and 116..
115. Full or partial scholarships to such specialized camps only may be accepted by students without violating the amateur regulation, provided the funds are paid by:
(a) the student’s parents, grandparents or siblings; or
(b) the school district, not with general funds, but with funds generated through school approved fundraising activities of booster clubs, school teams, student groups, and community, civic or service groups, and are not provided on the basis of athletic ability or potential subject to the limits of Interpretation 111.
116. A student may accept in kind up to $200 per sport per year (September through August) from approved school fund-raisers for entry fees to participate out-of season in specialized camps, clinics or competition (not combines).
117. Items received through payment of an entry fee in a manner that does not violate this Regulation may be retained by the student provided the entry fee covers the actual retail cost of the items as well as all the event activities (materials, instruction, room, board, etc.)
118. In general, students may work in school or other recreational programs, on playgrounds, golf courses, swimming pools or beaches, at tennis or skiing facilities and receive pay without losing athletic eligibility.
119. It is a violation if a golf course, tennis club, ski facility, etc., waives or reduces fees for a school team member in that sport to use the facility on his/her own time.
120. It is not a violation if a team or school receives valuable consideration in the form of equipment or waiver of fees at sport clubs. Items of equipment, however, must be returned to the school or benefactor at the conclusion of the season.
121. If a student takes part in an athletic try-out or in a non-school competition as an individual or on a team, negotiable items such as money, tickets, gifts, certificates, etc., are not to become the possession of the high school student or his/her parent(s) at any time. Handling of funds must be done by someone who is in charge of the event or trip.
122. A student may accept, in kind, travel and room and board to participate as a member of a National Team or in an Olympic Development Program as defined in Section 13 (C).
123. A student may never be paid or given merchandise or privileges in exchange for a commercial endorsement; and a student may not pose in the school’s athletic uniform to promote a commercial enterprise, even if the student is not paid for the endorsement.
124. A student may receive the benefits of participation in any carnival-type activity that is open to the general public.
125. A student may be compensated for giving lessons as part of a youth camp or recreation program, but may not also be a camper or participant in the camp or program.
127. A student may be compensated for officiating in CYO, YMCA, YWCA, church, and other youth programs without violating this section.
127. A 12th-grader who is at least 17 years old may register with the MHSAA and officiate seventh and eighth grade contests if he or she works with an official who has been included on the MHSAA “approved” list during the previous five years or has been authorized by the MHSAA as an acceptable mentor. The student may receive the normal compensation paid to officials by schools for seventh and eighth grade contests.