The member public, private and parochial schools of the Michigan High School Athletic Association have adopted, through their elected representatives, three types of regulations to govern interscholastic athletics; and each year the schools which wish to become or remain members of the MHSAA adopt, by local board of education action, a resolution which states that the schools of that district will enforce those regulations. The Attorney General has ruled that local school districts have the authority to adopt MHSAA regulations and when they do the responsibility to enforce those rules as their own.

The regulations apply specifically to the following sports, and any other activities to which a member school wishes to apply the regulations: 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, and wrestling. Throughout these regulations, these listed sports are sometimes referred to as “MHSAA sports.” It is in these sports that the MHSAA conducts postseason tournaments. In these sports the regulations apply in sub-varsity, as well as varsity, interscholastic scrimmage as well as games, and regular season as well as MHSAA tournaments.

One type of regulation provides the rules of eligibility, Regulation I for senior high school students and Regulation III for seventh and eighth grade students. A second type of regulation provides the rules of competition between schools, Regulation II for senior high schools and Regulation IV for junior high/middle schools. The third type of regulation, found in Regulation V, provides the penalties for violations.

Eligibility regulations (I and III) are minimum requirements. Member schools may adopt more rigid rules than stated in these regulations. The competition regulations (II and IV) are maximum limitations, and schools may adopt more limiting rules than stated in these regulations. In the event of conflict in rules, those of the Michigan High School Athletic Association shall apply if the school is to enter MHSAA tournaments.

Interpretations under each section cannot cover all possible cases which will arise. They will aid in answering questions. Interpretations are numbered consecutively and apply primarily to specific sections under which they appear.

Refer to the MHSAA Bulletins for additional interpretations and qualifications, as well as for supplementary policies, guidelines and recommendations. The only official interpretations provided by the MHSAA are those received in writing to questions posed in writing.

When administration of a member school determines that a student is ineligible under MHSAA regulations adopted by its board of education, that school’s administration may request that the matter be reviewed at a meeting of the MHSAA executive committee which may waive the regulation, pursuant to the MHSAA Constitution, Article VII, Section 4E. Note that the maximum age limitation may not be waived.

A request for waiver must be submitted in writing at least five days prior to the Executive Committee meeting. If faxed, the original should be sent by first class mail. All information necessary for the Executive Committee to reach a decision must be included with the written request.

Consistent with the rulings of the Attorney General and Michigan Supreme Court, schools are not bound by the decisions of the Executive Committee, but the Association may limit participation in the postseason tournaments it sponsores to those schools which apply rules and penalties as promulgated by the MHSAA and adopted by each member school’s board of education. The MHSAA exercises no independent authority over schools or students.