OHSAA Administrators’ Update
Fall Seminar 2014
Presented by the Ohio High School
Athletic Association
Presenters
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Dr. Daniel B. Ross, Commissioner
Mr. Jerry Snodgrass, Assistant Commissioner
Mr. Steven L. Craig, Legal Counsel for the OHSAA
Dr. Deborah B. Moore, Associate Commissioner
Eligibility Update
• The OHSAA goal is service to our members
• Service in the form of assistance in interpreting the
bylaws that is significant and useful
• Major area of inquiry
– Transfer of High School students
– Change in the Enrollment and Attendance Bylaw as
stipulated in the July 1, 2013 Budget Bill signed by the
Governor and in the latest July 2014 update
Transfer Eligibility
• Major area of questions
• May 2013 Referendum approved fundamental changes to
the transfer bylaws; 2014 made some ed. changes and
created one new exception
• OHSAA has updated the “Transfer Bylaw Resource Center”
on the website at
http://www.ohsaa.org/eligibility/TransferBylawGuidance.htm
to assist schools for 2014-15 SY
• All principals and athletic administrators received
notification of these changes on May 28, 2014.
Other Resources on the web
• Residence Bylaws http://ohsaa.org/eligibility/ResidencGuidance.htm
• Scholarship Bylaws http://ohsaa.org/eligibility/ScholarshipGuidance.htm
• Enrollment and Attendance Bylaws http://ohsaa.org/eligibility/EnrollAttendGuidance.htm
• Recruiting Bylaws - http://ohsaa.org/eligibility/49GuidanceRecruiting.pdf
• Amateur Bylaws - http://ohsaa.org/eligibility/410GuidanceAmateur.pdf
The Basic Rule – 4-7-2
• Question: Who is a transfer student?
• Answer: A student who changes high schools after
establishing eligibility by
– Playing in a contest prior to starting school in the fall of
grade 9
– Attending any high school the first five days of grade 9
Bylaw 4-7-2
• Question: What is the penalty or consequence if
a student transfers high schools?
• Answer: The student is ineligible for all contests
until the first 50% of all regular season contests
have been competed in ANY sport that the
student played in the previous 12 months.
Questions about the Penalty
• Can the student practice/train?
– Yes, but no participation in any contests until the end of
the 50% period.
• What does 50% mean?
– Cannot play in any contest until the first half of the regular
season has passed. Eligibility restored on:
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Game six in football
Match 12 in volleyball
Game 9 in soccer
Meet 9 in swimming/diving
Game 18 in ice hockey
Point 11 in wrestling
Questions about the Penalty
• Does the penalty apply to all sports?
– Yes. It applies to each OHSAA recognized interscholastic
sport the student played at the former school(s) in the past 12
months.
• What if the student didn’t play any sports at the former
school?
– Then there is no penalty, and the student is eligible insofar as
transfer is concerned.
• What if the student played in one J.V. scrimmage? Does
that count?
– Yes. Even one play in one scrimmage or any other contest no
matter the level activates the transfer penalty.
Questions about the Penalty
• Is there any paperwork required?
– If the student meets an exception, there may be
paperwork.
– If the student does not meet an exception, he or she will
sit out until the first 50% of the contests in his or her
sport(s) have passed.
– If the student did not play a sport in the past 12 months,
no paperwork is required.
Summary of Changes to
Transfer Bylaw 4-7-2
• Reduction in penalty for transfer from a full year no
matter the student’s participation at the previous
school to the 50% penalty ONLY if the student
played that sport in the past 12 months.
• Reduction of the exceptions from 12 to seven.
Parents’ Bona Fide Move
Exception 1 – Revised for 2014-15
• Parents move into a new school district – NOTE
PLURAL
• Triggers choice of either the public high school in the
new district or any non-public high school – applies to
moves from within state as well as from out of state
• Move must be contemporaneous with the transfer
• If both parents are not moving = ineligible for first 50%
– Exceptions for single parents who are divorced or were
never married or for those who are in the process of a legal
termination of their marriage
Exception one
• The change requires our office to determine:
– If the move was indeed bona fide AND
– If the parents’ move COMPELLED the student to
transfer
• We will make these determinations based on the
information in the affidavit including the timeline.
Parents’ Bona Fide Move
• What should the school administrator do?
– Take your time to personally verify that a move has indeed taken place
– Check with your admissions office, your central office, your school
resource office, etc. to insure that the parents are indeed now residents
of the new school district
– Interview the parents
– Attempt to gauge whether the move compelled the transfer
– Insure the parents (both parents if there is no divorce or legal separation)
understand they both must move and maintain the residence for a minimum
of one year
– Review the Affidavit of Bona Fide Residence with the parents
– Sign the front page along with both parents
• Note that this front page includes names and grade levels of all students, date of
transfer, the school from which the transfer occurs and the current year – 2013-2014
– Ask the parent to take the actual affidavit to a notary or provide your
school’s notary public to the parent
Affidavit of Bona Fide Residence
– Review the document after it is notarized
• Check for answers to each question
• Check for full addresses and school district notation in # 3 and #10
• Check to insure affiant has a new driver’s license or state ID and
Voter Registration with the new address
• Check to insure the document is signed by affiant (parent) and the
notary
• Check that #15 has been initialed or an explanation attached
– Do not Send to OHSAA until all answers are verified, the
affidavit is completed correctly and residence is verified
– When Complete send to Lauren Prochaska
– Be prepared to check on the residence periodically,
document the visits, and do so at “off hours.” Keep records
of these visits.
Recent Problems
with the ABFR
• Use of an out of date form
• Move made prior to the last calendar year
• Failure to initial or provide documentation on #13, 15, 27
& 28
• No Driver’s license/ID with current address - #21
• No Voter Registration (note that this does not compel the
individual to actually vote) - #20
• No school administrator signature
• No Affiant (parent) signature
• Failure to disclose reason for move in #26
• Failure of school personnel to check up on the residence
Legal Change of Custody
Exception 2 – Revised for 2014-15
• This exception has been subdivided into two parts.
• When a court-ordered change of custody between the
student’s parents results in the student’s change of
school district, this triggers:
– Choice of the public high school in the new custodian’s
school district
– Choice of any non-public school
• Requires an actual legal change of custody, not a
Power of Attorney or an affidavit for school attendance
Legal Change of Custody
Between Two Parents
• What must the school administrator do:
– Obtain the court order and insure that it is a legal
change of custody signed by a judge or magistrate
– If these parents formerly had a Shared Parenting Plan,
insure that the Plan has been terminated and that the
parent living in your district (or the new district) is the
sole legal custodian – NOTE: The OHSAA does not
recommend this action.
Note on Shared Parenting
• Note: Re-designation of residential parent within a
Shared Parenting Plan is NOT a legal change of
custody
• Although we never recommend this action, the only
way that a change of custody can occur when
parents have a Shared Parenting Plan is if the plan
is terminated.
Exception two – Change of Custody
Between
Parents
– Draft a letter to either Deborah Moore or Roxanne Price
stipulating
• The person named in the custody document is a resident of
the new school district into which the student is moving
• The student will live full time with that resident for one full
year
• The school from which the student is transferring
• Include the petition for change of custody if available
• Send a copy of the court order along with the letter
Change of Custody to a Non-Parent
• What must the school administrator do?
– Send a certified copy of the court order or agency placement
changing the custody/guardianship to a non-parent or agency
– Insure the document is signed by a judge, magistrate or agent
of a protective services agency
– Send a copy of the documentation accompanying the request
for change of custody which clearly stipulates that the change is
necessary due to the student’s adjudication as:
• Abused,
• Neglected, OR
• Delinquent/Unruly
Change of Custody to Non-Parent
– Send a cover letter stipulating the following:
• High School from which the student is transferring
• Verification that the person or agent named in the document
resides in the new school district
• Verification that the student will live with the new custodian
full time for at least a year
– In both scenarios, if the date of enrollment predates the
change of custody order, this exception may not apply
Exception 3
School Closes or Discontinues
Programs after Grade 9
• This exception addresses three unusual situations
– School Closing (provided the school was a member
prior to the 12-13 school year) = eligibility at any school
and no paperwork required.
– School discontinues its program after grade nine =
eligibility at any school and no paperwork required.
– Districts consolidate or annex residences = eligible upon
submission of board action.
Exception 4 -Self Support
Exception 4 – Self Support
• Student does not live with parents or relatives
• Is financially self supporting and is not
supported by family members – Required
monthly earning is $500 – net funds.
• May be ruled eligible upon approval of OHSAA
every 30 days
• Principal or AD to submit form found here:
http://www.ohsaa.org/eligibility/forms/selfsupport.
pdf
Exception 6 -Home not ready for
Habitation
• School must submit purchase agreement for new
construction of the home.
• We can rule the student eligible for up to 90 days.
• In order to continue eligibility beyond 90 days, the
parents must be residents of the district and
complete an accurate Affidavit of Bona Fide
Residence for a ruling.
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Exception 7 – Anti-Intimidation,
bullying,
Harassment
If a student is a victim of harassment, intimidation or
bullying and as a result, such activity has compelled
a transfer, we may waive all or part of the 50%
penalty provided:
– The district’s policy has been strictly followed
– The district provides us with a copy of the policy
– The district secures releases from the student and
family authorizing the complete record of the events
and circumstances including:
Exception 7, cont.
– A specific detailed report of the incident(s)
– An outline of the procedures used to respond to and
investigate the reported incident(s);
– A copy of the findings that were a result of the complaint
process and investigation;
– A specific, detailed disciplinary procedure for any
individual found guilty of harassment, intimidation or
bullying;
Exception 7, cont.
– All reports of notification to parents or guardians of any
student involvement in the incident(s);
– A report of the intervention strategies and remedial
action the school has undertaken to assist the student
and redress the complaint.
• The district provides the Commissioner’s Office all
the above
Intra district and System
Transfers – Multiple High Schools
• 4-7-4 – Public schools with attendance zones –
during school year transfers
• 4-7-6 – Public schools – transfer at beginning of
year
– Redistricting
– Change in Academic Program which must be clearly
described to the Commissioner’s Office
• 4-7-7 – Non-public schools – transfer at beginning
of year
– Change in Academic Program – same as in 4-7-6
– Financial or transportation Hardships
Resource Center
• Please see the Transfer Eligibility Resource Center
on www.ohsaa.org home page or on the eligibility
home page at
• http://www.ohsaa.org/eligibility/TransferBylawGuida
nce.htm
Changes to Bylaw 4-3-1 – Enrollment
and Attendance via Legislation
• Attached to the budget bill were two sections that
affect a student’s opportunity to participate
– Home educated student whose parents live in your public
school district
• Shall be able to participate in any school sport without having to
be enrolled and attend your school
– Home educated student whose parents do NOT live in
your public school district
• May be able to participate in a school sport in another public
school district if the superintendent permits it and the residential
district schools do not sponsor the sport
Changes to Bylaw 4-3-1 – Enrollment
and Attendance via Legislation
• Students enrolled in a non-public school (chartered or
non-chartered “08” school)
– Shall be afforded the chance to play a sport in the school
located in the district of residence of the parents – that
school the student is entitled to attend if:
• The non-public school of attendance does not offer that sport
– Does not offer the non-resident student this opportunity for
sports at any other public school.
– Must be the residential public school
New Legislation – June 2014
• Now includes students who attend Community (AKA
“charter” schools) and STEM schools
– Eligible only at the public school in the parents’ district or
attendance zone
• Although law does not become effective until
September, OHSAA is permitting schools to
implement ASAP
• Students must be eligible in all other aspects
• Students will have to be counted on each high
school’s EMIS count.
Mr. Steven L. Craig, Esq.
Legal Counsel to the OHSAA
Canton, Ohio
scraig@scraig-law.net
APPEALS
• Appeals – by the numbers
– During 2013-2014 Panel heard 51 Appeals over 13
scheduled dates
– 31.4% (16 of 51) appeals were GRANTED
– BREAKDOWN BY ISSUES:
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Transfer: 32 (of which 9 were granted)
Scholarship: 10 (of which 3 were granted)
Recruiting: 2 (1 was granted)
Enrollment and Attendance: 4 (of which 3 were granted)
Age: 3 (of which 0 were granted)
Eligibility: 1 (denied)
REASONS WHY NUMBERS DOWN
• 50% of sport vs. Full year
• Less incentive to challenge
• Support from the Courts
New Exception 7
• Product of Appeals and pleas to Office
– Coaches discipline
– Team hazing
– Playing time
• Necessitated by law
• Concern: the new “Superintendent Agreement”
excuse.
– First time any knowledge of alleged bullying
– After-thought
EXCEPTION 7 and the OCR
• April 4, 2011 Dear Colleague Letter
– Title IX and sexual harassment/sexual violence
– http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/collea
gue-201104.html
– January 19, 2001 Revised Sexual Harassment
Guidance: Harassment of Students by School
Employees, Other Students, or Third Parties – Title IX
– 42 page Guidance modified by a 19 page Dear
Colleague Letter.
– Spring 2014 Obama Administration moves to
showcase – transparency push
Title IX v. Anti-bullying
• Title IX coordinator
• Anti-harassment, anti-bullying liaison
• Coordination of the two – compliance with both
• Anticipated issues:
– Sexting
– Social media “harassment”
– Remember – third parties (student on student)
PC Agenda - LGTB
• Not just for California anymore
• Coming to town near you
• Already have several
• Issues for OHSAA nominal as compared to you
• Get to writing good policy NOW
Title IX- Revisited
• Although never off the radar, Booster Clubs and their level of
support along with equal conditions, prime-time, schedules etc. are
returning to prominence and back in the cross-hairs
• Expect much more activity in this area
• Bleachers for Baseball – donated by boosters
UPDATES
• Turn Key
• E-ppe
• Referendum Process
– age
Jerry Snodgrass
Assistant Commissioner
Welcome to the NO-CONTACT
Period!
August 3 – September 2
OHSAA “101”
Constitution
Only changed by
YOU
Bylaws
Only changed by
YOU
General Sports Regulations
Individual Sports Regulations
NFHS Playing Rules
Only changed by NFHS
Only changed by BOARD of DIRECTORS
45
Concussions
• Concussion Course now REQUIRED
• It’s FREE at www.nfhslearn.com
Concussions
• Return to play
– AM 2809
• Authorizes licensed health care professionals who
meet the education and continuing education
requirements adopted by the Director of Health to
assess and clear interscholastic and youth sports
athletes for return to play following suspected
concussions (in addition to the physicians and
licensed health care providers authorized by current
law)
Concussions
• Protocols for Return to School/Class
– Educate Teachers
– Educate Coaches
– Cognitive Rest
“Someone” at the School is Responsible for Game
Management
Game Management:
Insure Safety of Officials
Deal with Unruly Fans
Handles Medical Emergencies
Coordinates Crisis Management
It Might be the Coach!
TEACH THEM!
School Emergency Preparedness
Crisis Management
• Plan….Don’t Wait
• Practice emergency situations
• Train – Especially new/sub-Varsity
coaches
• De-brief and update
Officials’ Safety
• Safety concerns for officials –
–TO and FROM Parking Areas
–Before AND AFTER the contest
• Fans ejected/banned
• Soccer officials fatalities
Why Ejections Are NOT “Appealable”
Part of the PLAYING RULES
Rating & Voting for Officials
An Important Part of the Tournament Selection Process
Coaches RATE
Others VOTE
Click on
“Officials Rating Instructions
- Always 1 Year in ‘behind’
- Applications Emailed to all ELIGIBLE Officials
- All Coaches Must RATE Officials
- Others are provided opportunity to VOTE for Officials
• Athletic Directors
• Officials Association Secretaries
• District Athletic Board Members
• Assignors
• OHSAA Administrative Staff
OHSAA
UMPIRE
Best Umpire
Competitive Balance
Update
• What are we doing?
– Meet with D-I group September, 2014
– Meet with Competitive Balance Subcommittee
8/20/14
– Meet with Competitive Balance Committee 10/2/14
– Meet with on-line data collection group August, 2014
– Meet with Compliance Support 8/26/14
– Prepare for pilots in 2015
Non-Interscholastic Rule
• Number 1 Sport Regulation Question & Violation
• NO Non-Interscholastic Play While Member of the
School Team
• “College ID Camps”, College Workouts Included
Only When Season Complete!
Individual Instruction
General Sports Regulation
8.2
Necessary to understand the definition of INDIVIDUAL
INSTRUCTION……..
Individual Skill Instruction – NOT Team Concepts
No more than FOUR (4) Individuals
NOT to be confused with Open Gyms/Facilities & Weight Training
This is NOT a Workout Regulation
Passed as a permission for SCHOOL coaches to instruct
INDIVIDUAL skills outside the season
Previous OHSAA Regulations did not permit this
(except during June and July only)
Heat Acclimatization
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PREVENT issue before they happen
KNOW the signs/symptoms
REQUIRE the FREE Course
“Give ‘em a Break”!
5 day acclimatization for FB
– New Players also (Junior High, Freshmen, Kickers
Booster Club Issues
• Financial concerns
• “Get your hands around them”
• Training
• Remember “They are there to support
you”
Booster Club Issues
• Financial concerns
• “Get your hands around them”
• Training
• Remember “They are there to support
you”
Other Informational Items
• State Tennis to Lindner Center in Mason
• Fall of 2015
• State Football to Ohio Stadium
– December 4-6, 2014
OHSAA Foundation
Leadership Conference
October 7, 2014
Ohio Student Union
The Ohio State University
got questions?
Thank You
Dr. Dan Ross
Dr. Deborah Moore
Mr. Jerry Snodgrass
Mr. Steven Craig
Have a GREAT school year!