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Participation in interscholastic athletics programs is educational in nature and:

Complements your school experience.
Fosters a sense of community and teaches lifelong lessons of hard work, teamwork, citizenship and discipline.
Promotes a lifetime appreciation for sports and healthy lifestyles.
Helps prepare you for the next level of your life as a responsible adult and productive citizen.

WHY INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS & OHSAA BELIEFS�

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Participation in interscholastic athletics programs:

…is a privilege, not a right.
…is not designed to prepare you for the next level of sports. Rather, it allows students to engage in a well-rounded experience that includes participation in a multitude of extracurricular activities.
…implements educational components of participation in interscholastic athletics programs.
…promotes student academic achievement and success over athletics achievement and success.

WHY INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS & OHSAA BELIEFS�

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BASIC OHSAA RULES AND REGULATIONS

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Eligibility rules exist to help maintain competitive balance in school sports and to promote the purpose of education-based athletics.
As a student-athlete, YOU are primarily responsible for your compliance.
Besides OHSAA regulations, your school also has the authority to establish additional academic standards and codes of conduct.

GENERAL OHSAA ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS

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In order to maintain eligibility, you must be officially enrolled in an OHSAA member school, or participating in accordance with state law, and you must have a biological and/or adoptive parent who lives in Ohio.

You shall not be eligible if you are competing under a false name or have provided your school with an incorrect home address.

You may not be eligible if you have been recruited to attend this school.

GENERAL OHSAA ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS

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What is NIL?

The use of self publicity due to public recognition (athletic fame) and/or the notoriety a student may attain to receive a benefit through appearances, licensing, social media, endorsements and/or the use of branding.

What isn’t NIL?

Pay for play!
OHSAA Bylaw 4-10 still prohibits students from receiving compensation based on their participation or finish in athletic contests.

NEW: NAME, IMAGE, & LIKENESS

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What criteria must an NIL agreement abide by? (Bylaw 4-11-2)

Student does not utilize OHSAA or school logos, names, mascots, trademarks, or other proprietary marks during promotions.
Agreements may not be provided by schools or agents of schools (i.e. Boosters, Collectives, Foundations, Coaches, etc.).
Student does not engage in NIL activity during school hours or during team activities, including travel to and from events.
Agreement may not be based on athletic performance.
Student may not be induced to attend a specific school based on an NIL deal.

NEW: NAME, IMAGE, & LIKENESS

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What criteria must an NIL agreement abide by? (Bylaw 4-11-2)

Student may not display the company’s logo or product during team activities.
Student may not provide benefits to the school or team with which he/she is participating.
Agreement does not involve gambling, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, cannabis, banned or illegal substances, adult entertainment products or services, firearms or other weapons.
Student is responsible for determining effect on college eligibility.

NEW: NAME, IMAGE, & LIKENESS

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A student engaged in an NIL deal must disclose the terms of the agreement to the OHSAA within 14 days of the execution of the contract.

Failure to do so will result in a period of ineligibility up to 20% of the current sports season.
Visit https://www.ohsaa.org/Eligibility/NIL-Resource-Center for more information on how to report the deal to the OHSAA.

Students and families are encouraged to to seek professional advice, understand contracts thoroughly and prioritize academic and athletic commitments. These activities should be regarded as a business, and students should stay compliant with school and state regulations and focus on building a strong support system to avoid mismanagement of funds and protect future opportunities.

NEW: NAME, IMAGE, & LIKENESS

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Final Notes:

Effective May 16, 2026, student’s may enter into agreements with Athlete Agents for NIL purposes only.

Agent must be registered with Ohio Athletic Commission

Students whose transfer can be reasonably linked to an NIL deal may be subject to more severe penalties than the general transfer consequence.
It is not the responsibility of school coaches or administrators to secure agreements for student athletes.
If you have any questions, feel free to email personalbranding@ohsaa.org

NEW: NAME, IMAGE, & LIKENESS

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All incoming seventh graders are eligible insofar as the scholarship bylaw regardless of previous academic achievement.

To maintain eligibility, 7^th-8^th grade students must have received passing grades in a minimum of four classes in the immediately preceding grading period.

OHSAA 7/8 GRADE SCHOLARSHIP STANDARDS

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All incoming ninth graders must have received passing grades in a minimum of four subjects in the immediately preceding grading period. All grades must be recorded in a student’s academic record.
To maintain eligibility, high school students must have received passing grades in a minimum of five one-credit courses, or the equivalent, in the immediately preceding grading period.

OHSAA HIGH SCHOOL

SCHOLARSHIP STANDARDS

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ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY: HANDBOOK

“The student athlete must maintain all of the minimum requirements of the OHSAA as stated in its yearly handbook. In addition to its minimum requirements, the following requirements will be maintained by students of the Miller City - New Cleveland School District. In the high school, students must be passing at least five (5) one-credit courses or the equivalency there of, and must have a minimum GPA of 1.50. In the middle school, students must be passing at least 75% of all courses, and must have a minimum GPA of 1.50.”

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Students taking College Credit Plus must comply with OHSAA scholarship standards.
All students participating at an OHSAA member school via state law (home educated, non-public, community and STEM school students) shall also comply with OHSAA scholarship standards.
Semester and yearly grades have no effect on OHSAA eligibility unless your school provides grades only at the end of a semester or school year pursuant to Board of Education policy.

OHSAA SCHOLARSHIP STANDARDS

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If you fail to meet the scholarship standard during the last grading period of the school year, you are NOT allowed to use summer school/summer CCP courses to try to regain your eligibility for the fall.

If you drop a course or change your schedule, it is critically important that you contact your principal or athletic administrator to see if this affects your OHSAA eligibility. While understanding that many seniors often have enough credits to graduate, not having received passing grades in a minimum of five one-credit courses, or the equivalent, in the immediately preceding grading period will leave you ineligible.

GPA standards are a local school district decision.

OHSAA SCHOLARSHIP STANDARDS

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At the HS level, a student may be eligible for eight semesters taken in order of attendance, regardless of whether the student participates or is even eligible to participate.
At the 7/8 grade level, a student may be eligible for four semesters taken in order of attendance, whether the student participates or not.

OHSAA SEMESTER STANDARDS

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High school students will be ineligible whenever they turn 20 years old.

Seventh- and eighth-grade students who turn 15 before August 1st are also ineligible for 7^th and 8^th grade sports but MAY BE eligible to participate in high school athletics.

OHSAA AGE STANDARDS

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You will be subject to a period of ineligibility if you are a member of a school team competing on a non-school team in the same sport during your school team’s season (example: club soccer team during school’s soccer season).
Coaches and schools cannot require that you participate in an open gym/open facility OR in a conditioning or instructional program. Violations of this regulation will result in penalties.

OHSAA NON-SCHOOL TEAMS/PROGRAMS & OUT-OF-SEASON REGULATIONS

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There are certain restrictions regarding tryouts, practices and competitions with non-school teams before, during and after the school season.
There are also restrictions for instruction you can receive from school coaches outside of your season in an OHSAA team sport.
There are no restrictions for instruction you can receive from school coaches outside of your season in OHSAA individual sports of bowling, cross country, golf, gymnastics, swimming & diving, tennis, track and field and wrestling.

OHSAA NON-SCHOOL TEAMS/PROGRAMS & OUT-OF-SEASON REGULATIONS

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Once eligibility has been established at a member high school, a transfer to a different high school may mean you will lose eligibility for interscholastic athletics for a period of time at your new school (50% of season and OHSAA tournament)
This regulation has several exceptions, most of which require a ruling from the OHSAA Executive Director’s Office.

OHSAA TRANSFER STANDARDS

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You are not permitted to try and influence a student to transfer to your school to play with you. Likewise, your coaches are not allowed to recruit students to enroll at your school for athletic purposes.
An attempt to recruit a student to attend your school, or if you were recruited to attend this school, could make you subject to a period of ineligibility and could also cause penalties to the school.

OHSAA RECRUITING STANDARDS

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DAILY ATTENDANCE:

HANDBOOK

“All students are expected to attend school for a complete day on the day of a game, contest, meet, match, performance or practice session. In order to participate, a student must be present in school at least 50% of the school day. 50% of the school day would be equivalent to 3 1/2 hours or 4 periods. This requirement is applicable to morning practices held before normal school hours. Athletes are never permitted to remain home on the day of a scheduled event to "rest up" for the activity. The Principal may grant exceptions to this rule based on review of the individual case and any extenuating circumstances involved.”

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YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY

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Before the season’s first practice (or prior to your first participation should you join the team after the season has started), you must have had a physical examination within the past 13 months AND an examination clearance form must be on file at the school.

Physical examinations are valid for 13 months from the date of the exam. Exams taking place from May 1 to June 1 are valid for one year plus through the end of the next school year’s spring season.

YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY

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Athletic participation forms shall be signed by a medical examiner (Physician [M.D., D.O. or D.C.], Advanced Nurse Practitioner or Physician’s Assistant), the participant and by a parent or guardian.
In addition, you will not be eligible unless you and your parents have signed the OHSAA Authorization Form; the OHSAA Eligibility & Authorization Statement; the Ohio Department of Health’s (ODH) concussion form, and ODH’s sudden cardiac arrest form, all of which must be on file at your school.

YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY

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FINAL FORMS COMPLIANCE

OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE TO SIGN ON AUGUST 1ST.

PLEASE CHECK EACH SPORT THAT YOUR CHILD WILL OR MAY PLAY!!

YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO RE-SIGN THE FORMS AFTER EACH CHANGE THAT YOU MAKE (SPORT, DOCTOR, MEDICAL CONDITION, ETC.

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In Ohio, any athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion . . . such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion or balance problems . . . shall be IMMEDIATELY removed from the contest or practice and shall not return to play that same day.

Thereafter, the student shall not return to practice or competition until cleared with WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION from a physician or health care provider approved by the local board in accordance with state law.

CONCUSSIONS

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Each school is required to review its concussion management protocol with participants and their parents.
In addition, participants and parents must review and sign the Ohio Department of Health’s “Concussion Information Sheet” prior to participation and are highly encouraged to review a short presentation on concussions available at no cost (www.nfhslearn.com).

CONCUSSIONS

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Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the most common cause of death among student-athletes, and dizziness, loss of breath and a racing heart are often symptoms that are overlooked. In many cases, recognizing the signs of cardiac trouble means student-athletes can continue their athletic participation.
Participants and parents are required to view the Ohio Department of Health’s sudden cardiac arrest video that may be shown at your school.
In addition, participants and parents must review and sign the Ohio Department of Health’s “Sudden Cardiac Arrest Information Sheet” prior to participation.

SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST

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Another prominent issue is the use of performance enhancing supplements.
The increased availability of these items allows students easy access to a wide variety of products aggressively marketed to include promises — endorsed by faulty research claims — of extraordinary weight loss, explosive power or tremendous strength gains.
It is important for parents to educate themselves about what substances their child may be using and about the potential risks involved with uneducated supplement use.

ADDITIONAL HEALTH &

SAFETY GUIDELINES

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Beyond performance enhancing supplements, there are additional issues related to illicit drugs, such as anabolic steroids and some prescription drugs used with the goal of aiding performance.
Use of these drugs will result in disqualification from all interscholastic athletics.
The OHSAA website (www.OHSAA.org) provides a wealth of information to assist parents, coaches, students and anyone interested in learning more about sports medicine and healthy lifestyles.

ADDITIONAL HEALTH &

SAFETY GUIDELINES

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Just as important as caring for student-athletes’ physical well-being these days is also caring for student-athletes’ mental well-being.
Students are highly encouraged to discuss any issues related to their mental health with their parents, coaches and/or mental health experts.

For further information, you can take this free course through:

The NFHS Learning Center:

https://nfhslearn.com/courses/student-mental-health-and-suicide-prevention

The Ohio State University LiFEsports website at:

https://lifesports.osu.edu/what-we-do/research/past-research/

MENTAL HEALTH

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SPORTING BEHAVIOR

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The OHSAA’s vision for positive sporting behavior is built on expectations. It calls on the school community — administrators, contest officials, coaches, students, parents and fans — to strive for positive sporting behavior in everything they do by teaching the values of ethics, integrity, equity, fairness and respect.
As a student-athlete, you must always remember to Respect The Game!

RESPECT THE GAME

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That means you are expected to accept the responsibility and privilege of representing your school and community while participating in school sports. You are expected to:

• Treat opponents, coaches and officials with respect.

• Ensure that your actions do not incite fans or other participants or attempt to embarrass, ridicule or demean others.

RESPECT THE GAME

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If you are ejected from a contest you will be subject to an additional two-game suspension (one game in football).
If you are ejected from a contest for the second time during the same season then you will be ineligible for the remainder of that sports season.

RESPECT THE GAME

There is a severe officials shortage in Ohio. Officials will never be perfect, but they are always trying their best. Part of respecting the game is understanding that officials have various levels of training. Help your school to retain officials by treating them with respect, even when they make a mistake.

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THE MCNC APP

ALL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN COACHES AND PLAYERS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED THROUGH THE MCNC APP.

USE THE MESSENGER FEATURE FOR DIRECT MESSAGES.

IF THE APP IS NOT WORKING, PARENTS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN ALL TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN PLAYERS AND COACHES.

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Like the other 814 public and non-public high schools and approximately, 733 7^th and 8^th grade schools, your school has volunteered to become a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Ohio is one of the top ranked states in the country with over 330,000 high school students competing in 28 sanctioned sports.