How to Protect Student Athletic Eligibility

High school years will be highlighted and enhanced by participation in the school's interscholastic athletic program. These will be some of the most enjoyable years of life. During this time, the CIF-San Diego Section has standards that must be met in order to be eligible to compete. In addition, there may be local school and league standards that apply.

Information contained in this pamphlet will acquaint you with the bylaws and regulations all students must follow in order to protect athletic eligibility. Any questions concerning the standards referred to in this pamphlet, should be directed to the school Principal or Athletic director.
The eligibility standards of the CIF-San Diego Section have been adopted by the member schools and were accepted by each school when it became a member of the San Diego Section.
Parents and student/athletes are urged to study these standards carefully. We want school years to be enjoyable for everyone.

Residential Eligibility

A student has residential eligibility upon initial enrollment in:

1. The ninth grade of any CIF high school, a CIF junior high school, or a junior high school under provisions of CIF Bylaw 302 or
2. Tenth grade of any CIF high school from the ninth grade of a junior high school in California.

Changing Schools - Transfers

A student may have transfer eligibility provided the student is compelled to move from any school to a CIF school due to:

1. A valid change of residence from one school attendance area to the attendance area of the new school by the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) with whom the student was living when the student established residential eligibility at the prior school, or
2. A ruling by the Board of Education of a school district that has two or more high schools, provided the change of schools is not the result of disciplinary action, or
3. A family decision to transfer the student prior to the first day of the student’s third consecutive semester of attendance.

Students, parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and school administration must declare if the student has had any contact with the new school’s coaches, boosters, administrator’s.  A student transferring to a new school to follow a coach or move to a club coach must document that the move is not athletically motivated.

Changing Schools - Hardships

If a student changes schools and the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) do not move to the attendance area of the new school, eligibility could be restricted for one year unless qualifying for a hardship. A hardship is defined as an unforeseeable, unavoidable, or uncorrectable act, condition, or event, which causes the imposition of a severe and non-athletic burden upon the student or his/her family. Always check with the school principal or athletic director before changing schools to determine whether it will affect athletic eligibility.

Scholastic Eligibility

Do not change a course schedule or drop a course without first consulting with the school principal, counselor, or athletic director to determine whether it will affect athletic eligibility. A student is scholastically eligible if:

1. The student is currently enrolled in at least 20 semester periods of work.
2. The student passed at least 20 semester periods of work at the completion of the previous regular grading period.
3. The student is maintaining minimum progress toward meeting the high school graduation requirements as prescribed by the governing board of the school district.
4. The student has maintained during the previous grading period a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in all enrolled courses.

Incoming ninth grade students must also meet this requirement based on grades in the eighth grade.

Age Limitations

No student whose nineteenth (19) birthday is attained prior to June 15 of the prior school year shall participate or practice on any CIF team. For example, a student whose 19th birthday is on June 14 or before is ineligible, for the next school year.

Semesters of Attendance

A student who first enters the ninth grade of any school following the student's completion of the eighth grade in any school may be eligible for athletic competition during a maximum period of time that is not to exceed eight consecutive semesters following the initial enrollment in the ninth grade of any school. Eligibility must be used during the student's first eight consecutive semesters of enrollment at that school or any other school.

Competing Under An Assumed Name Or With A Falsified Address

Any student who provides false information in order to achieve athletic eligibility will be ineligible in all interscholastic athletic competition for a period of up to 24 calendar months from the date the infraction is verified.

Physical Examination

An annual physical examination, or a statement by a medical practitioner, certifying that the student is physically fit to participate in athletics is required before a student may try out, practice, or participate in interscholastic athletic competition.

Undue Influence - Recruitment Of Athletes

The use of undue influence by any person or persons to secure or retain a student or to secure or retain one or both parents/guardians of a student as residents may cause the student to be ineligible for high school athletics for a period of one year and shall jeopardize the standing of the high school in the CIF.

Penalties For Competition By Ineligible Athletes

Athletes who compete for their school in CIF contests while ineligible due to violations of CIF or CIFSDS rules will cause the following mandatory penalty:

1. Team Sports--Forfeiture of contest(s) plus any profit share or transportation reimbursement.
2. Individual Sports--Forfeiture of points and awards earned by the ineligible athlete(s).

Competition On An Outside Team

A student on a high school team becomes ineligible if the student competes in a contest or participates in any way, including practice, on an "outside" team in the same sport, during the student's high school season of sport.

Use Of Alcohol, Tobacco, And Illegal Drugs

Students and coaches are prohibited from using any form of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs at the playing site of an interscholastic contest. The penalty is disqualification from that contest. In addition, local school rules may apply.

Student Award Limitations

A high school student may not receive from any source an athletic award for CIF high school competition of more that twenty-five ($100) in value. The athletic award may be Fifty dollars ($50) for league championships or one hundred ($250) for CIF section championships.

When a student participates in other than CIF competition in a CIF approved sport, at any time during the calendar year, the student is governed by the awards rules of the amateur governing body for that sport.

Student Participation Conduct Penalty

Student participation in athletic contests is a privilege. Student-athletes, are expected to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner at all times. During participation in all CIF competition, a student who is ejected or disqualified from participating in the remainder of a contest may be ineligible for the team's next contest. In addition, any student who physically assaults a game or event official shall be banned from interscholastic athletics for the remainder of the student's interscholastic eligibility.