Eligibility Overview

Student Elgibility Requirements

  1. Bona Fide Student Rule – You must be enrolled in and in good standing in the school you represent.
  2. Grade Rule – You must be enrolled in the last four years of high school. Eight-grade students may participate in high school academic activities and at the sub-varsity level in high school athletic activities for one year only while in the eight grade without affecting high school eligibility.
  3. Scholorship Rule - You must have passed at least five credit subjects, or the equivalent, at the end of the previous semester and be enrolled in and remain continuously enrolled in at least five credit subjects, or the equivalent, during the current semester. (Under most 4x4 block plans, one block is the equivalent of two traditional credits and a student who takes/passes three is taking/passing the equivalent of six.) This doesn’t apply to the A/B schedule. These classes will yield on credit per class.
  4. Age Rule - You must not have reached your 19th birthday on or before the first day of August of the current school year.
  5. Transfer Rule - You must sit out of VHSL activities for 365 calendar days following a transfer to the school unless the transfer corresponded with a family move into the school attendance zone. Eight and ninth graders are automatically eligible wherever they enroll at the beginning of the year. (Please check with your principal or athletic director for exceptions.)
  6. Semester Rule - You may participate for no more that eight consecutive semesters following you initial enrollment in the ninth grade, whether or not you have remained continuously enrolled.
  7. Amateur - You must be an amateur who participates only for the educational, physical, mental and social benefits derived from the activity.
  8. Awards Rule - You must not accept in recognition of athletic ability any award not approved by your school or the Virginia High School League.
  9. All-Star Rule - Only seniors who have completed their eligibility in a sport may participate in one all-star game in that sports season.
  10. Consent Form/Physical - You must have submitted a complete copy of a current Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form, including the required physical by a doctor, prior to practice, tryouts or membership on any athletic team, including cheer. Separate examination is required for each school year MAY 1 of current year through JUNE 30 of the succeeding. Physicals are only good for high school athletics during that time.