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ARTICLE XII – IN SEASON / OUT-OF-SEASON RULES SPECIALIZATION Students should have the opportunity to voluntarily engage in non-school sponsored sports activities provided such activities do not interfere with the student’s educational development and the activities do not conflict with the principles of wholesome amateur athletics. The CIAC wishes to enhance that opportunity while at the same time discouraging the exploitation of student-athletes by overzealous individuals and organizations who attempt to impose an obligation on the student to participate in their programs at any cost. There has been growing evidence of commercialism of high school athletes. In far too many instances non-school sponsored sports events have been the “marketplace” where the students have been lured to display their “athletic wares.” Experience has revealed that such events tend to divide the allegiance of the students, undermine their respect for their high school coaches, and encourage the type of adulation which gives the students an exaggerated notion of the importance of their own athletic prowess rather than reinforcing the idea that athletic ability is an endowed talent which students should use for the pleasure and satisfaction that they may derive from athletic competition. By the promulgation and enforcement of these rules the CIAC strives to eliminate these abuses. “For purposes of this regulation, an individual officially becomes a coach and thus must abide by all CIAC rules and regulations, upon written or verbal acceptance of an offer (paid or unpaid) or employment by a board of education or its designated agent(s). Also for purposes of this regulation, a coach (paid or unpaid) remains a coach in the position for which he/she was hired until a formal resignation by the coach is received by the proper school authority or he/she is officially notified of termination by the superintendent of his/her designated agent. Yearly expiration of contracts do not constitute “official notification” under the definition of this regulation.” Adopted May 29, 1997 70 3.0 CIAC BY-LAWS 1.0 DURING AUTHORIZED CONTEST SEASON (In-Season Rules) 1.1 Individual and Team Sports a. Participation as an individual or as a member on a non-school sponsored team in a sports competition, practice, showcase, try-out, camp or clinic at any level of play including professional in the same branch of athletics during the authorized contest season will render the athlete ineligible for all interscholastic athletics unless the athlete is reinstated by the CIAC Board of Control. (Season is defined as the date of the first contest for that school and concluding with either the CIAC final tournament game or the New England championships.) Exception to Rule 1.1.a. 1. Participation in Olympic/Pan American Games/try-outs. 2. Participation in one national governing body (NGB) sponsored national tournament or international competition 3. Participation in a college audition – (Audition – when a student-athlete is invited by the college coach to visit the campus and participate in workouts individually or with team members to assess their skills prior to admission.) 4. Participation in clinics offered by a college – (Skill development programs that are not used to assess talent or used as a try-out for non-school teams.) 5. Participation in clinics offered by CIAC member schools or other state association member schools. 6. Participation in other clinics approved by the school and that are designed to enhance skill development and not used as a try-out of any nature for selection to a non-school team. The following conditions must be met as part of the exceptions #1-6: • Each event is limited to one (1) day in duration; • The member school principal must grant permission if there is any loss of school time; • The member school coach determines the event does not interfere with any functions of the in-season school program; • Written consent is given by the school administration and athletic department prior to the student attending such activities. • Member schools will inform the CIAC staff of students who are approved to attend. All Sports The CIAC Board of Control may grant exceptions to athletes to participate in those contests legitimately organized for the sole purpose of preparing for and selection to the next Olympic Games or the Pan-American Games. An athlete may participate in one (1) National Governing Body (NGB) sponsored national tournament event or other NGB sponsored international competition during the sport season. These contests must be recognized by the United States Olympic Committee, the Pan-American Games and/or the NGB for the sport as having as its sole purpose the selection to the Olympic, PanAmerican, national or international team. All decisions for participation will be made in accordance with the Restricted Competition provision of the U.S. Olympic Sports Act wherein state athletic associations shall have “exclusive jurisdiction” to conduct their programs without interference by any NGB. 71 3.0 CIAC BY-LAWS Athletes wishing to compete in any of the above mentioned events must follow the provision in 1.1.a. Exceptions to these regulations may be granted by the CIAC Board. Select Sports (Only) A student-athlete may participate in golf, gymnastics, indoor track, outdoor track, swimming, and tennis as an individual (unattached – See 4.6.J.) and not as a member of a team during the authorized contest season without loss of interscholastic eligibility provided the following criteria are met: 1) Compliance with weekly limitations for the specific sport. 2) In golf, gymnastics, swimming, indoor track, outdoor track and tennis, no more than four (4) unattached (see 4.6.J.) outside meets per season are permitted. Athletes in these sports may practice but not compete with a non-CIAC team during the season. Such practices may not interfere with or replace member school practices. 3) Prior approval of athletic director, coach, principal and parent. 4) Prior arrangements to complete academic lessons, assignments, tests, etc. 5) Student and parent agree to not accept, directly or indirectly any awards, gifts, trips, merchandise, etc., which would be in violation of CIAC regulations. 6) Athletes will not miss any CIAC-sponsored tournament contest for which he/she is eligible unless excused by the CIAC Board of Control. It is the philosophy of the conference that student-athletes owe loyalty to their school and team. During the regular season, the school administration will make the determination as to whether a studentathlete may be excused from a contest to attend an event as an “unattached” competitor. b. A pupil shall not participate in or represent his or her school in more than one sport after the date of the first contest for that school in that sport season, nor may that pupil represent more than one school during a season unless the pupil satisfies the conditions of Eligibility Rule II.C. The school season is defined as the date of the first scheduled contest for that school and concluding with either the CIAC final tournament game or the New England Tournament if there is such a tournament. The conclusion of the New England tournaments will be the end of the season for teams and/or athletes who qualified for the New England tournament. 1.2 Camps and Showcases Students may not attend. 1.3 Lessons A student-athlete is permitted to receive individual lessons in his/her sport(s) during the season.
4.6.J. UNATTACHED STATUS (DEFINITION) When the CIAC informs a school principal that a student-athlete may participate in a select meet or tournament as an “unattached” individual, it means that: 1. Athletes must comply with CIAC weekly limitations for the sport. 2. Athletes may not represent their high school or state association in any way, nor are the high school and state association legally responsible for athletes who participate in the meet or tournament. Athletes may not use the school name or school uniforms, and the school may not sponsor the athletes in any way, financial or otherwise. 3. A school may not benefit in any way through the participation of an athlete. Prizes or trophies may not be awarded a school. 4. Entry fees may not be paid by the school. 5. Athletes may only compete as an individual and may not represent any team. 6. The signature of the principal and coach on the Official Entry Form do not imply authorization for the student to compete for a school. The signatures are to be taken only as evidence that the student is a bona fide member of a CIAC member school team and that his/her coach and school administrator are aware of the fact that he/she is entered in the event. An athlete who represents his/her school in any way will be ruled ineligible for further CIAC participation in the sport.