Student Eligibility--Summer Related Bylaws

Summer is almost upon us and it is time to become re-aware of and to possibly review the bylaws that could impact a student's eligibility. Most of the following information will center around athletic camps and athletic awards and the limitations.

It will be important for you to review this information with your athletes that are going to elite camps and to also tell them to not post pictures on social media that show swag or awards that can be interpreted as having a value of more that $100.00.

If in doubt please reach out to me so we do not need to deal with a MSHSL investigation.

BYLAW 203.00

ATHLETIC CAMPS AND CLINICS

1. Students: Students may attend a camp or clinic at any time during the year provided that they meet the following requirements.

A. School, Camp or Clinic for a League-sponsored Activity 

Definition: A school, camp or clinic is defined as an instructional program which involves physical participation by the individual student. 

• Camps/Clinics During the Summer  

• Non-school sponsored summer specialized camps or clinics do not require approval.  

• Student athletes must adhere to the following guidelines established by the Board of Directors.

  • Camp or clinic participation fees must be provided by the student or the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) unless other arrangements are approved by the Board of Directors.

  • The non-school camp or clinic program shall not include any type of competition with teams from another camp or clinic.

  • Guidelines for Schools:

    • Schools may not issue uniforms or equipment to students for their personal use in non-school sponsored camps and clinics.

    • Schools may rent or lease protective equipment such as helmets and shoulder pads to individual students/sponsors of camps and clinics provided that the same rental fee is charged to all persons who want to rent equipment and that all rental equipment is inspected by qualified reconditioning companies prior to use by high school students.

    • Schools may rent or lease their facilities to camps and clinics provided that the same rental fee is charged to all persons who want to rent the facility.

    • Schools may approve the Summer Coaching Waiver for the members of their high school coaching staff (see Bylaw 208).

BYLAW 204.00

AWARDS

Awards presented to students shall be of a symbolic nature rather than those which have intrinsic value. School officials will make certain that awards approved conform to the letter, spirit, and intent of the bylaw.

Acceptable awards which are not a violation include:

• Game balls, medals, ribbons, trophies, golf balls, plaques, athletic insignia, cups, and other items of little or no intrinsic value.

• Honor banquets of a non-promotional nature if they are held with the approval of the high school principal.

• Free and reduced price admissions accepted from colleges or universities for their events if they have prior approval of the high school principal.

• Awards for transportation, tickets, and expense allowances, by member schools or clubs of member schools, for attendance at League-sponsored, and or college and university events if they have prior approval of the high school principal.

• Awards of transportation and entertainment by colleges and universities for recruiting purposes, when carried on within the limitation of NCAA, NAIA, AIAW, if they have prior approval of the high school principal.

• A scholarship award made on the basis of a combination of two or more factors such as scholarship, character, athletics, and citizenship, made by a non-promotional type of organization to a graduating senior if they have prior approval by the high school principal. Awards for participation in non-school athletics which meet the provisions of the amateur bylaw.

• Acceptance of a prize, including money, for a sport that is not conducted or sponsored by the League such as bowling, boxing, rodeo, free throw contests, hole in one contests, etc.

Awards constituting a violation include:

• Items such as jackets, rings, jewelry, watches, merchandise, services, trips, free or reduced price admissions in which the value of the award(s) exceeds $100 retail.

• Awards made by individuals, business concerns, private enterprises, and service clubs, which do not conform to the limitations of 204.02 and are promotional in nature.

• Free Tickets: The acceptance of a free ticket valued at more than $100 is a violation of League bylaws if the ticket is presented as a result of participation in a League sponsored activity.

• Reduced price tickets: The acceptance of a reduced price ticket if the full value of the ticket less the amount charged exceeds $100. High school athletes may purchase a $100 ticket or receive a free one from an organization without violating the bylaw if the same privilege is available to all other students.

Penalty: The student shall be ineligible for all further high school competition.

BYLAW 208.00

NON-SCHOOL COMPETITION AND TRAINING -DURING THE SUMMER

Summer Vacation Period:

• Students may participate in camps, clinics/non-school teams, provided that these summer activities are voluntary, and they are not influenced or directed to participate by a salaried or non-salaried member of the student’s sophomore, B-squad, junior varsity, or varsity high school coaching staff in that sport.

• A student may not use any type of high school uniform. Balls and goalie equipment may be issued for summer use.  A student may rent personal protective equipment from the school, i.e. helmets and shoulder pads, for summer use only.

• A student may receive coaching or training from a salaried or non-salaried member of the student’s sophomore, B-squad, junior varsity, or varsity high school coaching staff in that sport provided the school has approved summer coaching for that sport.

• Fees and expenses for non-school coaching or training must be provided by the student or the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) unless approved by the Board of Directors.

If in doubt please reach out!