Policy on Participation with Non-Member Schools

AL: Our schools may not participate against non-member schools.

CO: Colorado will allow member schools to compete against any school from another state as long as that school is a member of there states Athletic association. We will let member schools compete against other school teams if they are not members of the state association only if that school signs a statement that they follow all the rules of that state association. The most important of those rules are that the student is academically eligible and that they have not turned 19 prior to August 1st of there senior year.

CT: Connecticut schools cannot compete with schools that are not members of their state association.

DE: Delaware does not allow its member schools to compete against in-state non-member schools. We do allow our member schools to compete with out-of-state non-member schools. However, each school must complete Delaware's eligibility verification form assuring that they will compete in the event using only athletes which comply with their state's eligibility rules.

GA: Member schools shall compete against other member schools or against schools who are affiliated with the State Association in their respective states only.

The GHSA Executive Director has the authority to approve competition between the GHSA schools and private schools from states in which membership in the State Association is not allowed. These non-member schools must meet or exceed the State Association standards in order to compete with GHSA schools.

KY: All games against in-state opponents must be against schools that also belong to the KHSAA. Students from non-member schools in Kentucky may not, under any circumstances, compete against KHSAA member school students in the contests defined within Bylaw 25. All games played against out of state opponents must be played against schools that are members if that state's association. The KHSAA office can assist in determining the status of those teams.

LA: LHSAA schools shall be permitted to engage in interscholastic athletic competition against high schools from outside Louisiana with the following stipulations:
The school shall be a member in good standing with its state high school association that is a member of the NFHS.
The school is not a member of the state high school association but is permitted to compete against its members.
The school is not a member of the state high school association but is recognized and considered to be in good standing with the association.
The school is classified as a junior high school in that state.

MA: Member schools may scrimmage or compete with non-member Massachusetts schools or out-of-state schools that are not members of their own state high school associations (but only if the school is ineligible for state association membership and complies with that association's conditions of alliance) only if the chief administrator of the non-member school agrees in writing prior to the start of the season that:

The non-member team will not include a player who exceeds the MIAA age limit.
The length of periods will not exceed the maximum length prescribed by the MIAA rules for that sport.
The competition adheres to all MIAA rules.
The principal of the member school involved sends a copy of this written agreement to the MIAA Executive Director prior to the start of the season.

Contests under these criteria do count toward the school's weekly and seasonal limits, but do not count toward tournament qualification.

ME: Maine has no policies restricting participating against non-member schools. However, those games would not be used for qualification for post season competition. Also, if the non-member school were from another state we would honor the NFHS sanctioning process as well as any restrictions placed by that state.

MN: Our schools may not participate against non-member schools.

MO: Missouri does not allow participation or competition with schools, or teams, that are not members of this Association or like association. Missouri schools may participate against affiliate members of another state association provided that state allows their member schools to participate against their affiliate schools.

NY: There are 4 athletic associations in NY - the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), the NYS Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA), the NYS Association for Independent Schools Athletic Association (AISAA) and the Public School Athletic League of New York City (PSAL).

The 4 athletic associations in NY come together as the New York Federation of Secondary School Athletic Associations. As the NY member of the NFHS, the NYSPHSAA is the sanctioning office for all NY schools as related to interstate competition. Each NYS Federation member association agrees to follow the Regulations of the (New York State) Commissioner of Education as they relate to interstate competition, thereby allowing the NYSPHSAA to consider schools that are members of one of the other athletic associations as "schools approved" by the NYSPHSAA for such competition.

In addition, NYSPHSAA Eligibility Standard 13b, "No (NYSPHSAA) member school will engage in athletic competition with an out-of-state school which is not a member in good standing of its respective state association or has not been approved by the respective state association if the school is ineligible to join. Furthermore member schools will not compete in any interstate contest which is sponsored solely by an outside agency."

NV: Nevada has no specific rule regarding competition with non-member schools. The problems arise with states like New York and Texas which do not recognize private schools. I would like to know when non-member schools are a part of a tournament in which Nevada Schools will attend.

OH: Ohio has no regulation that prohibits competing versus non-member schools.

PA: We do allow our member schools to play against non-member schools. If it is a tournament all paperwork must be complete and if it is just a single game against a non-member school, they must both sign a "supplement to contract".

RI: As long as the school is part of their state association.

TN: Tennessee schools can only participate with member schools only.

VT: Vermont schools may only participate with VPA member schools or schools that are members of their comparable state athletic association.

WY: Wyoming does not sanction events with non-member schools.