John Bowne High School

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ATHLETIC LEAGUE (PSAL) STUDENT-ATHLETE ELIGIBILITY RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERN ALL ELIGIBILITY DECISIONS PERTAINING TO A STUDENT-ATHLETE'S PARTICIPATION IN PSAL ATHLETICS. .

ALL PRINCIPALS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR UPHOLDING AND ENFORCING ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS SET FORTH IN THIS DOCUMENT.

ATHLETIC DIRECTORS ARE RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAINTAINING, ORGANIZING, AND REVIEWING THE ELIGIBILITY RECORDS OF ALL PARTICIPATING PSAL STUDENT-ATHLETES TO ENSURE THAT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL PSAL GUIDELINES AND THAT EACH STUDENT-ATHLETE MEETS THE RULES AND STANDARDS SET FORTH IN THIS DOCUMENT.

RECRUITMENT

It is the policy of the Department of Education that no school employee shall directly or indirectly recruit, encourage, or entice a student-athlete to transfer from one high school to another high school for athletic purposes.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. The Eligibility Rules and Regulations apply uniformly to all high school student-athletes who participate in the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL).

2. The Athletic Director is responsible for the examination of records to determine a student-athlete’s eligibility in all PSAL activities. Records must always be available and subject to an audit by the PSAL.

3. A student-athlete is eligible to participate in the PSAL immediately upon registration and admission into a New York City Department of Education public high school which offers PSAL athletics, provided the student-athlete meets the standards set forth by the Eligibility Rules and Regulations.
The following exceptions apply:

3. 1. Any student-athlete who was on a PSAL roster and transfers from one New York City public high school to another New York City public high school is NOT eligible to play, in the sport which he/she was on a roster, for a period of one year from the transfer date, unless the student-athlete demonstrates that the transfer is the result of an official change of residence by his/her parent/ legal guardian or the result of a change in legal guardian.
3. 2. No PSAL student-athlete may participate in the same sport for more than one school (public, private, parochial) in the same sports season.

4. A student-athlete may ONLY participate for the school in which he/she is registered as a full-time student.

5. A student-athlete may only participate on one PSAL sports team at a time. When two sports seasons overlap, a student-athlete may receive credit for 25% of the practice requirements needed to compete in the second sport (as specified in the PSAL Sports Standards for Interscholastic Competition).

6. In order to participate in the PSAL a student-athlete must have an updated and completed medical and parental consent form on file with his/her school Athletic Director.

7. Academic Eligibility:

• 7 .1. The 5+1 Rule - In order to gain and/ or maintain eligibility a student-athlete must pass five credit bearing courses (not 5 credits) + physical education, if taken, in the most recent final marking period (January or June). In addition, a student-athlete must pass five credit bearing courses + physical education in the marking periods closest to December 1st and /or April 15th to continue his/her eligibility.

• Incoming 9th grade student-athletes are eligible to compete in PSAL activities immediately upon entry into high school. The second report card is the first report card used to determine academic eligibility for 9th grade students.

• A senior programmed for 4 or 5 classes who fails one class, in his/her senior year, will be eligible for PSAL so long as the failed class is not required for graduation.

7. 2. The date report cards are issued within a school is the official date for determining PSAL eligibility.

7. 3. At least three of the five subjects passed must be core subjects – English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and/or Science.

7. 4. The 10 Credit Rule - A student-athlete must accumulate a minimum of ten (10) credits, not including physical education, in the two semesters prior to the eligibility period (all credits accumulated in night school and summer school are included). This rule takes effect beginning with a student's third semester in high school.

7. 5. 90-minute double periods in core subjects, can count as 2 subjects toward the 5+1 rule and 2 credits toward the 10 credit rule.

7. 6. When a student-athlete has satisfied the requirements for graduation, any credit bearing courses may be used to evaluate eligibility for the 5 + 1 rule requirement.

7. 7. A student-athlete programmed for fewer than 5 classes must pass all his/her classes in order to fulfill the 5+1 rule requirement.

7. 8. A student-athlete must obtain a minimum GPA (grade point average) of 65 on the report card used for evaluating eligibility.

7. 9. Academic eligibility, at the beginning of each term, is determined by the final grades of the previous term. Grades that are earned in summer school, and accepted by the home school, shall be counted as grades for the previous June. A passing summer school grade may be used in calculating the June GPA requirement.

7. 10. A student-athlete who is academically ineligible may become academically eligible by passing five credit bearing subjects and physical education in the most recent marking period, provided the student fulfills the 10 credit rule and the GPA requirement.

7. 11. An ineligible student-athlete may practice with a team provided he/she has an updated medical and parent consent form on file and is listed on the roster. All student-athletes who practice with a team must be listed on the roster as Active or Inactive. Student-athletes listed on the roster as Inactive may not participate in any games (league and non-league).

8. Attendance Requirements:

8. 1. In order to maintain eligibility within a marking period a student-athlete must maintain a minimum of 90% school attendance in the marking period used for eligibility evaluation. The 90% attendance requirement is not cumulative.

8. 2. A student-athlete must be present in school and must attend all scheduled classes in order to participate in any tryout, practice, scrimmage, or contest on that day.

9. Suspended Students:

9. 1. Suspended student-athletes are not eligible to participate in any tryout, practice, scrimmage, or contest during a suspension.

10. Age/Grade Eligibility:

10. 1. A student-athlete is eligible for PSAL athletic competition for only 4 consecutive calendar years beginning with his/her entry date into the 9th grade.

10. 2. A student-athlete is eligible for varsity competition in grades 9 - 12 until his/her 19th birthday. A student-athlete, who turns 19 on or after July, 1 may participate in PSAL athletics during the next school year, provided he/she has not exhausted his/her 4 years of consecutive eligibility detailed in rule 10.1.

10. 3. A student-athlete is eligible for junior varsity competition in grades 9 and 10 up until his/her 17th birthday. A student who turns 17 on or after July 1 may continue to participate during that school year.

11. Ineligible Student-Athlete Penalties:

11. 1. If an ineligible student-athlete participates in any PSAL contest, the team will forfeit the contest.

11. 2. For certain individual sports, if applicable, when an ineligible student-athlete participates in any PSAL contest, only the score(s) of the ineligible student(s) will be disallowed.

AMATEUR STATUS

A student who represents a New York City Public High School in an interscholastic sport must be an amateur in that sport. An amateur is one who engages in athletic competition solely for the physical, mental, and social benefits. A student shall forfeit amateur status by:

1. Competing for money or other compensation (allowable travel, meals, and lodging expenses may be approved).

2. Capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving gifts of monetary value. Scholarships to institutions of higher learning are specifically exempted.

3. Signing a professional playing contract in a sport.

12. Eligibility Review Committee:

12. 1. The Eligibility Review Committee is empowered to act on questions regarding eligibility. The Committee is comprised of designees of the PSAL Executive Director.

12. 2. The Eligibility Review Committee will only review requests submitted by a PSAL Athletic Director, with the consent of the Principal. An Athletic Director may submit a Request for an Eligibility Review of a Student-Athlete (form A) along with all supporting documentation to the Committee for review.

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12. 3. When a student's eligibility is questioned, the school's Principal will be asked to verify the student's record. All evidence prepared by the Principal in regard to the student shall be submitted to the Committee.

12. 4. If sufficient evidence is presented by a school Principal, to the Committee, to show that a student's failure to enter competition in a sport during one or more seasons is due to illness, accident, or other such circumstance beyond the control of the student, the student's eligibility may be considered for extension provided that the student meets the age and academic requirements for participation. Academic failures that result in a student's need for a 5th year in school may not be grounds for eligibility.

12. 5. The Committee's decision may be appealed. (See Procedures for Requesting an Appeal of the Eligibility Review of a Student-Athlete.)

PROCEDURES FOR REQUESTING AN APPEAL OF THE ELIGIBILITY REVIEW OF A STUDENT-ATHLETE

All appeals and requests for information should be sent to:

PSAL Board of Review, Hearing Officer
44-36 Vernon Boulevard, 4th Floor,
Long Island City, NY 11101.
Applications may be sent by fax, 718-707-4498.

A. Those appealing the Committee's decision must submit a Request for an Appeal of the Eligibility Review of a Student-Athlete form. Applications for an appeal must include all pertinent documentation.

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B. The Hearing Officer will inform the parties if testimony will be necessary, or whether he will make his decision based on the record alone.

C. If the Hearing Officer requires testimony, a hearing shall be convened within seven days from receipt of the written application unless the Hearing Officer determines that extenuating circumstances exist and the appeal will be heard on more than seven days’ notice.

D. If a hearing is required, each party shall be accorded an opportunity to make written and/or oral presentations on all appropriate issues, to present relevant documents and to call and question witnesses. A list of witnesses shall be supplied to the Hearing Officer at least two days prior to the hearing in order to arrange for their appearance.

E. At the request of one of the parties, a witness may be sworn in or asked to affirm that he/she will testify truthfully before presenting information to the Hearing Officer.

F. The Hearing Officer may utilize electronic or other recording procedures for the preservation of oral testimony.

G. The parties to an appeal shall be forwarded a copy of the initial determination rendered by the Hearing Officer within five school days of the submission of the appeal if there is no hearing, or within two school days of the hearing. Thereafter, a formal decision letter shall be issued within five school days of the issuance of the decision. Complete case reports will only be issued in the event that the appellant informs the Hearing Officer, within fifteen calendar days from the date of the decision letter that it wishes to pursue litigation.

H. The decision of the Hearing Officer is final and constitutes the administrative action of the Chancellor.