1. OHSAA Administrators’ Update Fall Seminar 2017
Presented by the Ohio High School Athletic Association

2. Presenters Dr. Daniel Ross, Executive Director
Dr. Deborah B. Moore, Senior Director of Compliance and Sports Medicine
Mr. Steven L. Craig, Legal Counsel for the OHSAA
Follow us on Twitter
@OHSAASports
@DMooreDeborah

3. Eligibility Update The OHSAA goal is service to our members
Service in the form of assistance in interpreting the bylaws that is significant and useful
Major area of inquiry
Transfer Bylaw
Enrollment and Attendance Bylaw – Focus on the Non-Enrolled Student and Business rules for assignment to member schools for athletics participation

4. Transfer Eligibility – 4-7
Major area for questions
A little history
2013 Referendum approved fundamental changes to the transfer bylaws
2014 made some ed. changes and created one new exception;
2015 added three new exceptions
2016 provided additional clarification and a chart to aid in understanding the 50% rule
2017 – Seven different items including a new exception and changes to other bylaws within section seven

5. Transfer, cont.
OHSAA has updated the “Transfer Bylaw Resource Center” on the website at to assist schools for SY
All principals and athletic administrators received notification of these changes on May 21, 2017.

6. Other Resources on the web
Residence Bylaws -
Scholarship Bylaws -
Enrollment and Attendance Bylaws -
International Student -
Recruiting Bylaws -
Amateur Bylaws -
Age Bylaws -
Conduct Bylaws -

7. Bylaw Transfer
This bylaw requires the administrator to determine the following:   1. Is the student a transfer student?  In other words, did the student change schools after establishing eligibility by playing in a high school  contest prior to the start of the 9th grade or after the 5th day of the 9th grade year?

8. Transfer
2. Did the student play an OHSAA sport at ANY high school in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of transfer into the new high school? Get this information in writing from an administrator at the previous school or schools.  Note that this could apply to a student who returns to the same high school at which the participation occurred during that immediately preceding 12 months. 

9. Transfer
3. If the answer to both #1 and #2 is YES, then Does the student meet one of the 11 enumerated exceptions to this bylaw?
If yes – There may be paperwork required
If no – the student must prepare to sit out of all contests until the first 50% of the maximum allowable regular season contests have been competed in ANY sport the student played at ANY high school in the 12 months immediately preceding the transfer.

10. Maximum # of Contests as per the OHSAA Board
Maximum Allowable Contests in All OHSAA-recognized sports and Formula for Determining Eligibility under the 50% Transfer Consequence
Sport
Maximum # of Contests as per the OHSAA Board
Transfer Student Ineligible Until
Baseball
27 Games
Game 14
Basketball (Boys and Girls)
22 Games
Game 12 -then eligible for no more than 55 quarters for the remainder of the regular season.
Bowling
24 Matches
Match 13
Cross Country (Boys and Girls)
16 Meets
Meet 9
Field Hockey
16 Games
Game 9 - then eligible for no more than 21 halves for the remainder of the regular season.
Football
10 Games
Game 6 --then eligible for no more than 25 quarters for the remainder of the regular season.
Golf
20 Matches
Match 11
Gymnastics
14 Meets
Meet 8
Lacrosse
18 Games
Game 10 –GIRLS - then eligible for no more than 23 halves for the remainder of the regular season
BOYS - then eligible for no more than 46 quarters for the remainder of the regular season

11. Maximum # of Contests as per the OHSAA Board
Maximum Allowable Contests in All OHSAA-recognized sports and Formula for Determining Eligibility under the 50% Transfer Consequence
Sport
Maximum # of Contests as per the OHSAA Board
Transfer Student Ineligible Until
Ice Hockey
35 Games
Game 18
Soccer (Boys and Girls)
16 Games
Game 9 -then eligible for no more than 21 halves for the remainder of the regular season.
Softball
27 Games
Game 14
Swimming and Diving(Boys and Girls)
16 Meets
Meet 9
Tennis (Boys and Girls)
22 Matches
Match 12
Track and Field (Boys and Girls)
Volleyball
Wrestling
20 Points/16 points (for those schools that do not field teams – 6 or fewer wrestlers)
Point 11/9- then eligible for no more than 11/8 points for the remainder of the regular season.

12. Questions about the Consequence if the student does not meet an exception
Can the student practice/train?
Yes, but no participation in any contests including scrimmages, preview, Foundation game, Jamboree until the end of the 50% sit-out period.
What does 50% mean?
Cannot play in any contest until the first half of the maximum allowable regular season contests have been competed. In certain sports that have quarter, half or point limitations, participation is further restricted to half of those limitations after the 50% sit out.

13. Questions about the Consequence
Does it apply to all sports?
Yes. It applies to each OHSAA recognized interscholastic sport the student played at the former school(s) in the 12 months immediately preceding the transfer.
What if the student didn’t play any sports at the former school?
Then there is no transfer issue, and the student is eligible insofar as transfer is concerned. Be sure to check with the former school and get this in writing.
What if the student played in one J.V. scrimmage? Does that count?
Yes. Even one play in one scrimmage or any other contest no matter the level activates the transfer consequence.

14. Questions about the Consequence
Is there any paperwork required?
If the student meets an exception, there may be paperwork.
If the student does not meet an exception, he or she will sit out of all contests until the first 50% of the maximum allowable regular season contests in his or her sport(s) have been played/competed.
If the student did not play a sport in the past 12 months, no paperwork is required.

15. Parents’ Bona Fide Move Exception 1 – Revised for 2017-18 637/879 – 16-17
Parents move into a new school district – NOTE PLURAL
Triggers choice of either the public high school in the new district or any non-public high school – applies to moves from within state as well as from out of state
Exception– move of 100 miles or more allows for the choice of any public school.
Move must be contemporaneous with the transfer
If both parents are not moving = ineligible for first 50%
Exceptions for single parents who are divorced or were never married or for those who are in the process of a legal termination of their marriage

16. Exception one The change requires our office to determine:
If the move was indeed bona fide AND
If the parents’ move COMPELLED the student to transfer
We will make these determinations based on the information in the affidavit including the timeline.
Kristin Ronai, at does the initial review of all affidavits in support of ex. #1.

17. Affidavit of Bona Fide Residence
Review the document after it is notarized
Check for answers to each question
Check for full addresses and school district notation in # 3 and #10
Check to insure affiant has a new driver’s license or state ID and Voter Registration with the new address
Check to insure the document is signed by affiant (parent) and the notary
Check that #15 has been initialed or an explanation attached
Do not Send to OHSAA until all answers are verified, the affidavit is completed correctly and residence is verified
Be prepared to check on the residence periodically, document the visits, and do so at “off hours.” Keep records of these visits.

18. Let’s Have A Look
Here is the new ABFR Click here for a checklist to assist in verification

19. Legal Change of Custody Exception 2 – Revised for 2017-18
This exception has been subdivided into two parts.
When a court-ordered change of custody between the student’s parents who live in two different school districts results in the student’s transfer to a a new high school school , this triggers:
Choice of the public high school in the new custodian’s school district
Choice of any non-public school
Requires an actual legal change of custody, not a Power of Attorney or an affidavit for school attendance

20. Legal Change of Custody Between Two Parents – (42 – 16-17)
What must the school administrator do:
Obtain the court order and ensure that it is a legal change of custody signed by a judge or magistrate
If these parents formerly had a Shared Parenting Plan, ensure that the Plan has been terminated and that the parent living in your district (or the new district) is the sole legal custodian – NOTE: The OHSAA does not recommend this action.

21. Note on Shared Parenting
Note: Re-designation of residential parent within a Shared Parenting agreement is NOT a legal change of custody
Although we never recommend this action, the only way that a change of custody can occur when parents have a Shared Parenting Plan is if the plan is terminated.

22. Exception two – Change of Custody Between Parents
Draft a letter to either Deborah Moore or Roxanne Price stipulating
The person named in the custody document is a resident of the new school district into which the student is moving
The student will live full time with that resident for one full year
The school from which the student is transferring
Include the petition for change of custody if available
Send a copy of the court order along with the letter

23. Change of Custody to a Non-Parent (14 – 16-17)
What must the school administrator do?
Send a certified copy of the court order or agency placement changing the custody/guardianship to a non-parent or agency
Ensure the document is signed by a judge, magistrate or agent of a protective services agency
Send a copy of the documentation accompanying the request for change of custody which clearly stipulates that the change is necessary due to the student’s adjudication as:
Abused,
Neglected, OR
Delinquent/Unruly

24. Change of Custody to Non-Parent
Send a cover letter stipulating the following:
High School from which the student is transferring
Verification that the person or agent named in the document resides in the new school district
Verification that the student will live with the new custodian full time for at least a year
In both scenarios, if the date of enrollment predates the change of custody order, this exception may not apply

25. Exception 9 – Transfer to residential public high school (381 – 16-17)
One time option
Parents must have resided in the district for a year
Not applicable between schools in a multi-HS district
Cannot be used to go from the district of one parent to that of the other
Requires submission of a form to Kristin Ronai –

26. Intra district and System Transfers – Multiple High Schools
4-7-4 – Public schools with attendance zones – during school year transfers
4-7-6 – Public schools – transfer at beginning of year
Redistricting
Change in Academic Program which must be clearly described to the Commissioner’s Office – Seniors cannot be considered
4-7-7 – Non-public schools – transfer at beginning of year
Change in Academic Program – same as in – No seniors
Financial or transportation Hardships

27. Bylaw 4-3-1 – Enrollment and Attendance – The Non-Enrolled Student
State legislation over the past few years has changed the landscape of education-based athletics and thus this bylaw which reads:
All students participating in a school-sponsored sport must be enrolled and attending full-time in accordance with all duly adopted Board of Education or similar governing board policies of the school. (1908)
State law identifies FOUR categories of non-enrolled students – Referenced in exception six of 4-3-1

28. Home Educated Student (excused by superintendent from compulsory attendance)
Home educated student whose parents live in your public school district
Shall be able to participate in any school sport without having to be enrolled and attend your school
Shall be eligible in all other respects including academics, semesters, graduation status, age, etc. – MUST CHECK!
Home educated student whose parents do NOT live in your public school district
May be able to participate in a school sport in another public school district if the superintendent permits it and the residential district schools do not sponsor the sport

29. Non-Public School Student
Student enrolled in a non-public school (chartered or non-chartered “08” school)
Shall be afforded the chance to play a sport in the public school located in the district of residence of the parents – that school the student is entitled to attend OR
The public school located in the school district in which the non-public school is physically located provided:
The non-public school of attendance does not offer that sport

30. Community (AKA Charter) and STEM School Student
Eligible only at the public school in the parents’ residential district or attendance zone only
Students must be eligible in all other aspects
Students will not be counted on each high school’s EMIS count, and the OHSAA will continue to study this procedure.
The non-enrolled student who participates will be considered a Tier 2 student for competitive balance

31. Business Rules for Placement of the Non-Enrolled Student in Multiple School Districts
Readopted as revised in 2017 by the Board of Directors -
Basic Concept - Students shall be placed at the school in their attendance zone (if applicable) or at the school closest to the parents’ residence
The same concept is applicable to exception 4 students identified at students who attend district non-traditional schools with no sports program

32. Sports Medicine Update
New Coaching Requirement – Sudden Cardiac Arrest
All coaches must take the state approved training developed by ODH, ODE and the OHSAA along with technical assistance from NCH and the OH Chapter of the Am College of Cardiology
Requires coaches to watch a video, read a brochure, take a post-test and will generate a certificate
Preferred method to take course is via ODE’s LMS
Alternative methods – must be acceptable to the e-signer in your district/school

33. Sports Medicine
This training is free and is the only acceptable format
Parents and students must watch a video, read a brochure and sign off on a form that they have completed this training.
Form has been added to the Privit Profile
Schools may choose how to provide this training to parents which is available at ODH and on the OHSAA website

34. Sports Medicine
Please make sure your AEAP – Athletic Emergency Action Plan – is well understood and practiced by all athletic personnel
Consider purchasing an AED if you have not done so. This is highly recommended.
Please review heat illness guidance which was sent to you and is in our sports regulations.

35. Mr. Steven L. Craig, Esq. Legal Counsel to the OHSAA Canton, Ohio scraig@scraig-law.net

36. APPEALS Appeals – by the numbers
During Panel heard 59 Appeals over 12 scheduled dates
32.20% (16 of 59) appeals were GRANTED or Modified
BREAKDOWN BY ISSUES:
Transfer: 42 (of which 14 were granted)
Scholarship: 7 (of which 1 was granted)
Falsification: 4 (3 of which were modified)
Recruiting: 2 (1 was granted)
Enrollment and Attendance: 1 (which was modified)
Age: 3 (of which 0 were granted)

37. LITIGATION
During the school year, multiple court challenges to the eligibility rulings made by you, OHSAA staff and/or Appeals Panel.
Transfer cases: Bullying
Cleveland case
Delaware County Case

38. TRENDS AND OBSERVATIONS:
TRANSFERS and BULLYING
RECRUITING:
“Blindside” stories
Loading up
“The [mascot], who reached the regional final a year ago, have pieced their team together with transfers [XX], [YY], [ZZ] and [AA] along with [BB] moving in two years ago.”
Recruiting Summit
Met twice last year
Meeting scheduled in the fall
Outside the box look into these recent trends.

39. PAPP Renewals Issues with “Pending” PAPP renewals
ORC §119.06: “When periodic registration of licenses or renewal of licenses is required by law, a licensee who has filed an application for registration or renewal within the time and in the manner provided by statute or rule of the agency shall not be required to discontinue a licensed business or profession merely because of the failure of the agency to act on the licensee’s application. Action of an agency rejecting any such application shall not be effective prior to fifteen day after notice of the rejection is mailed to the licensee.”
Local Decision
Reminder: KSU coach

40. Lindsay’s Law Codified at ORC § 3313.5310 and amended in budget bill
Focus to date has been on “information developed by the departments of health and education” and the required sign-off forms
Shift focus now to the other requirements imposed by this law
“NO STUDENT shall participate in an athletic activity until the student has submitted to a designated school official a form signed by ”
“NO INDIVIDUAL SHALL COACH an athletic activity unless the individual has completed . . .”
Teams from out of state? ODE and ODH have already opined.

41. Lindsay’s Law (cont.) Para. E of this code section states that
(1) a student shall not be allowed to participate if a biological parent, sibling or child of the student has previously experienced sudden cardiac arrest and the student has not been evaluated and cleared by a physician or
(2) the student is known to have exhibited fainting at any time prior to or following an athletic activity and has not been evaluated and cleared.
Para. E goes on to state that a student shall be removed by the student’s coach from participation if the student exhibits fainting and that if a student is not allowed to participate in or is removed from participation in accordance with these mandates, the student shall not be allowed to return to participation until the student is evaluated and cleared.
Para. F: “A school that is subject to this section shall establish penalties for a coach who violates the provisions of division E of this section.”

42. Captain’s Practices What is it?
Hockey
others
Currently no rules or regulations prohibiting it
Catch 22
Study
Input
Local Decision?
What to consider

43. Dr. Dan Ross, Executive Director dross@ohsaa.org

44. Concussions Issue is not going away
Ohio schools have done well with designed protocols
Football helmets

45. Concussions Continue to address “Return to Learn” Keep your paperwork
Electronic monitoring (PrivIT)

46. Mandatory Pre-Season Meetings
PowerPoint on the OHSAA website
Issues to cover:
Eligibility – 5 one credit courses
Health/Safety Issues
Sportsmanship
Dropping classes

47. Prepare for After School Event Safety
Anyone can save-a-life
Mailed to every high school
Put your emergency plan/team
together
Educate your coaches/athletes
Practice your plan each season

48. Coaching Permits (Must have a PAP) Requirements: Coaching Education
CPR
First Aid
Concussion Course
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Video

49. Coaching Permits Auditor finding for non-compliance
More coaches on the radar screen for non-compliance
Put procedures in place to assure compliance

50. HB 49 – Sec
Sec – Any student from a country or province outside the United States, who attends an elementary or secondary school in this state that began operating a dormitory on its campus prior to 2014, shall be

51. HB 49 – Sec
permitted to participate in interscholastic athletics at that school on the same basis as students who are residents of this state, so long as the student holds an F-1 visa issued by the United States department of state. Such

52. HB 49 – Sec
a student shall not be denied the opportunity to participate in interscholastic athletics solely because the student’s parents do not reside in this state. No school district, school, interscholastic conference, or organization that

53. HB 49 – Sec
regulates interscholastic conference or events shall have a rule, bylaw, or other regulation that conflicts with this section.

54. HB 49 – Sec. 3313.5315 Dormitory Students on F-1 Visas
Will now enjoy the same opportunities as all Ohio students
Is this an issue that you care about?

55. Bylaw Sponsorship
Require that all interscholastic activities be under the DIRECT sponsorship and supervision of the schools involved
For all in state contests – all member schools will adhere to the components specified in Bylaw
3-2-1

56. Bylaw Sponsorship
For contests outside Ohio during the school year but contracted before 8/1/17 the components of Bylaw shall be met to the satisfaction of your school administration/school or governing board
Any contests conducted outside the State of Ohio after July 31, 2018 – the school shall be required to submit a sanctioning request. The form for that request is currently being developed

57. Competitive Balance Update
Rostering is currently occurring for the season
Committee is scheduled to meet on October 4 to discuss possible modifications to the system
Any formula modifications will be recommended to the Board of Directors for placement on the 2018 Referendum ballot

58. Competitive Balance Update
Recommended modifications:
Review the factors
If member school’s numbers
warrant – move up more than one
division
Review boundaries in the multiple high
school district
Review guidelines for feeder schools
Timetable for changes

59. Radar Screen Issues Tournament Mercy Rule 50% Rule 4 Division Update
Baseball proposal
Unified sports

60. Radar Screen Issues
Conversation concerning use of a mercy rule in tournament basketball
Local issue – conversations with schools/athletic administrators/coaches about good sportsmanship
Is there anything to gain in winning by points?

61. Radar Screen Issues 50% Rule
Need to review the cost/benefit analysis being used
Currently, the 50% sit out is the first half of the season
Are we using the correct part of the season for application of the 50% sit out?
Should participation in tournaments be permitted?

62. Radar Screen Issues Four-Division Sports No addition of divisions
Disparity in Division I (approx. 1000)
Many Coaches in 4 division sports would like this reviewed
No addition of divisions
Maybe employ a model similar to
Division I in Football

63. Radar Screen Issues Baseball Proposal season without adding the number
Adding two weeks to the current
season without adding the number
of contests
Possible better weather in June
Help with the pitch-count for student
athletes

64. Radar Screen Issues
Concern with more graduation conflicts – tournaments starting later may involve more schools because of earlier rounds of the tournament
Concern with conflicts with summer activities – both school and community

65. Radar Screen Issues Unified Sports with a variety of disabilities and
Investigate opportunities for students
with a variety of disabilities and
students without disabilities to
participate in athletics in a meaningful
way

66. Radar Screen Issues In addition to our current work with
adaptive sports
Work with Special Olympics Ohio
Ongoing review for the
school year

67. Questions for You???
Should OHSAA work with our member schools to construct a system to deal with legislative issues like HB49?
How important is it for all teams to make it to the State Tournament in a similar fashion?
Is it more important for the best teams in Ohio to make it to the State Tournament or should we continue to value representation and participation across Ohio?

68. Have a great school year!
Thank You
Have a great school year!