1. 2018 – 2019 Middle School Athletics Manual Update

2. 2018-19 Technical Changes Cover page has been updated to July 2018
Update of Revision to July 2018
Footers/page numbers updated

3. Eligibility Section
Existing rules moved from Penalty code to this section
Eligibility Lists (pg. 9)
5. A player shall not dress for a game or scrimmage when he or she is not eligible to participate in the game.
6. Dressing and being in the designated team area shall be interpreted as participating in the game.
7. Any school that uses an ineligible player or a player not included on the eligibility list in any contest is to immediately drop the player from the team and forfeit all games in which the player participated. (This includes individual sports.)
8. Schools not filing a completed eligibility list with the local superintendent's office or designee for any interscholastic athletic team shall be suspended from playing in that sport until such list is received by the local superintendent's office.

4. Eligibility List: or

5. Eligibility Section
Rule Clarification addition of Charter Schools in final decision
Hardship (pg. 12)
The local Board of Education, Charter School or the Conference of which the school is a member shall have the authority, in response to a request of the principal of the school, to set aside the effect of any (other than the age and 6th grade participation in football) eligibility rule upon the individual student when, in its opinion, the rule fails to accomplish the purpose for which the rule is intended or when the rule works undue hardship upon the student.
1. Decisions of local Boards of Education, Charter Schools or Conferences regarding hardship are final.

6. 2018-19 Health and Safety Section
Correction to Emergency Action Plan
Gfeller Waller Concussion Awareness (pg. 14)
7. Emergency Action Plan:
Each school shall have a venue specific Emergency Action Plan (EAP) that follows the specifications outlined in the EAP guidelines on the website.

7. 2018-19 General Rules and Regulations
Sports Seasons Clarified
Season Limitations (pg , and all sections of Sports Regulations)
Regular Season
4. Teams and individuals shall not participate in more than seven (7) football games and fourteen (14) athletic contests during the regular season in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling.
Post Season
5. Teams and individual students are permitted to participate in one school tournament or play-off championship game in each sport.
6. Conferences may play up to two additional games (except football that may play one) in lieu of a conference tournament or play-off championship game.

8. 2018-19 General Rules and Regulations
New additions concerning All Star Games
All Star Teams / Games (pg. 19)
16. Participation on any all-star team or in any all-star game in which a student is representing the Middle School or Charter School is prohibited.
17. Students are prohibited from wearing any and all school uniforms, including all protective equipment, while competing on any all-star team, in any all-star game or in any athletic event outside the purview of this manual.

9. 2018-19 General Rules and Regulations
New additions concerning Open Facilities
Open Facilities (pg. 22)
12. Permitted year-round during the academic year (Monday through Saturday).
13. Schools may use the facilities for students in their building prior to or after the school day.
14. It shall not be held during any tryout period of an in-season sport.
15. Must be voluntary and open to all students.
16. To participate, students must have a current and valid sports pre-participation and medical examination form.
17. At no time may a coach require an open facility as a measure of potential or continued participation on a team for any student.
18. Coaches may serve in a supervisory capacity only.
• There is to be no instruction, no teaching, no coaching of any type.
• Coaches may not participate or play in any manner.
• Sport specific skills cannot be taught.

10. Sports Regulations
Use of terms “Regular Season” and “Post Season” used in all designated Sports. Existing rules in Baseball, Football and Soccer reordered to provide better sequence.

11. 2018-19 Sports Regulations Football Use of the term acclimatization
Acclimatization/Physical Conditioning (pg. 28)
1. The first five (5) days of practice shall be devoted entirely to physical conditioning/acclimatization activities.

12. 2018-19 Sports Regulations Wrestling
Addition of a 76 pound weight class
Weight Classifications (pg. 41)
For both middle and junior high schools the weight classes are as follows:
76, 83, 90, 98, 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220, and
heavyweight.
10. The maximum weight for the heavy weight contestants will be 250 pounds.
11. The minimum weight for the heavyweight class is 196 pounds.
12. The minimum weight for a 90-pound weight class contestant is 75 pounds.
13. The minimum weight for an 83-pound weight class contestant is 68 pounds.
14. The minimum weight for a 76-pound weight class contestant is 61 pounds.
15. A two (2) pound growth allowance will be allowed after December 25th each year.

13. Middle School Manual
For a detailed list of changes made to the manual refer to the Summary Revisions Middle & Junior High School Athletic Manual document. or

14. Questions Burt Jenkins Middle School Athletics Burt.Jenkins@dpi.nc.gov