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About > Rules and Regulations > Article 3 Eligibility

Article 3: ELIGIBILITY

Section 1. DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY

  1. All questions of eligibility are to be submitted in writing to the Executive Director seventy-two (72) hours prior to a regularly scheduled meeting for consideration by the Committee. Schools will be notified of the decisions by letter.
  2. Each school must file Eligibility Lists online with the RIIL Office for varsity athletes within 10 days of the start date of the sport season. The grade and year in school since grade 9 (if different from grade) of each participant should be noted on the eligibility list. Any school(s) failing to file the Eligibility Lists on or before the designated date will be assessed two hundred dollars ($200.00) fine per missing eligibility list as defined in Article 6, Section 4.
    1. Athletes listed on the eligibility list may play on an outside team under the terms and conditions as outlined in Article 7, Section 6.
    2. A student not on a varsity list who participates in a Varsity contest will not be penalized if the error of omission was caused by a school official/coach. However, penalties listed in Article 6, Section 6 will be imposed.
    3. Once the original list is filed, it is the school's responsibility to send in additional names of eligible students upon a similar form.
      1. NOTE: Failure to submit an Eligibility List and/or the omission of a player’s name will be subject to penalties as listed in Article 6.
  3. Any athlete who does not have on file in the RIIL Office a valid Assumption of Risk form will be ineligible for competition in the RIIL. If a student transfers from one school to another, s/he must file a new Assumption of Risk form with the RIIL office. Penalty is a one hundred dollar ($100.00) fine.
    1. Athletes in any sport, requiring helmets, must be equipped with a warning label regarding the risk of use and injury.
  4. Upon approval from the school, the RIIL permits athletes to participate simultaneously in more than one sport during the same sport season. However, no athlete may participate in the same sport for more than one athletic season in any given academic school year.
  5. When members of a team are charged with being ineligible by an opposing team, the game shall be played as scheduled and the protest filed with the RIIL Office in accord with the provisions of Article 5.
  6. Student-athletes must be enrolled in the school for which they participate.
    1. Student Athletes enrolled at an RIIL Member School are prohibited from participating in any practice, tryout, or competition for any school that they are not enrolled in.
    2. Exceptions:
      1. Students who attend a state certified career and technical facility and/or a state certified career pathways program, except for Davies Career and Technical High School are eligible for athletic participation under the following guidelines.
        1. If a student-athlete declares that s/he wants to participate in athletics at his/her feeder school, s/he cannot participate at his/her career and technical and/or career pathways program school in all sports for the school year.
        2. Note: Feeder School is defined as the public high school in the community in which the student resides.
        3. If a student-athlete declares that s/he wants to participate in athletics at his/her career and technical and/or career pathways program school, s/he cannot participate at his/her feeder school in all sports for the school year.
        4. Note: To be eligible immediately under this exception, the student must transfer to the career and technical and/or career pathways school at their first opportunity to do so. If the student does not transfer to the career and technical and/or career pathways school at their first opportunity, s/he shall be subject to the Transfer as set forth in Article 3, Section 6, of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Rules and Regulations.
      2. Once a student establishes athletic eligibility at either his/her feeder school or career and technical and/or career pathways program school and subsequently decides that s/he would prefer to participate for the other school, s/he shall be subject to the Transfer Rule as set forth in Article 3, Section 6 of the RIIL Rules and Regulations.
        1. The following are guidelines to ensure the home school Principal will have jurisdiction of their student-athletes:
        2. Students will adhere to all Rules and Regulations of the RIIL and any other more demanding requirements of their feeder school and/or career-technical or career pathways school.
        3. The Principals of the feeder school, career and technical and/or career pathways program schools will work collaboratively to insure all eligibility requirements are met and that any discipline concerns/problems and school rules are enforced appropriately.
        4. Students must meet the minimum academic requirements of the career and technical and/or career pathways program school and the feeder school.
  7. Students must receive the appropriate number of credits needed to graduate from their feeder school.
  8. Any representation of a school by an athlete, whether legal or illegal, must be counted as participation and be so reported on the returns to the RIIL Office.
  9. No student below the 9th grade shall be eligible.
  10. Academic eligibility rules are minimum requirements and member schools and their governing bodies may adopt higher and more demanding eligibility requirements for local use.
  11. Athletes in your district should have a pre-participation athletic physical within your school district stated guidelines.
  12. Home School Eligibility - For students in home schooling to be eligible for competition in the RIIL, the following requirements must be met:
    1. The student must be listed on the rolls of the school and certified to the Rhode Island Department of Education as a student.
    2. The home school must furnish to the school and certify the academic grades and the school must record them on the official school records on a quarterly basis.
    3. If a student is ineligible for academic and/or disciplinary reasons and subsequently becomes home schooled; s/he may not participate in interscholastic athletics during the period of ineligibility.
    4. The school must approve the request of the home school student to compete on its teams.
    5. All other requirements of the Rules and Regulations must be followed with the regular school certifying the eligibility of the home school student
  13. Cooperative Teams (updated March of 2023)
    1. BACKGROUND
      1. Various positive factors have motivated schools to create ways of saving existing programs and of establishing new ones, in an effort to increase overall participation in interscholastic sports. Philosophically, high school sports are school based educational athletic opportunities, but the RIIL has traditionally attempted to make reasonable rules for the common good of all student-athletes involved in interscholastic sports.
      2. Member schools must consider many different factors before deciding whether a cooperative team should be formed. A shift from school teams to cooperative teams may change the way a school handles communication, insurance, supervision, contracts, coaching positions, eligibility standards, educational values, discipline, budgets, facility use, etc.
      3. Recognizing its ongoing commitment and responsibility to both member schools and to their individual student-athletes, the RIIL has strived to accommodate the needs of both. The overwhelming motivation of cooperative teams has been to allow member schools to work together to analyze the interests of their students and potentially provide additional participation opportunities, while staying true to the mission that high school sports are school based educational athletics.
    2. POLICIES AND REGULATIONS
      1. Regulations: Completion of the RIIL Coop Team Application
      2. The joint application includes:
      3. The application form signed by the principals of all cooperating schools designating the name under which the cooperative team will compete.
      4. A report of the number of students, if any, from each of the cooperating schools who have been participating in the sport involved, in programs offered on a non-cooperative basis by their own schools.
      5. A statement expressing the reasons for the formation of a cooperative team.
      6. Written assurance that the cooperative team will not limit or lessen participation opportunities for students in any of the cooperating schools. A no cut policy must be in place.
      7. Eligibility lists from the previous season in the sport in question.
    3. Application deadlines for cooperative teams during a given school year:
      1. Seasonal Deadlines:
        1. Fall sports -1st Friday of March
        1. Winter sports -1st Friday of July
        2. Spring sports – 1st Friday of October
        3. A complete cooperative team application must be submitted to the RIIL Office by the advertised deadline and be accompanied by all necessary addenda. Schools are encouraged to submit their applications well in advance of the deadline.
        4. The principal of the host school will be designated as responsible for all RIIL-related correspondence concerning the cooperative team.
    2. Formation of Cooperative Athletic Teams of Two or More Member High Schools
      1. The RIIL shall have the authority to approve the formation of cooperative athletic teams by two or more-member high schools under the following conditions:
      2. The determination of the proper set of circumstances which will allow multiple schools to form a cooperative team will depend significantly on the issue of competitor displacement. When the RIIL believes that a cooperative arrangement will cause an unreasonable displacement of potential competitors from one of the schools, the request to form a cooperative will be denied.
      3. Schools having enough competitors for a stand-alone team are advised not to request the formation of a cooperative team in that sport. It is only when two or more schools are experiencing difficulty in obtaining the desired number of competitors to form a team that the request for a cooperative team should be initiated.
      4. Cooperative teams may not be formed for financial reasons. No consideration will be given to cooperative proposals which result from the elimination of the sport due to financial cutbacks during the two years immediately prior to the request. Cooperative proposals will not be considered if they are driven by desire to "save money" at the risk of decreasing the number of potential student participants.
      5. Cooperative teams will not be permitted to add a school(s) if the total number of players on the existing co-op team exceeds the maximum determined sport participation limit (See chart below). Cooperative programs exist until they have finished the phase-out period or if the agreement between the schools involved ceased for at least one full season.
      6. Multiple team cooperative programs cannot exceed two (2) times the maximum determined sport participation limit in each sport (see chart below).
      7. All schools participating in the cooperative must be members of the RIIL.
      8. A cooperative team will be placed in the appropriate alignment classification by the RIIL.
      9. The cooperative agreement is usually approved for a period of two consecutive school years. However, approval may be granted for a one-year period. Schools must reapply after 1 or 2 years.
      10. The RIIL reserves the right to investigate a co-op team which has a substantially different number of athletes reported on the co-op application than the actual number of athletes that participate in the co-op. The outcome of the investigation may result in recommendations to the Principals Committee on Athletics to take immediate action.
      11. Written assurance that a “no cut” policy will govern the cooperative. Note: Any attempt to stifle team growth or to discourage turnout to maintain lower numbers in order to co-op is considered a cutting policy and is prohibited.
      12. Students who previously participated on a cooperative team that is disbanded will have an opportunity to be grandfathered if the school they attend no longer offers that sport. These students will be allowed to finish their athletic eligibility with another school in the disbanded cooperative team that decides to continue to offer that sport as a stand-alone team.
      13. School Considerations: The principal of the host school should assure that during preliminary local discussions adequate attention was given to the following:
        1. A sufficient reason for sponsoring a cooperative team
        1. An appropriate name for the cooperative team
        2. Suitable practice arrangements
        3. Fair competitive arrangements
        4. Safe and adequate transportation arrangements
        5. Provisions for physical examinations and medical coverage
        6. Insurance provisions
        7. The setting and monitoring of academic standards for eligibility
        8. The purchase, repair, and cleaning of equipment
        9. Source and control of finances
        10. Use and maintenance of facilities
        11. Selection, supervision, and payment of coaches
        12. Selection and supervision of cheerleaders
        13. Coordination of school schedules
        14. Ticket prices and sales, disbursement of gate receipts
        15. Student spectator and fan control and supervision
        16. Cooperative team identity: mascot, colors, etc.
        17. Award policies (school letters and certificate design)
        18. Governance for the resolution of disputes
    2. INDIVIDUAL SPORT PARTICIPATION LIMITS – CO-OP TEAMS
      1. The following limits have been set by each RIIL sport committee. When the number of potential participants in any one school exceeds the limits listed below, a cooperative team will not be approved. In addition, multiple team cooperative programs cannot exceed two (2) times the maximum determined sport participation limit in each sport.
      2. Only Students in Grades 10-12 are counted towards the Individual School limits below:
        1. Baseball/Softball: 12
        2. Basketball: 8
        3. Cross Country: 4
        4. Field Hockey: 12
        5. Football: 20
        6. Golf: 4
        7. Gymnastics: 8
        8. Ice Hockey: 15
        9. Lacrosse: 12
        10. Soccer: 12
        11. Swimming: 8
        12. Tennis: 8
        13. Track & Field – Indoor: 8
        14. Track & Field – Outdoor: 10
        15. Volleyball: 8
    3. Forming a Cooperative Team Program Outside of Established Student-Athlete Limits
      1. Schools/existing programs may apply to form a cooperative team even though one or more of the existing programs exceeds the prescribed listed limit provided the following requirements are met:
        1. Schools must adhere to all RIIL student eligibility standards, seasonal and weekly limitations.
        2. Schools knowingly and voluntarily taking this path remove themselves from RIIL post-season competition.
        3. Schools applying to opt out must submit to a formal letter to the RIIL. They also must provide a statement from all of the schools involved in the co-op that their parents and student-athletes have been informed that all member schools involved are knowingly and voluntarily in agreement.
        4. The opt-out accommodation is for one (1) year at a time and there will be no phase out period.
      2. Once the opt-out accommodation request along with the required letters are received, the RIIL will screen the documentation and determine if it should be forwarded to the Principals Committee on Athletics for approval.
    4. Dissolution of Cooperative Teams
      1. When the decision of the RIIL is to dissolve or discontinue a co-op program, there will be a maximum of a two (2) year phase-out, renewable annually for a total of two years, and athletes will be eligible from their schools throughout the phase-out period. The RIIL has the authority to reduce a phase-out period to one year if the number of participants from a school exceeds the maximum determined sport participation limit or the total number of participants in the co-op exceeds or is close to exceeding two times the maximum allowed in the specific sport. Eligibility is not restricted to only those athletes who were on the original co-op team roster at the time of discontinuation.
      2. Note: When a co-op team has been put into a phase-out and it can be demonstrated that the school(s) affected have in good faith begun a process of creating some type of sustainable ongoing program in the same sport and independent of the co-op which will provide opportunity to those new incoming underclassmen, the schools involved may request an extension of the phase-out period to insure the students who were in the original co-op may finish out their high school athletic career as a part of the original co-op.
      3. During the phase-out, all schools must agree to remain in the co-op agreement on a yearly basis. During the phase-out period all athletes are to be notified by their school that a limited period of eligibility exists because the program is in a phase-out period.
      4. The decision to dissolve an active RIIL approved co-op lies solely between the member schools involved.
    5. PROVIDENCE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT EXCEPTION
      1. The following schools will be linked together to form three athletic co-op programs in all sports:
        1. Mt. Pleasant High School (Alvarez)
        2. Hope High School (E-Cubed Academy)
        3. Central High School (Providence Career and Technical Academy)
        4. Juanita Sanchez High School (360 High School)

Section 2. ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION (CHARTER) SCHOOLS ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION

  1. Inasmuch, many charter schools and/or schools with small enrollments cannot offer an athletic program, students who attend do not have the opportunity to participate in athletics, the Rhode Island Interscholastic League believes that students make the decision to attend or not attend alternative school based on the academic program but also wants to offer the opportunity to participate in athletics.
  2. Feeder School Program
    1. Principals (CEO) (see Article 1, Section 3) of alternative schools may seek a waiver requesting eligibility for students to participate at his/her feeder school in the community where they reside.
    2. If there are multiple high schools within the city/town, the school department administrator must provide to the RIIL a map of the city/town indicting which school would be the student’s feeder school.
    3. The Principal (CEO) must become a member of the RI Association of School Principals (RIASP)
    4. The Principal (CEO) must also become a member of the RIIL and pay all applicable dues and fees.
    5. The Principal (CEO) must certify that their school does not offer a team or participate in any interscholastic athletic events and/or leagues
    6. To insure the feeder school Principal has jurisdiction of their student-athletes, the following must be adhered to:
      1. Student-athletes will adhere to all RIIL Rules and Regulations and any/all other more stringent requirement of the feeder schools.
      2. The alternative school Principal (CEO) will report any and all discipline concerns/problems to the Principal of the feeder school.
      3. The alternative school Principal (CEO) will submit an absentee/tardy/early dismissal list of any and all students to the Principal of the feeder school.
      4. A copy of the student-athletes report card must be submitted to the Principal of the feeder school.
  3. Program/Enrollment
    1. Alternative schools whose enrollment exceeds 350 and have a 12th grade class will be obligated to offer their own athletic program(s).
    2. Alternative school Principals (CEO) may seek a waiver to combine smaller enrollment schools to offer an athletic program.
      1. Combined enrollment – not to exceed 1000 students
      2. Must share the same building
      3. Seek waiver to combine every two (2) years
      4. Principal (Director) must possess a Principal Certificate
    3. The Supervisor/Director/Principal of each alternative school must become a member of the RIASP
    4. The combined alternative school(s) Principal(s) (CEO) must become a member of the RIIL and pay all applicable dues and fees.
    5. Student-athletes will adhere to all RIIL Rules and Regulations and any/all more stringent requirements of the combined schools.

Section 3. FEMALE COMPETITION

  1. Competition in the RIIL for Girls is limited to female competitors in Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Fast Pitch Softball, Tennis, Winter and Spring Track and Volleyball.
    1. A female athlete who drops out of school because of pregnancy shall not be subject to the 50 percent rule provided she returns to the same school.
    2. All female athletes are subject to the provisions of Article 3, except for any special rules listed in the RIIL Rules and Regulations book or subsequent RIIL Bulletins from the RIIL Office.
  1. GENDER IDENTITY
    1. The RIIL recognizes the value of participation in interscholastic sports for all member school student athletes. The RIIL is committed to providing all student-athletes with equal opportunities to participate in RIIL athletic programs consistent with their gender identity. This policy addresses eligibility determinations for students who have a gender identity that is different from the gender listed on their official birth certificates.

The RIIL has concluded that it would be fundamentally unjust and contrary to applicable state and federal laws, to preclude a student from participation on a gender specific sports team that is consistent with the public gender identity of that student for all other purposes. Therefore, for purposes of sports participation, the RIIL shall defer to the determination of the student and his or her local school regarding gender identification. In this regard, the RIIL member school shall determine a student’s eligibility to participate in a RIIL gender specific sports team based on the gender identification of that student in current school records and daily life activities in the school and community at the time that sports eligibility is determined for a particular season. Accordingly, when a member school submits a roster to the RIIL, it is verifying that it has determined that the students listed on the gender specific sports team are entitled to participate on that team due to their gender identity and the member school has determined that the expression of the student’s gender identity is bona fide and not for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage in competitive athletics.

Students who wish to participate on a RIIL gender specific sports team that is different from the gender identity listed on the student’s current school records are advised to address the gender identification issue with the local school and/or district well in advance of the deadline for athletic eligibility determinations for a current sports season. Students should not be permitted to participate in practices or try out for gender specific sports teams that are different from their publicly identified gender identity.

Nothing in this policy shall be read to entitle a student to selection to any particular team or to permit a student to transfer from one gender specific team to a team of a different gender during a sports season. In addition, the RIIL shall expect that, as a general matter, after the issue of gender identity has been addressed by the student and the member school, the determination shall remain consistent for the remainder of the student’s high school sports eligibility. The RIIL has concluded that this policy is sufficient to preclude the likelihood that a student will claim a particular gender identity for the purpose of gaining a perceived advantage in athletic competition.

    1. Procedure:
      1. The student or the parent(s)/guardian shall notify the Principal (or designee) that the student would like the opportunity to participate in interscholastic athletics consistent with the gender that the student identifies as.
      2. The student’s home school will determine the eligibility of a student seeking to participate in interscholastic athletics in a manner consistent with their gender identity where the student’s gender identity does not correspond to the student’s sex assigned at birth.
      3. The Principal (or designee) will confirm the gender identity asserted for purposes of trying out for an interscholastic sports team through documentation from the parent, guardian, guidance counselor, or from a doctor, psychologist or other medical professional.
      4. On a seasonal basis the school will provide approval of eligibility to try out for an interscholastic sports team or teams which corresponds to the student’s gender identity.

Section 4. ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY

  1. The athlete must be taking at least four subjects, each involving at least four periods of work or an aggregate of fifteen periods of work per week.
  2. At all times the athlete should have secured for the period from the beginning of the quarter or trimester up to the end of the regular marking period which shall not exceed a maximum of 12 weeks and a passing grade in 60% of the student’s program (credits). A student who is not passing 60% of his/her program (credits) is ineligible to participate in games (league and non-league) until the end of the quarter or trimesters of the next marking period. This is a minimum standard for academic eligibility. Schools may choose to initiate a higher standard for academic eligibility. In this instance, the higher standard (school policy) will be supported by the RIIL.
    1. At the end of a course which meets for multiple marking periods, a school may utilize the grade earned during the last marking period or the final mark earned in determining academic eligibility. However, the school must be consistent in its application of this provision for all athletes in all sports.
  3. To be eligible at the beginning of a school year, the student must have done passing work at the end of the previous school year in June of 60% of the student's program (credits).
    1. In the case of a student who devotes a considerable part of the summer to make up subjects failed during the school year and receives credit toward graduation for this make‑up work, that student shall be entitled to count such credit toward eligibility provided this credit is made an official part of his school record during the first week of the fall term. In case a student fails to complete the minimum scholastic requirements for athletic eligibility at the end of a quarter due to unavoidable absence, the student shall be ineligible for the next quarter until these requirements of the preceding quarter are made-up.
    2. Failures or incomplete work caused by unavoidable absence may be made up at the beginning of the quarter provided it is made a matter of final record within three weeks of the first day of that quarter.
  4. The athlete shall receive no special privilege such as extra examinations, delayed marks, make‑up opportunities, or other favors which are not granted on equal terms to every student in the school; with the further provision that grades for failures or incomplete work in which a make‑up opportunity is granted at the end of a quarterly marking period must be made a matter of final record within two calendar weeks of the first day of the succeeding marking period.
  5. If the athlete repeats work for which credit has once been received, the athlete cannot count that subject a second time for eligibility.
  6. The athlete cannot count for eligibility points obtained in a subject taken during the summer vacation that had not previously been regularly pursued in the classroom.
  7. Admission to or exclusion from participation in a sport because of these eligibility rules, shall take place at the close of the school day on which report cards are issued for the end of the regular marking period.
  8. If a game is postponed or results in a tie; the eligibility of the participants does not hold over until the game is played off.
  9. Academic eligibility requirement for students who are enrolled in Accelerated Programs:
    1. An accelerated program is one in which a student earns more than the minimum credits necessary for promotion to the senior year. This may be achieved by independent study, taking more than the required number of courses in a given semester or year, taking additional courses at an approved college, or a concurrent enrollment program at an approved college.
    2. Conditions for academic eligibility of seniors in an Accelerated Program:
      1. The student must be enrolled in a minimum equivalent of three full courses per semester in his/her school or an approved off-campus program for a total of three credits for the year, excluding physical education.
      2. If off campus courses are involved, the high school must approve the courses and the grades must be recorded at the high school on the student's permanent record card and are included in the computation for the student's graduation credits.

Section 5. LENGTH OF ELIGIBILITY

  1. Age ‑ An athlete will be ineligible for athletic competition if his 19th birthday occurs prior to September 1st.
    1. It is recommended that Principals exercise great care in determining the age of contestants and in all doubtful cases secure birth certificates from the city or town clerk of the athlete's place of birth.
    2. In case of doubt about the age of any contestant in an athletic contest, a birth certificate or some other legal evidence satisfactory to the Committee must be presented to the Chair or Executive Director on demand. If no satisfactory evidence can be presented, the athlete must be barred from competition.
    3. Competitors in interscholastic sports, who are born outside the state, shall file with their Principal the following: birth certificates or other legal evidence of birth dates (i.e. alien registration cards) and their complete school records in secondary schools attended outside of the state. This data must be made available to the Committee upon request.
  2. Ninth-grade students of four-year high schools are eligible for varsity and junior varsity athletic competition.
    1. An athlete shall not represent secondary schools in any one sport for more than three seasons and such an athlete shall automatically become ineligible after s/he has been six consecutive semesters in attendance in the 10th, 11th or 12th grade. However, athletes entering the ninth grade may compete for one additional season and two additional semesters provided that competition is in the ninth grade of a four-year high school.
    2. Once a student enters the 9th grade, whether in a junior high school or a four‑year high school, that student is limited to eight (8) consecutive semesters of eligibility and automatically becomes ineligible for athletic competition four years from the date of entry into the ninth grade. (See Article 1, Section 3, paragraph Q.)
    3. Six weeks shall be considered sufficient to establish a pupil's residence for a semester, which is one-half the established academic school year for that respective school.
    4. An athlete who has competed according to the rules of the RIIL in the 9th grade of a four-year high school may compete for three additional years in any school too which s/he transfers, subject to the other provisions of these Rules and Regulations.
    5. If a student who is enrolled in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) and is eligible for athletics but chooses not to participate in athletics for one of more semesters, or does not participate because no sports are offered, or a particular sport is not available, those semesters count as semesters of enrollment and competition.
    6. If a student who is enrolled in grades nine (9) through (12) is ruled ineligible for any reason for one or more semesters, those semesters count as semesters of competition.
    7. If a student is suspended or expelled from school for one or more semesters, those semesters count as semesters of enrollment and competition.
  3. Unless a student is entering the 10th grade of a three-year senior high school for the first time, or unless the student enters the 10th grade from a school terminating with the 9th grade, the athlete shall be subject to the 50% Transfer Rule. See Section 5 (an exception would be a transfer by change of address). This period may be lengthened and extended in individual cases at the discretion of the Committee.
  4. Students entering or returning to a secondary school from any court ordered out-of-home disciplinary placement must have their eligibility considered by the Committee on an individual basis. In addition, the receiving school must provide the Committee evidence that the student meets all eligibility requirements as defined in the Rules and Regulations of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.
  5. An athlete who VOLUNTARILY withdraws from school to enter the armed services shall be subject to all rules governing eligibility as listed in Article 3, Section 5 upon his/her return to the same school from which the athlete withdrew. However, if an athlete is DRAFTED into active service by any branch of the armed services, said athlete shall suffer no loss of eligibility providing all other eligibility requirements are met.
  6. No student below Grade 9 will be allowed to practice or play with any school freshman, junior varsity or varsity team.

Section 6. TRANSFER RULE

  1. The Transfer Rule:
    1. In all transfers, a Transfer Rule Affidavit or Online Transfer Management System entry must be completed and submitted to the Rhode Island Interscholastic League prior to the student-athlete’s participation in any sport.
    2. If a student transfers from one secondary school to another without a corresponding and bonafide change of address, the student shall be ineligible for the first 35 days in each sport that s/he participated in during the past 12 months.
      1. The ineligible period of the Transfer Rule begins on the official start date of practice as determined seasonally by the RIIL.
      2. Athletic Programs are prohibited from rescheduling games beyond the 35 day mark in an effort to circumvent the impact of the Transfer Rule.
    3. During the period of ineligibility, students subject to the transfer rule may participate in all intra-school activities (practices, team activities, etc.) during the period of ineligibility.
    4. During the period of ineligibility, students subject to the transfer rule may not participate in any inter-school contests (scrimmages, league games, non-league games, sub-varsity games, playoffs, and/or tournaments) during the period of ineligibility.
    5. For all transfers between member schools, the date of enrollment at the receiving school shall be used unless otherwise specified.
    6. The provisions of the Transfer Rule apply to all student-athletes participating at the sending school regardless of their level of participation.
      1. Transition Note for Fall of 2023 only: Student-athletes who transfer before the corresponding dates below without a change of address and only participated in sub-varsity competition at their sending school will not be subject to the Transfer Rule.
        1. Football student-athletes: Monday, August 14, 2023
        2. Fall student-athletes: Monday, August 21, 2023
        3. Winter and Spring student-athletes: Monday, September 4, 2023
    7. If the student transfers into a new school with less than 35 days of the sport season remaining, the number of days for which s/he is ineligible will carry over to the next school year in the same sport until the 35 day requirement has been satisfied.
    8. If a student actively participating in a sport at their sending school transfers without a bonafide change of address after the official start date of practice, they are subject to the 35 day period of ineligibility from the first day of enrollment at their receiving school and ineligible for postseason play in the specific sport already underway.
    9. Note: The RI Interscholastic League will NOT waive the Transfer Rule of athletic eligibility if the change in schools is to nullify and/or circumvent the actions of representatives or rules of the previous school or if the student left the sending school under penalty which would have resulted in the students’ athletic ineligibility at the sending school.
  2. A student shall be declared immediately eligible provided:
    1. The student’s first transfer occurs during their first two semesters (freshman year) or ensuing summer before the dates below:
      1. Fall student-athletes: Official start date of their sport as defined by the RIIL
      2. Winter and Spring student-athletes: The first official school day at their receiving school.
      3. Clarification: freshman students, who are participating in a sport at their sending school and transfer during the season are subject to the Transfer Rule as described in Article 3, Section 6-A.8.
    2. There is a corresponding move into a new district by his/her parent(s) or guardian(s) and all other eligibility requirements are met. The receiving school must confirm the bonafide move and residency.
      1. Clarification: Student-athletes who attend a parochial or private school and who move into a new public school district may also transfer to another parochial or private school or into the public school in the district of the new residence at the time of the corresponding move and be immediately eligible to participate in athletics. If the student-athlete remains enrolled in the (previous) parochial or private school after a change of residence and later decides to transfer to another parochial or private school or to the public school in the district of his/her new residence, s/he will be subject to the Transfer Rule.
    3. The transfer is the direct or necessary result of a family court custody decree.
    4. The transfer is a direct and necessary result of a residence by a guardian whose position is elsewhere herein recognized and the RIIL has so confirmed in writing.
    5. The transfer is a direct result of emancipation and said emancipation was recognized and approved by the Committee, pursuant to the waiver provisions of Article 1, Section 16, and both principals agree; in which case the student shall be eligible at once, provided the student's record conforms with the other eligibility requirements of the RIIL. The Committee at its discretion may extend Transfer Rule and the decision in such cases shall be final. If more than one transfer occurs (in the absence of a Family Court custody order) and results in a student establishing occupancy at a former residence, such student shall be ineligible until s/he has been living continuously for one year at said residence.
    6. A student transferring because of an order from the office of the School Superintendent effecting administrative adjustment of school population shall become immediately eligible to play in the receiving school, if the student is eligible in all other particulars.
  3. If a student transfers to another school without a bonafide change of residence, s/he may return to their original school and may immediately become eligible provided:
    1. The student returns prior to the 15th day of said date of transfer.
      1. Fall student-athletes begin their 15 days on the first day of official practice as defined by the RIIL.
      2. All other student-athletes begin their 15 days on the date of enrollment at the receiving school.
    2. The Transfer Rule Affidavit has been completed and submitted to the RIIL.
  4. Residency Rule and Bonafide Residency Policy:
    1. Unless there is a Family Court decision awarding custody to another, the residence of the mother (or legally recognized parent/guardian with custody) shall be judged to be the residence of the student. The student, however, must actually reside at the mother's home. Students who are wards of the state shall become immediately eligible upon being assigned by the proper state authorities to a foster home or equivalent facility. If the student neither resides at the mother's home nor in the home of the person awarded custody by the Family Court, the student shall be subject to all provisions of the Transfer Rule before becoming eligible for RIIL inter-school competition.
      1. Clarification: Any student who legally enrolls at a RIIL member high school residing with someone other than their mother, legally recognized parent with custody, court appointed individual, or legal guardian is declared immediately ineligible until a specific waiver has been obtained pursuant to Article 1, Section 16.
    2. In cases where the Family Court decision awards custody to both parents, the student is permitted to change residence between parents and not be subject to the provisions of the Transfer Rule. However, the student will only be eligible to play sports at that school for the academic year. If the student moves back with the other parent and transfers schools, s/he will be subject to the RIIL Transfer Rule and is ineligible for inter-squad competition for the first 35 days of the season.
      1. Clarification: In the absence of a court order or joint custody, students residing outside of the mother’s home (or legally recognized parent with custody) are declared immediately ineligible until a specific waiver has been obtained pursuant to Article 1, Section 16.
    3. If a student is 18 years of age and transfers from one secondary school to another with a corresponding change of address, and both parents are deceased, or are physically absent from the state of RI, or when both parents have been decreed incompetent or unfit by court order, or when a specific waiver has been obtained pursuant to Article I, Section 16, the use of such student-athlete before such written confirmation of eligibility by the RIIL shall constitute the use of an ineligible player under the Transfer Rule.
  5. Probate Court guardianship, while either parent is living within the State of Rhode Island, is not recognized for eligibility purposes unless such guardianship was petitioned by a state agency for the welfare of the student. Guardianship is recognized for eligibility purposes when both parents are deceased, or when both parents are physically absent from the State of Rhode Island, or when both parents or the surviving parent has been decreed incompetent or unfit by court order, or when a specific waiver has been obtained pursuant to Article 1, Section 16. No student under guardianship is eligible without a written eligibility finding confirming compliance with the above and issued by the RIIL. The use of a student-athlete under guardianship before such written confirmation shall constitute the use of an ineligible player. Such eligibility finding will be given after the student under Probate Court guardianship has been subject to the waiting period of 35 days in each sport s/he participated in during the previous school year.
  6. A student in any school system operating more than one high school, who is transferred by the administrative office for disciplinary or attendance reasons shall be subject to all provisions of the Transfer Rule before becoming eligible at the receiving school in each sport which s/he participated at the sending school.
  7. If the athlete severs connection with any school for a period of two weeks or more, the athlete cannot become eligible for athletics until the athlete has completed the waiting period of 35 days in each sport of which s/he participated in at their sending school from the date of the athlete’s enrollment at the receiving school and then only if all other eligibility requirements are met. This section shall not be interpreted to apply to students absent from school because of illness.
  8. No school shall allow the participation of any student who is ineligible in any regard. This participation applies to sub-varsity and school-sponsored club teams just as strictly as it applies to varsity contests, both league and non-league. During the time a student-athlete is ineligible because of the Transfer Rule, s/he is permitted to practice with the team.
  9. Penalty for an Eligibility Violation: Loss of eligibility in the sport involved for a number of RIIL games equal to the number of days in which the athlete ineligible participated. Such loss of eligibility shall commence with the date of the last infraction and, if necessary, shall extend into the RIIL days of the same sport for the following year.

Section 7. FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS

  1. Foreign Exchange Students (J-1 Visa and F-1 Visa) entering any secondary member school must have their eligibility status reviewed by the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League. Principals who have Foreign Exchange Students that desire to participate in interscholastic athletics are required to communicate with the Executive Director to seek eligibility for such students, and they must provide the following information on a form provided by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League which can be found on the Rhode Island Interscholastic League website.
    1. J-1 Visa and F-1 Visa students from an approved CSIET Program (www.csiet.org) are eligible immediately for a duration of up to one year. If they are NOT from an approved CSIET Program they must sit out 50% of the League in each sport in which they participated on a varsity level and are eligible for a duration of up to one year.
    2. F-1 Visa students from a non-public school who are from an approved CSIET Program are eligible for a duration of up to four years. If they are NOT from an approved CSIET Program they must sit out 50% of the League in each sport in which they participated on a varsity level and are eligible for a duration of up to four years.
  2. FORM 1 – APPROVED FOREIGN EXCHANGE PROGRAM
    1. J-1 Visa and F-1 Visa Foreign Exchange students involved in an approved program listed in the most current edition of the Advisory List of International Travel and Exchange Programs (CSIET) (www.Csiet.org) published by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel are eligible for participation when approved by the Executive Director. To seek eligibility for such students, schools must provide information on the Foreign Exchange Student Data Form I, and Form III provided by the RIIL.
  3. FORM 2 – FOREIGN EXCHANGE PROGRAM NOT APPROVED BY CSIET
    1. J-1 Visa and F-1 Visa Foreign Exchange Students entering member schools under a program not listed on the APPROVED list of the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) or entering member schools under no program who desire to participate in interscholastic athletics are held to all the requirements of Article 3, Sections 5 & 6 as well as all the other requirements of the Rules and Regulations, and are required to communicate with the Executive Director to seek eligibility for such students. After completing the Foreign Exchange Student Data Form II and Form III, an eligibility ruling must be obtained from the Committee through the Executive Director. The earliest date these students can become eligible for competition is after they have obtained a favorable eligibility ruling from the Committee, and after they have served the fifty percent (50%) of the League schedule waiting period in each sport in which they participated on a varsity level.
  1. FORM 3 – FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT DATA (AFFIDAVIT)
    1. Principals must complete Form III and submit along with Form I or Form II to the Executive Director of the RIIL.
    2. In order to participate in a post-season tournament event, the foreign exchange student must have been a member of that team for at least fifty percent (50%) of that team’s regularly scheduled season contests.
    3. Note: The Foreign Exchange Student will be ineligible to participate in any Rhode Island Interscholastic League or League-sanctioned games, matches, meets, etc. until an eligibility ruling is rendered by the League.

Section 8. INDIVIDUAL ATHLETIC COMPETITION IN THE ABSENCE OF A TEAM

  1. The RIIL will provide the opportunity for male and/or female athletes to compete as individuals on behalf of their respective schools in specified sports and under specified conditions provided the school does not sponsor a team in that sport in the RIIL or an outside league not affiliated with the RIIL. However, the RIIL encourages member schools to sponsor team participation when possible. Individual competition shall be limited to cross country, golf, gymnastics, swimming, winter and spring track and wrestling.
  2. To be eligible for athletic competition, an individual(s) shall be in compliance with all of the provisions listed in this section:
    1. The athlete(s) shall:
      1. have a valid Assumption of Risk form on file in the RIIL Office.
      2. have their athletic eligibility certified by the Principal in accordance with RIIL Rule and Regulations.
      3. be placed on the eligibility list on the RIIL website
      4. participate in accordance with the requirements of the sport.
      5. be accompanied to all contests by a coach and/or have an authorized representative of the school with them as designated by the Principal.
      6. Individual gymnastic athletes are required to have a designated coach/spotter on the floor.
      7. comply with all other rules and filings as may be required.
    2. The school(s):
    3. Principal must be a member in good standing of the RIASP.
    4. Must pay the full dues and fees as established by the RIIL for each sport. Participation of the individual athlete(s) may result in additional costs for the sport involved. An additional fee will be charged for other sports as deemed necessary.
    5. Principal(s) or their official designee shall declare the intent of the athlete to compete with the Director of the Sport or the RIIL Office.
      1. The declaration for an athlete to compete must be made prior to the starting date of the season for the individual sport.
  3. The Director of the Sport will have the final authority and will establish the format and placement for the inclusion of individual athletes in competition. The Director will also have the authority to establish a method for athletic competition as individual(s) in state tournaments/meets.
    1. Swimming - Individual athletes must compete in three (3) of four (4) qualifying meets though a minimum of two (2) of three (3) may at times suffice at the discretion of the Director of Swimming.
    2. Gymnastics - Individual athletes must compete in three (3) meets and have qualifying scores to be eligible to compete in the Individual Championship. Student-athletes are encouraged to compete in five (5) meets for all-state consideration.
    3. Track and Cross Country – Individual athletes are scheduled to compete in four (4) meets. Individual times/distances as outlined in Articles 17, 26, and 27 will be used to determine eligibility in State Tournament competition.
  4. Additional requirements:
    1. No school may enter more than three (3) individuals in a particular sport. No alternates or substitutions may be made or allowed for these individuals.
    2. Individual athletes must qualify for championships on the same basis as members of school teams.
    3. In any athletic event where an individual qualifies for a medal; the medal shall be awarded to him/her and the points scored will be attributed to the individual. There will be no displacement (except in the sport of Track and Field) of position or points among other competitors in events in which individuals participate.
    4. No school entering individuals may win a team championship.

Section 9. BOARDING STUDENTS

  1. Students boarding in member schools whose parental residence is outside the State of Rhode Island must have their athletic eligibility determined on an individual basis. Until such students are ruled eligible by the Committee, they may not participate in any contest of a member school.
  2. Principals seeking eligibility rulings on the above students must supply to the Committee the following information.
    1. Place of parental residence.
    2. Previous school attended and dates of attendance.
      1. Completed transfer affidavit
      2. Certify the boarding student did not transfer as the result of undue influence by the school or friends of the school.
    3. Certify the boarding of the student is not for athletic purposes.
    4. The amount of financial aid, if any, provided by the school or friends of the school.
    5. If the students are ruled eligible by the Committee, the 50% of the League’s season rule for each sport they participated in on the varsity level will prevail in the case of transfers from other secondary schools. This waiting period may be extended for a maximum of one year at the discretion of the Committee after having considered all the information provided by the school seeking the eligibility ruling.

Section 10. TUITION STUDENTS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

  1. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
    1. Evaluation of student needs for financial assistance must be completed by the person(s) in the school designated as responsible for the financial assistance policies and procedures.
    2. Funds which have been donated to the schools by organizations and individuals must be given as financial assistance to students through the normal financial program of the school for all students, and without regard to athletic potential.
  2. TUITION STUDENTS
    1. Schools receiving tuition must maintain records of the source of the tuition payments and other financial charges, the identification of the person or corporation making the payment of tuition and other charges, and the person or corporation to whom the receipt is issued.
    2. Special Inducements as listed in Section 11, paragraph C2 whether given directly by a school or indirectly through an alumni group or parents’ association, are strictly forbidden.
    3. All schools must submit an Individual financial report (refer to the Individual Financial Report) to the Executive Director on any student receiving financial aid from the school or any related entity in excess of 50% of the combined tuition and expenses and receive an eligibility ruling for the person receiving such aid prior to using said student in an RIIL sanctioned game. The only exception is financial aid provided by an independent corporation, parish or governmental agency/division. The school must furnish on this report the circumstances of any other aid whatsoever.
    4. Upon request, schools will be required to submit an individual scholarship report on any student receiving financial aid from the school or any related entity in excess of 50% of the combined tuition and expenses. The Executive Director and Chair will determine the eligibility of any student receiving financial aid. The Executive Director and the Chair will consider the circumstances and determine whether the aid is scholarship aid or an athletic scholarship. In making this decision, these individuals will give the particular street of the residence of the athlete involved and the normal area that the school in question generally draws from. In order to deny eligibility to any student because of an athletic scholarship, both individuals must agree. An appeal can be entered to the Committee in the event that an athlete is declared ineligible but, pending appeal, the athlete may not participate in any contest of the school involved.
    5. In the event that an athlete receiving financial aid, in accordance with the provisions of Article 3, Section 10, is not reported to the Committee upon request, all games in which the athlete participated from the time the aid was given, shall be forfeited and, if championships are involved, they shall be rescinded and plaques and trophies returned to the RIIL.
    6. The school must furnish on this report the following information:
      1. Student Name
      2. Year of graduation
      3. Sport(s)
      4. Tuition
      5. Calculated need (provided by a Financial Aid Management Company)
      6. Assigned Award *
      7. Prior year awards
    7. *Note: Please list separately the origin, name, type of aid provided.
    8. In the event that an athlete receiving financial aid, in accordance with the provisions of Article 3, Section 10, is not reported to the Committee upon request, all games in which the athlete participated from the time the aid was given shall be forfeited and, if championships are involved, they shall be rescinded and plaques and trophies returned to the RIIL.
    9. Schools violating any of these regulations or the provisions of Article 3, Section 10 will be placed on probation for one year and may be subject to penalties as listed in Article 6.
      1. Schools, who continue to violate these regulations after having been placed on probation may be dropped from membership in the RIIL. Such decisions require a majority vote of the Committee and the vote of two thirds of the members of the RIIL.
    10. The Committee pledges it will seek to investigate any signed, written complaint of schools violating these regulations even though the complaint might not come officially from a member school and will use outside assistance, if necessary, to carry out the investigation.
      1. NOTE: The schools should note that while many of the above regulations pertain only to tuition charging schools and financial assistance programs, Article 3, Section 10 pertains to all schools. Each Principal should make certain that these regulations are known and understood by all their athletic directors and coaching staff. Penalties for violations of the Rules and Regulations will be strictly enforced by the Principals’ Committee on Athletics.

Section 11. RECRUITMENT OF STUDENT‑ATHLETES BY PRIVATE, PAROCHIAL AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

  1. To maintain the educational standards and dignity of our academic and athletic program, all members of the RIIL must refrain from any practices such as recruitment, enticements, and inducements or other pressure which would encourage students substantially for athletic purposes to leave, enter, or not to enter schools within their normal district, as defined by the Rhode Island Department of Education, or schools in which they have enrolled or have indicated in writing the intent to enroll. In order to ensure that the above prohibitions of the RIIL are carried out, the Committee has adopted the following regulations: (Note: This also applies to students below grade 9 who are contemplating enrolling in a RIIL member school, public, private or parochial).
  2. POLICY ON RECRUITING
    1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
      1. Recruiting is the use of undue influence and/or special inducement by anyone associated with a school in an attempt to encourage a prospective student to attend or remain at that school for the purpose of participating in interscholastic athletics.
      2. Recruitment of students or attempted recruitment of students for athletic purposes, regardless of their residence, is a gross violation of the by-laws of the RIIL and is expressly forbidden.
      3. Member schools are responsible for any violation committed by any person who is under the direct or indirect supervision and control of the principal. Member schools are also responsible for any violation committed by a person acting at the direction of any person under the direct supervision or control of the principal.
  1. UNDUE INFLUENCE
    1. Undue Influence is the use of direct or indirect communication by anyone associated with a school with a prospective student in an attempt to solicit or encourage the enrollment of a prospective student in that school for the purpose of participating in interscholastic athletics.
    2. Undue influence includes, but is not limited to:
    3. Initiating or arranging telephone, telegram or other written contact such as questionnaires, cards or letters, with a prospective student-athlete or member of his/her family for the purpose of soliciting or encouraging the enrollment of the student in a school.
    4. Visiting or entertaining a prospective student-athlete or member of his/her family for the purpose and intent of soliciting or encouraging the enrollment of the student in a school.
    5. Providing transportation to a prospective student-athlete or member of his/her family for the purpose and intent of soliciting or encouraging the enrollment of the student in that school.
    6. Attending school or non-school athletic contests with the expressed intent of recruiting specific students for the purpose of participating in interscholastic athletics.
    7. Requesting booster club members, students, parents or alumni from a school to discuss the merits of the school’s athletic program with a prospective student-athlete or member of his/her family by phone, in person, or through letters or other written communications.
    8. Any other contact with a prospective student-athlete or member of his/her family for the purpose and intent of soliciting or encouraging the enrollment of the student in a school for the purpose of participating in interscholastic athletics
    9. No member school and no one acting on behalf of any member school may give a speech or give any slide, film or tape presentation or distribute any written material, including advertisements in newspapers, magazines or other publications, which states or implies that a member school’s athletic program is better than the athletic program of any other member school or that it would be more advantageous for any prospective student-athlete to participate in athletics at that member school as opposed to any other school.
    10. When a student at a junior high, middle school or other high school, or the parent(s) or guardian(s) of that student contacts a coach about attending the coach’s school, the coach must immediately refer the student, parent(s) or guardian(s) to the principal or other associate school personnel, who have the responsibility of seeking and processing prospective students.
  2. SPECIAL INDUCEMENT
    1. of any privilege not afforded to non-athletes.
    2. Offer or acceptance of free or reduced rent for parent(s) or guardian(s).
    3. Offer or acceptance of payment of moving expenses of parent(s) or guardian(s) or assistance with the moving of parent(s) or guardian(s).
    4. Offer or acceptance of employment of parent(s) or guardian(s) in order to entice the family to move to a certain community if any person associated with the school makes an offer.
  2. ACADEMIC RECRUITMENT PROGRAMS
    1. This policy is not intended to prevent a member school from conducting academic recruitment programs or recruitment programs designed to attract students based upon the school’s overall educational and extracurricular programs. However, such recruitment programs must be designed to present the overall educational and extracurricular programs of the school and not be used as a subterfuge for recruiting students for athletic purposes. Such general recruitment programs permissible under this article must be carried out under the following guidelines:
      1. With the permission of the principal, member schools may present speeches, films, tapes or other similar programs to students in elementary, junior high or middle schools with grades below the ninth grade from which the member school can normally expect enrollment.
      2. Member schools may present speeches, slides, film, tape or other similar programs to students at elementary, junior high or middle schools with grades below the ninth grade from which the member school can normally expect enrollment so long as said speeches, slides, films, tapes or other presentations are designed to attract students to attend the member school and are based upon the overall educational programs and not presented solely for the purpose of recruiting prospective athletes.
      3. Coaches or any member of a school’s athletic staff cannot conduct recruiting programs of any kind for the purpose of participating in interscholastic athletics.
    2. Schools may site accomplishments, both academic to athletic, as long as it does not imply that the school’s athletic program is better than any other school’s athletic program or that it would be more advantageous for a prospective student-athlete if s/he participated at that member school A student-athlete may not receive or be offered any remuneration of any kind or receive or be offered any special inducement of any kind, which is not made available to all students who enroll in or apply to a school.
    3. Special inducements include, but are not limited to:
      1. Offer or acceptance of money or other valuable consideration such as free or reduced tuition during the regular school year or summer school by any person associated with a school.
      2. Offer or acceptance of room, board, textbooks or clothing, or financial allotment for textbooks or clothing.
      3. Offer or acceptance of pay for work that is not performed or that is in excess of the amount regularly paid for such services.
      4. Offer or acceptance of free transportation by any person associated with a school.
      5. Offer or acceptance of a residence with any person associated with a school.
      6. Offer or acceptance as opposed to any other member school.
  3. PENALTIES
    1. A member school found to be in violation of any provision of this policy:
      1. May be required to forfeit all contests won in which a recruited student(s) participates.
      2. May be placed on probation and denied participation in the RIIL state championship series for a period of not less than one (1) year in the sport(s) in which the violation(s) occurred.
      3. May be placed on suspension and denied any participation with any member school for a period of not less than one (1) year in the sport(s) in which the violation(s) occurred.
      4. May be suspended from membership in the RIIL for a period of not less than one (1) year.
    2. A student who is found to be in violation of this policy:
      1. May be declared permanently ineligible for interscholastic competition at the school to which s/he was recruited.
      2. May be declared ineligible for interscholastic competition for a period not to exceed one (1) year at any RIIL member school.