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Lenape Regional High School District

High School Athletic Eligibility

New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association Eligibility Rules apply to all boy and girl varsity, junior varsity, sophomore, and freshman teams which will be representing a high school. STUDENTS MUST ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING SURE THAT THEY MEET THE NJSIAA ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. If students have any questions or concerns after reading the eligibility rules, or if, at any time, they think they may be in jeopardy of falling below the minimum required credits for athletic eligibility, they should contact their school counselor, athletic director or team coach immediately!

Credits

Fall and Winter Athletes

  • Incoming Freshmen are eligible for Fall and Winter Athletics

  • Students in Grade 10, 11, and 12 must have earned 30 credits during the previous school year

Spring Athletes

  • All students in grade 9, 10, 11, and 12 must have passed 15 credits at the close of the first semester.

Age

An athlete becomes ineligible for high school athletics if he/she attains the age of 19 prior to September 1st.  A 9th grade student becomes ineligible for freshman athletics if he/she attains the age of 16 prior to September 1st. 

Semesters

An athlete is eligible for eight consecutive semesters following their enrollment into 9th grade provided that the student athlete has not reached the age of 19 prior to September 1.

Transfers

Eligible immediately if it is the student’s first transfer, and the transfer occurs during the first six semesters after their initial high school enrollment, provided that the transfer occurs on or before the start of practice date (as determined by the NJSIAA) of the sports season in which the transfer occurs.  

Eligible after 30 days (or ½ the maximum number of contests, whichever is less) from the start of competition date for athletes in grades 10, 11, and 12 at a present school if student participated in the sport at the previous school and transferred after the start of practice date (as determined by the NJSIAA). Any transfer that occurs before or after the start of competition date (as determined by the NJSIAA) is also ineligible for NJSIAA postseason competition in that sport. Students who transfer a second or subsequent time will be subject to a 30-day period of ineligibility (or ½ the maximum number of contests, whichever is less) for all NJSIAA sanctioned sports in which the student participated during the 12 months preceding the transfer. 

Senior transfers are subject to a 22-day period of ineligibility (or ⅓ the maximum number of contests, whichever is less) in each sport in which they participated during or after their third season of eligibility, during the 12 months preceding the transfer. 

This transfer rule applies to athletes of all levels of participation (not just varsity athletes) and is applicable to all NJSIAA-sanctioned sports in which the student participated during the 12 months preceding the transfer. Transferring students may participate in a new sport without penalty. The period of ineligibility will begin on the competition start date of each sport. For students who transfer after the competition start date, the period of ineligibility will begin on the date of enrollment into the school. 

Check the NJSIAA website at njsiaa.org for further information regarding high school athletics and eligibility.

If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact your school's Athletic Office.