TSSAA Rules/Laws

[tigerfan0020]

So I have a question, with schools fixing to be out. What are the guidelines for 8th graders practicing with the high school team? I have been under the impression that they could not practice until the school year was over and that would be the same for a transfer kid as well. I know for a fact that one high school is having the the 8th graders come over after school for practice. Just wondered if someone knew the rules.

[MichaelMyers76]

Illegal until their middle school classes/school year is over if they have a separate administration from the high school. Gene Menees is the one to call

[tradertwo]

4 hours ago, tigerfan0020 said:

So I have a question, with schools fixing to be out. What are the guidelines for 8th graders practicing with the high school team? I have been under the impression that they could not practice until the school year was over and that would be the same for a transfer kid as well. I know for a fact that one high school is having the the 8th graders come over after school for practice. Just wondered if someone knew the rules.

When you say "come over" I get the impression that they're not on the same campus as the HS team. It's perfectly legal if they are under the same administration and on the same campus, anything other than that isn't. Once the student "graduates" from the 8'th grade (no longer obligated to be at the middle school) they are legal with some blurred lines...like MichaelMyers76 said, it's best to call Gene Menees at the TSSAA office with specific information regarding the details.

[MichaelMyers76]

4 hours ago, tradertwo said:

When you say "come over" I get the impression that they're not on the same campus as the HS team. It's perfectly legal if they are under the same administration and on the same campus, anything other than that isn't. Once the student "graduates" from the 8'th grade (no longer obligated to be at the middle school) they are legal with some blurred lines...like MichaelMyers76 said, it's best to call Gene Menees at the TSSAA office with specific information regarding the details.

Same campus is not enough. Must have separate admin.

[tradertwo]

39 minutes ago, MichaelMyers76 said:

Same campus is not enough. Must have separate admin.

Typo?

[WestTNHoopsFan]

20 hours ago, tigerfan0020 said:

So I have a question, with schools fixing to be out. What are the guidelines for 8th graders practicing with the high school team? I have been under the impression that they could not practice until the school year was over and that would be the same for a transfer kid as well. I know for a fact that one high school is having the the 8th graders come over after school for practice. Just wondered if someone knew the rules.

This is illegal if they are practicing.

This is not illegal if they are coming to an open gym where all they are doing is playing. This is also legal if those kids are associated with a travel ball team. Any high school coach can coach any 8th grade kids in travel ball as long as the high school coach is not on the staff where the 8th grade kids go to school. 

[WestTNHoopsFan]

20 hours ago, tigerfan0020 said:

So I have a question, with schools fixing to be out. What are the guidelines for 8th graders practicing with the high school team? I have been under the impression that they could not practice until the school year was over and that would be the same for a transfer kid as well. I know for a fact that one high school is having the the 8th graders come over after school for practice. Just wondered if someone knew the rules.

also, there are weekend events all over the state with high school coaches coaching 8th graders. Honestly, if the high school coach is not coaching kids in their feeder schools in the spring they are not building their program. Most successful high school programs have teams playing on the weekend from 3rd grade up to 8th grade. All of this is legal according to TSSAA.

[MichaelMyers76]

If they are practicing with the school team in the school gym with the school coach and they are not officially a student in that school it is illegal, period. Doesn't matter how you spin it.

[MichaelMyers76]

13 hours ago, tradertwo said:

Typo?

No. I know of several middle and high schools that share the same campus. However, if the middle school has a separate administrator in charge then those 8th graders are off limits to the high school until their 8th grade ends. I have multiple examples of this with TSSAA. I can also tell you schools that have been fined and punished for violating this.

Contrary to popular belief, the TSSAA does not employ a bunch of undercover detectives looking for problems. They rely on folks giving them evidence. Then they look into it. 

Like i said, if you have evidence call Gene.

Edited May 24, 2022 by MichaelMyers76

[pioneer42]

1 hour ago, MichaelMyers76 said:

No. I know of several middle and high schools that share the same campus. However, if the middle school has a separate administrator in charge then those 8th graders are off limits to the high school until their 8th grade ends. I have multiple examples of this with TSSAA. I can also tell you schools that have been fined and punished for violating this.

Contrary to popular belief, the TSSAA does not employ a bunch of undercover detectives looking for problems. They rely on folks giving them evidence. Then they look into it. 

Like i said, if you have evidence call Gene.

But don’t call him if an ineligible pitcher is pitching. Look at the baseball thread.

[WestTNHoopsFan]

2 hours ago, MichaelMyers76 said:

No. I know of several middle and high schools that share the same campus. However, if the middle school has a separate administrator in charge then those 8th graders are off limits to the high school until their 8th grade ends. I have multiple examples of this with TSSAA. I can also tell you schools that have been fined and punished for violating this.

Contrary to popular belief, the TSSAA does not employ a bunch of undercover detectives looking for problems. They rely on folks giving them evidence. Then they look into it. 

Like i said, if you have evidence call Gene.

Agree with this post. The high school coach can't practice Her/his "AAU" team made up of middle schooler with her/his high school team. The high school coach practice her/his "AAU" team any time as long as it is just middle schoolers. No violation in that. 

[MichaelMyers76]

9 hours ago, pioneer42 said:

But don’t call him if an ineligible pitcher is pitching. Look at the baseball thread.

Coach signed off on it. 100% his fault.