TSAA Eligibility Requirements

A summary of the key TSAA Eligibility Rules is provided for your convenience. If in doubt, check the TSAA Eligibility Rules (Article II, page 11).

ALL ATHLETES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING THE TSAA RULES.

  1. A student must earn five (5) credits the preceding school year if less than 24 credits are required for graduation or six (6) credits the preceding year if 24 or more credits are required for graduation.  All credits must be earned by the first day of the beginning of the school year. 
  2. A student must be enrolled before the 20th school day of the semester, in regular attendance, and carry at least four full courses during the present semester.
  3. A student is permitted eight semesters of eligibility beginning with the ninth grade.  Junior division students are permitted four semesters of eligibility beginning with the eight grade.
  4. A student shall be ineligible in high school if her or she becomes 19 years of age on or before August 1, or in junior high if he or she becomes 16 years of age on or before August 1.
  5. Athletes must live at home with their parents.
  6. In order for a transfer student with an athletic record to be eligible at another school, there must be a bono fide change of residence by the athlete's parents.
  7. All transfer students must be approved by the Executive Director of TSSAA before participating in any game.
  8. A student who engages in three or more days of practice-including spring practice-with a high school in which he or she is enrolled shall be ineligible in that sport for 12 months if the student enrolled in another school without a corresponding change in the residence of his or her parents.
  9. A student whose name is listed on the school eligibility report cannot participate in an independent game or meet until the season has closed in the particular sport.  (This does not include golf or tennis).
  10. A registered athlete cannot accept any money for athletic skills in any TSSAA sponsored sport.
  11. An athlete may accept a medal, trophy, high school letter, sweater, jacket, shirt, blazer or blanket for athletic participation but nothing else of commercial value, and these awards must carry the school's letter or other appropriate award emblem.
  12. A student may not participate in an all-star game unless it is sanctioned by the TSSAA and unless he/she has completed high school eligibility in that sport.