Kids who make the commitment to compete in sports in high school are really quite special, and sometimes it's easy to forget that. But think about it – not only do they stay on top of their studies, but they also take hours of time each week to train, practice, and compete. Some of them keep up with their workouts all year round or will compete in an "extra" sport other than the one they really love just to stay in shape.
When kids that age make that kind of commitment, we as parents owe it to them to do what we can to help. And while making sure they have the clothing and equipment they need, driving them to practices and games, and cheering them on during competitions may seem like a lot, there is one more thing that parents can do: make sure their student stays eligible.
This guide is a summary of the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) rules and regulations that affect student-athlete eligibility. If your student-athlete competes at one of the more than 350 Kansas high schools that are governed by the KSHSAA, this summary may be a good place to start before you tackle the KSHSAA's 60+ page handbook. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has put this together to help parents and students understand the basic rules regarding student-athlete eligibility in Kansas. If you have more questions after reading through this, contact the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team today for help.
Age-Limit and Semester-Limit Restrictions and Waiver Requests
Student-athletes are eligible to compete in high school sports in Kansas (assuming they meet all other requirements) until they turn 19. Then it depends on when their birthday is: if they turn 19 on or before August 1, they are not eligible to compete for that next school year. If they turn 19 after August 1, they are.
Hardship waivers are available in certain circumstances. Requests for hardship waivers are decided by the KSHSAA's Executive Board after an interview with the student-athlete. They must be submitted by the principal, not by the student or the parents. The request won't be granted if the student-athlete gains an unfair advantage due to being able to compete at an older age than most other students. It must also be able to explain why the student-athlete needs the waiver; in other words, what the hardship is that supports granting the waiver.
Student-athletes are eligible for eight consecutive semesters of competition once they are promoted from eighth grade. This does not change if a student is absent for a semester, for example, if the student quits school but then returns the next semester.
Hardship waivers are available for this requirement as well – in cases where student-athletes "are not able to successfully complete a semester" as a result of "illness or other justifiable emergencies." These types of hardship requests need to be submitted to the KSHSAA on school letterhead and must explain the reason for the request in detail. The KSHSAA Executive Board has the ultimate power to grant semester waiver requests – and also has the power to waive portions of the semester-limit rule "for special cases."
If your student-athlete is facing an age-limit or semester-limit problem and you believe they may be entitled to a waiver, contact the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team for help. They have been helping student-athletes navigate the sometimes-complicated eligibility requirements for high schools located all over the US, and they can help you make sure your waiver request is as strong and convincing as possible.
Academic Eligibility Issues
Student-athletes who want to compete during a given semester must have passed at least five subjects during their previous semester. (This does not apply to student-athletes entering 9th grade, who are treated as automatically eligible.) They must also enroll in at least five new subjects during the semester in which they want to compete.
Student-athletes may not "make up" work after the close of a semester in order to change a grade of "incomplete" in a class to a passing grade. The KSHSAA rules specifically state that student-athletes may not use summer school classes "for making up credit deficiencies for the purpose of becoming eligible."
Student-athletes who are not eligible at the beginning of a semester may not gain eligibility during that semester; they must wait until the next semester (assuming they successfully complete at least five subjects during their semester of ineligibility) before they can become eligible again.
The KSHSAA's strict grade policy, which doesn't allow for make-up or summer school work, means that it is extremely important to keep close tabs on your student-athletes progress during the school year. Particularly in situations where their grades appear to be close to failing, you may want to have a discussion with the teacher in question to find out how your student-athlete can improve. In some situations, the teacher may be willing to assign extra credit work during the semester or allow the student to retake a test or re-do an assignment. Some of these situations may be covered by your high school's handbook; generally speaking, teachers are not permitted to give student-athletes opportunities to improve their grades that are not also available to non-athlete students.
If you believe that one or more of your student-athlete teachers are grading unfairly, it might be helpful to make sure you document your concerns properly and, where necessary, bring them to the attention of the school administration. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team may be able to help in situations like these by helping make sure you follow all school procedures properly and do a thorough job of supporting your concerns.
School Disciplinary Defense
Student-athletes spend the vast majority of their time being students – attending classes, study halls, lunch periods, and sometimes on buses to and from school. As a result, a student-athlete is much more likely to become ineligible due to misconduct during school than they are for misconduct during practices or competitions.
Each school has its own student manual that, in almost every case, describes the school's policies and procedures for student misconduct. These will typically include some sort of investigation of misconduct allegations, possibly a meeting or a hearing to go over them in more detail, and then possibly the imposition of some kind of consequence, ranging from a verbal warning to expulsion.
One common punishment lies somewhere in between – the student may be prohibited from participating in extracurricular activities, including, of course, athletics. These prohibitions can go on for weeks or months, or even an entire semester.
The problem with the school discipline situation is that allegations – even serious ones – aren't always carefully or fully investigated. Hearings aren't always fairly conducted. And punishments can be arbitrary and uneven from one student to another.
This is where the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can be a significant help. They have years of experience helping students involved in school disciplinary proceedings all over the country, and they understand how the procedures and processes work. They can help conduct a thorough investigation of the claims, locate witnesses or information that can offer "the other side of the story," and make sure that any hearings or meetings respect your student's rights and are conducted fairly. In many cases, where necessary and helpful, they can propose alternative forms of discipline that will keep a student competing while still respecting the school's need to keep order.
Don't try to defend your student-athlete against a serious misconduct allegation alone – call the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team to find out how they can help.
Discipline Defense for Behavior During Games
The KSHSAA sportsmanship rules are more flexible than those adopted by many other high school sports associations. Generally speaking, the officials and schools are given a lot of latitude in terms of imposing consequences for unsportsmanlike behavior during competitions. These include "a reprimand, probation, or suspension" following an incident, any of which may be reviewed by the KSHSAA.
If your student-athlete has been ejected from a competition for unsportsmanlike conduct and is facing an extended period of ineligibility imposed by their school as a result, contact the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team if you believe that a mistake has been made. Particularly where there is video evidence supporting your position that your student-athlete did not commit any unsportsmanlike infraction (such as where they were misidentified by an official), the Lento Law Firm can help you bring your case to the school authorities and, if necessary, the KSHSAA.
Residential Eligibility and Transfer Issues
Student-athletes are eligible immediately upon entering ninth grade at the high school of their choice (assuming they meet all other eligibility requirements).
If their family moves during high school "to a new permanent residence in the vicinity of the new school to which the student transfers, the student is then immediately eligible." There are some exceptions to this when the family moves during a semester. In that case, the student has several options: if they transfer schools within ten days of when their family moves, they will be immediately eligible at the new school. If they prefer, they can remain at their original school until the end of the semester, and then they will be immediately eligible at the beginning of the next semester at the new school. Or, they can transfer schools within ten days after the end of a season where the student-athlete was competing at the old school; in that case, they are immediately eligible to compete at the new school.
If a student transfers without a bona fide family move, they risk being ineligible to compete at the new school for a full calendar year. And if they transfer due to "undue influence" – basically, as a result of recruiting – they risk being declared ineligible for an entire year.
Transfer rules are complicated in Kansas, as they are in other states. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team understands how they work and have helped student-athletes, and their families plan school transfers to make sure that the student will be eligible to compete at the new school. And because hardship waivers are also considered by the KSHSAA, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can help you and your student request one where the circumstances support it.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Can Help Keep Your Student-Athlete Competing
High school goes by quickly, and losing even a few weeks of eligibility can be devastating for a student-athlete. If you have questions about your student-athletes eligibility or are concerned about whether your planned move to a new home will affect their ability to compete, contact the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team for help. Whether your issue relates to grades, school disciplinary procedures, age or semester restrictions, hardship waiver requests, or anything else affecting your student-athletes eligibility, the team at the Lento Law Firm can help.
We've been there for student-athletes and their families all across the United States, and we are here to listen to your concerns and to help. Call the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team today at 888.535.3686, or set up a confidential consultation with us by using our online contact form.
Don't delay – before you know it, another semester will have flown by, and your student-athlete deserves all of the help you can give them!
