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Athletics » Student Athletic Participation

Student Athletic Participation

Student Participation 

For students to participate on a sports team, they must first have a Sports Physical form, Participation Clearance Form, and the MHSAA Concussion form signed and submitted. A new form of each is required for every school year. Forms are listed below.

Eligibility Rules

Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) academic rules for students participating in High School activities:
 
1.  The MHSAA requires students participating in MHSAA sanctioned competitions to make “satisfactory progress toward graduation”. Each school district shall determine the requirements for “satisfactory progress toward graduation” through its graduation requirements and shall interpret this rule according to its requirements.
 
2. According to Mississippi law, a student must maintain a grade point average of at least a 2.0 or “C” average in order to participate in interscholastic sports/activities. Grade point averages will be calculated at the conclusion of the first semester using the semester average of all courses the student is taking. Students who do not have a 2.0 or “C” average for the first semester will be ineligible for the second semester.
 
3. At the end of the school year, each student’s grade point average for the year will be assessed. This assessment will reflect the average for the entire year using the final grades for each course. A student who does not have a grade point average of at least a 2.0 or “C” average, will be ineligible for fall semester.
 
4. High school eligibility begins when a student enters ninth grade. To be eligible for the fall semester, a student must be promoted to ninth grade with at least an overall 2.0 or “C” average of all eighth grade courses.
 
5. A student may become eligible for the second semester only once during his/her high school career if he/she fails the year-end average the previous year, by achieving at least an overall 2.0 or “C” average at the end of the first semester.
 
6. A 2.0 or “C” average may be calculated in two ways.
a. Grade point average: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0.
b. Numerical average: place all semester or year-end averages in the local grading scale. If the overall average is a “C” or better, the student is eligible.
Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) academic rules for students participating in Middle School activities:
 
1. For participation on the junior high/middle school level, a student must be promoted (if not promoted, they are ineligible for the entire year) and have passed any four basic courses (any subject that meets the equivalent of 45 at least 250 minutes per week or meets the State Department requirement) with a 2.0 or “C” average the previous semester (computed numerically or by GPA). The year-end average of four basic courses passed will be used to determine eligibility for the fall semester. The same guidelines apply at the end of the first semester for spring participation. Students must be on track to be promoted to be eligible.
 
2. A student on the junior high/middle school level, who was promoted but is not eligible at the beginning of the school year due to his academic average, may become eligible for the second semester only once during the student’s junior high/middle school career by passing four basic courses with an overall average of 2.0 at the end of the first semester.
 
Seventh and Eighth Grade Participation on the High School Level
 
1. In order to participate in the fall, a student must be promoted (if not promoted, they are ineligible for the entire year) having passed the four core courses (English, math, science and social studies), and the average of those four core courses must be a “C” or above. For spring semester eligibility, the student does not have to be passing all four core courses, but the average of those four courses must be a “C” or above.
 
2. Students who are allowed to participate on a high school team in any sport/activity shall not be allowed to participate on a junior high school team at the same time or at a later date.
 
Local rule (Grades 7- 8)
 
At the end of each nine-week grading period, students will be required to pass five out of seven classes with a seventy (70) overall average. If this is not obtained, the studentathlete will be deemed ineligible for the next nine weeks. Student-athletes may become eligible beginning with the full third week of the new nine-weeks by passing five out of seven classes with a seventy (70) overall average.
 
The head coach of each program has the autonomy to implement additional standards for eligibility. These standards will be communicated to players and parents through a contract. 46
 
Local rule (Grades 9-12)
 
At the end of each nine-week grading period, students will be required to pass three out of four classes with a seventy (70) overall average. If this is not obtained, the studentathlete will be deemed ineligible for the next nine weeks. Student-athletes may become eligible beginning with the full third week of the new nine-weeks by passing three out of four classes with a seventy (70) overall average.
 
The head coach of each program has the autonomy to implement additional standards for eligibility. These standards will be communicated to players and parents through a contract.
 
MONITORING SYSTEM
 
Each head coach, band director, and sponsor will be required to create and maintain a current list of their team/organization and monitor their students’ grades. They will be responsible for contacting teachers and determining a course of action when a student is failing a class. They will assist teachers in getting students to the proper tutoring sessions and follow up on attendance, behavior, and work completion. A framework of responsibilities will be disseminated to each party, including the students, regarding expectations for the successful completion of their classes. A record of student academic performance will be monitored by the Athletic Coordinator and Principal on a weekly basis. Students who are enrolled in advanced classes and AP level courses will have their weighted grades calculated for eligibility.