SAHS Athletics Resources > Athletic Handbook: P.I.A.A. Eligibility Rules

Souderton Area High School is a member of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) and subscribes to the philosophy and intent of its by-laws. The PIAA by-laws that pertain to age, awards, attendance, health, transfers and residence, participation, representation, curriculum, and seasonal rules will be followed. A complete copy of the P.I.A.A. Handbook is available in the Athletic Office for review.

For your information, some of the more pertinent PIAA and high school rules are listed here:

1. Age
   A pupil shall be ineligible for interscholastic athletic competition upon attaining the age of 19 years with the following exception: If the age of 19 is attained on or after July 1, the pupil shall be eligible, age wise, to compete through that school year.
2. Attendance
   A pupil who has been absent from school during a semester for a total of twenty or more school days shall not be eligible to participate in any athletic contest until he/she has been in attendance for a total of 60 school days following his 20th day of absence. An exception involves a consecutive absence of five or more school days due to confining illness, injury, death in the immediate family (as defined in Section 1154 of the Public School Code of 1949, as amended), court subpoena, quarantine, or an absence of 5 or more school days due to the same confining illness; such absence may be waived from the application of this rule by the District Committee. Attendance at summer school does not count toward the 60 days required.
3. Health/Injuries
   

   1. All sports activities carry with them inherent risks. While it is the objective of Souderton Area School District Athletic Department to make athletics as safe as possible, injuries do occur. And, while it is not our intention to frighten parents, we feel it is important that both the parents and student-athletes understand that the level of injury may be severe, including paralysis. The purpose of this statement is to assure parents and students are aware of the risks that have always been present in sports. If you are injured while participating in interscholastic athletics, notify your coach, athletic trainer, and parents. You should consult a physician if you or the trainer feels it is necessary.

   2. Medical Emergency Policy for Away Venues
      If a student-athlete is injured during a sporting event and the injury requires the student-athlete to be transported to a hospital the following procedure will be followed:

      1. If the parent of the injured student-athlete is at the event he or she may accompany the injured student- athlete to the hospital or the parent can take their child to the hospital.
      2. If the parents of the injured student-athlete are not present the Athletic Trainer or medical person on duty NEEDS to call 911 in order to have that student-athlete transported. One of the coaches will accompany the student- athlete to the hospital. The parents or emergency contact listed on the NovaCare form will be contacted to inform them about the situation and that their student-athlete is in route to the hospital.
      3. Another parent CANNOT take the student-athlete to the hospital, regardless if they are a nurse, doctor or friend of the family. They may accompany the injured student-athlete in the ambulance. However, they MAY NOT take the injured athlete off the playing surface unless it is in an ambulance. If another person takes the student-athlete to the hospital they are assuming responsibility.

   3. No pupil shall be eligible to represent his/her school in any interscholastic athletic contest or practice unless he/she has been examined by a licensed physician of medicine or osteopathy before his/her sports of that academic year. Before each sports season of the same academic year, he/she shall be re-examined or certified by a physician or nurse practitioner that his/her condition is satisfactory before he/she commences to train or practice the intended sport.

   4. The examination for fall sports shall not be given before June 1. The examination, re-examination, or certification for all other sports shall not be given earlier than six weeks prior to the beginning of practice for each applicable sport.

   5. A student-athlete sent home by the school nurse because of illness cannot compete or practice that afternoon or evening.

   6. A student-athlete must return with in 90 minutes of a medical appointment to be eligible to participate in that days practice or game.

4. Consent of Parent
   A student-athlete shall be eligible for practice or participation in each sport only when there is on file with the Athletic Director a certificate of consent, which is signed by his/her parent or guardian.
5. Period of Participation
   A pupil cannot represent his school (per PIAA regulations) in interscholastic athletics if he/she has:
   • been in attendance more than eight semesters beyond the eighth grade;
   • played four seasons beyond the eighth grade in any one form of interscholastic athletics; or
   • completed the work of grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 inclusive.