Virginia High School League ▪ 1642 State Farm Blvd. ▪ Charlottesville, VA 22911 ▪ Phone (434) 977-8475 ▪ Fax (434) 977-5943 ▪

MEMORANDUM TO: Selected Superintendents, Presidents, Headmasters, Principals, Directors and

Administrators of Virginia Non-Public Secondary Schools

FROM: Ken Tilley, Executive Director

DATE: June 2014

For the past several years the Virginia High School League has attempted to list all Virginia non-public high schools in the VHSL Directory, a copy of which is mailed to you in the fall of each year. This service has proven to be useful both to VHSL member schools and to non-public schools, and with your cooperation we plan to continue providing this information in our 2014-15 Directory.

Rule 27-3-2 State Competition Rule states, “Upon being informed as to whether a Virginia non-public secondary school (private, preparatory, parochial, etc.) agrees to abide by the special regulations governing non-public schools, League member schools may decide whether or not to compete with that non-member school.”

Following meetings in 1995 with independent school representatives, the VHSL adopted the above policy that allows its schools to decide individually which Virginia non-public schools they will schedule.

It is important that we receive input from all Virginiaindependent schools in order to give our members complete, accurate information. We ask your cooperation in completing the enclosed form and returning it to the VHSL office as soon as possible and no later than July 15, 2014. Your option is to pick one of the following categories, and we will provide our member schools with a listing of independent schools in each category.

I.Schools which follow Virginia High School League Individual Eligibility Regulations (Appendix B, Handbook) when

engaging in any contest.

II.Schools which follow Virginia High School League Individual Eligibility Regulations (Appendix B, Handbook) when

engaging in contests with VHSL member schools.

III.Schools which DO NOT follow Virginia High School League Individual Eligibility Regulations as listed in Appendix B,

Handbook. (NOTE: VHSL Rule 27-3-2 allows the League’s member schools to determine individually whether they

will play non-member schools in this category).

It is important that you review the enclosed copy of Appendix B and indicate on the enclosed Information Sheet which of the above categories applies to your school.

Also, please compete the top portion of the Information Sheet that gives us updated information to be included in the 2014-15Directory and send to the League office as soon as possible and no later than JULY 15. IF THE VHSL HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE FROM YOU BY JULY 15, YOUR SCHOOL’S LISTING MAY NOT APPEAR IN THE 2014-15 DIRECTORY.

We will send an order form for VHSL administrative supplies, as well as a publications order form and information regarding sanctioned events in a later mailing.

The VHSL appreciates your cooperation in these matters and looks forward to another successful year in interscholastic activities with you.

KGT/lbb

Attachment

cc: Athletic Director

Please email to our office by July 15 --

Or fax– 434-977-5943

INFORMATION SHEET FOR INCLUSION FOR VHSL IN-STATE GAMES AND IN-STATE SANCTIONS ONLY:

Please complete and return to:

Virginia High School League, Inc.

1642 State Farm Boulevard

Charlottesville, Virginia 22911-8809

School / Telephone # + area code
School Head / Title
Email Address
Address
City / VA / Zip Code

List Sports

Sponsored (please list the sports you offer)

Athletic Director

Please review the enclosed copy of the VHSL Handbook regulations and indicate below which category applies to your school.

I. / Schools which follow Virginia High School League Individual Eligibility Regulations (Appendix B, Handbook)
when engaging in any contest.
II. / Schools which follow Virginia High School League Individual Eligibility Regulations (Appendix B, Handbook)
when engaging in contests with VHSL member schools.
III. / Schools Which DO NOT Follow Virginia High School League Individual Eligibility Regulations as listed in
Appendix B, Handbook. (NOTE: VHSL Rule 27-3-2 allows the League’s member schools to determine
individually whether they will play non-member schools in this category.)

I certify I have carefully reviewed all regulations in Appendix B, that the information listed above is accurate and that our school will comply with the category (I, II or III) we have checked for the 2014-15 year.

Signed
Title
Date

DEADLINE – JULY 15, 2013 –

Or fax: 434-977-5943

APPENDIX B

Regulations Governing Nonpublic Schools

when Engaging in Contests with Member Schools

Upon being informed as to whether a Virginia nonpublic secondary school (private,preparatory, parochial, etc.) agrees to abide by the special regulations governing nonpublicschools, League member schools may decide whether or not to compete with that nonmemberschool.

To be eligible to represent the school in any athletic contest with a Virginia High School League, Inc., member school, a student of a nonpublic school shall meet thefollowing requirements:

1. Bona Fide Student Rule-The student shall be a regular bona fide student in good standing of the school which he/she

represents. See Section 28-1-1.

2. Grade Rule-The student shall be enrolled in the last four years of high school. See Section 28-2-1 and 28-2-2.

3. Enrollment Rule-The student shall have been regularly enrolled in the nonpublicschool which he/she represents not

later than the fifteenth school day of the semester. SeeSection 28-3-1.

Exception: Any student enrolling in a nonpublic school more than 15 days after thematriculation date of that school,

either by normal enrollment or by transfer from any otherschool, shall be eligible for participation in contests with

League member high schools onlyafter a period of 90 days from the date of his/her enrollment in the nonpublic school.

4. Age Rule-The student shall not have reached the age of 19 on or before the first day of August of the school year in

which he/she wishes to compete. See Section 28-5-1.

5. Semester Rule-The student shall not have been enrolled in the last four years of high school for a period of more than

eight consecutive semesters, beginning with the semesterin which he/she was enrolled for the first time in the ninth

grade. The eight consecutive semestersshall be counted continuously from that point, regardless of whether or not

he/sheremains continuously enrolled in school. See sections 28-7-1 and 28-7-2.

6. Amateur Rule-A student who represents a school in an interscholastic sport shall be an amateur in that sport. An

amateur athlete is one who engages in athletic competitionsolely for the physical, mental, social, and pleasure benefits

derived therefrom. See Section28-8-1.

7. Independent Team Rule-See Section 28-11-1.

To be eligible to represent the school in any nonathletic activity with a VirginiaHigh School League, Inc.,

member school, a student of a nonpublic school shall meet all of the above listed regulations except the

Amateur Rule and the Independent TeamRule with the further provision that an 8th grader may participate in

any nonathleticactivity.

Nonpublic schools shall observe the following school regulations in all athletic

contests and competitions with Virginia High School League, Inc., member schools:

l. Headmaster’s Responsibility-Final authority and ultimate responsibility in all matters pertaining to the athletic activities

of the school shall be vested in the headmaster.

2. Officials Rule-Officials shall be mutually agreed upon by the faculty representativesof all schools concerned. See

Section 27-6-1.

3.Eligibility Certificate-At least 10 days before an athletic contest between a non-publicschool and a League member

school the headmaster or principal of the nonpublic schoolshall send to the principal of the League member school a

complete squad list to which isappended the signed statement of the headmaster that all those listed meet the

eligibilityrequirements to which the nonpublic school has subscribed for such contests as set forthabove.

4. Proselytizing Rule-No nonpublic school or group of individuals representing the nonpublic school shall subject a

Student from a member school to undue influence by encouraging thatstudent to transfer from a member school to a

Nonpublic school for interscholastic activities. See Section 27-10-1.