Md. Code Regs. 13A.06.03.04

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 12, June 14, 2024

Section 13A.06.03.04 - Operational Guidelines

The regulations given below are established for all MPSSAA interscholastic sports:

A. Equal Opportunity for Participation.

(1) Students may not be excluded on the basis of sex from overall equal opportunity to participate in athletic programs. If a school sponsors a team in a particular sport for members of one sex but sponsors no such team for members of the opposite sex, and before July 1, 1975, overall opportunities for members of the excluded sex have been limited, the excluded sex shall be allowed to try out for the team.

(2) Athletics Equity for Students with Disabilities.

(a) Students who meet the eligibility requirements of Regulation .02 of this chapter may not be excluded on the basis of disability from the opportunity to try out for and if selected, participate in mainstream interscholastic athletic programs.

(b) Member MPSSAA schools shall provide reasonable accommodations necessary to provide students with disabilities with equal opportunities to participate to the fullest extent possible in mainstream athletic programs.

(c) Students with disabilities who meet the eligibility requirements of Regulation .02 of this chapter may be excluded from mainstream athletic programs if inclusion:

(i) Presents an objective safety risk to the student or others based on an individualized assessment of the student; or

(ii) Fundamentally alters the nature of the school's mainstream athletic program.

B. MPSSAA Coaching Eligibility.

(1) Member MPSSAA schools shall employ as coaches:

(a) Teachers or certificated professional educators employed by the local Board of Education.

(b) Persons certifiable as professional educators by the State Department of Education according to 13A.12.01.

(c) Credentialed coaches who meet the following requirements:

(i) Are eligible to hold a Maryland certificate under COMAR 13A.12.01.03D;

(ii) Possess a MPSSAA/MSDE Coaching Certification;

(iii) Have completed 2 years of successful coaching as an emergency coach; and

(iv) Have spent the previous 1 year as a successful emergency coach at the school of hire in the position of hire.

(2) If no acceptable and qualified coaches are available from the teachers or certifiable professional educators employed by the local board of education, temporary emergency coach may be employed if the following procedures are followed:

(a) The person shall be officially appointed by the local superintendent of schools on a one-season basis for a specific coaching assignment;

(b) The coaching salary of the appointed coach shall be paid exclusively by the local school system;

(c) After July 1, 2010, an emergency coach is required to possess an MPSSAA/MSDE coach certification prior to the start of his or her fourth year as an emergency coach;

(d) Teams having more than one coach, emergency coaches may not comprise more than 50 percent of that sport staff;

(e) The emergency coach shall be at least 21 years old and possess a high school diploma.

(3) All coaches shall have completed or be enrolled in a one-credit course in the prevention and care of athletic injuries.

(4) Member MPSSAA schools may permit volunteer athletic coaches to assist their coaching staff. The volunteer coaches may not serve as head coaches at any level and shall work only under the direction of the head coach. The volunteer coach may be used if the following procedures are followed:

(a) The volunteer coach is at least 21 years old and possesses a high school diploma or equivalent;

(b) The volunteer coach shall have completed or be enrolled in a one-credit course in the prevention and care of athletic injuries;

(c) The volunteer coach shall be formally appointed on a 1-season basis for a specific coaching assignment.

C. Limits of Participation.

(1) Each local school system and state tournament committee shall establish guidelines that ensure a minimum loss of instructional time for coaches and students involved in interscholastic athletic contests.

(2) Students who participate on both varsity and junior varsity teams may not play in a number of contests that exceed the maximum number allowed for that sport in a week or season. Students may not compete on both a varsity and junior varsity level against the same school on the same day.

(3) Except as set forth in Regulation .03 of this chapter, school athletic teams may not participate in any contests representing their school.

(4) Member MPSSAA schools may not play or practice on Sundays.

(5) Individual students may participate in all-star games and events, upon completion of their eligibility in the sport in which this participation occurs.

(6) Member MPSSAA schools shall practice with or play against only high school teams as defined in §H of this regulation.

(7) Individual students or teams representing a member MPSSAA school shall participate only in games, meets, or tournaments which are conducted by appropriate educational institutions.

(8) Member MPSSAA schools may not enter competition preliminary to a college or professional game.

(9) A varsity or junior varsity team member of the previous season may not participate in interscholastic competition and in intramurals or school sponsored athletic programs in the same sport outside the sport season.

D. Policies Pertaining to Wrestling.

(1) Students shall have their minimum weight class in which they can wrestle certified by a qualified physician before the students' first match.

(2) Students may not wrestle below the minimum weight class established for them at the time of certification.

(3) A wrestling meet is a contest involving two or three schools.

(4) A wrestling tournament is a contest involving four or more schools.

E. Out-of-Season Practice.

(1) Member MPSSAA schools and coaches of member schools shall confine school practices to :

(a) The seasonal limitations as defined in Regulation .03 of this chapter; or

(b) Approved local school system sponsored camps.

(2) A coach may not coach a team representing the coach's school beyond the defined competition opportunities designated in Regulation .03 of this chapter unless during approved local school system sponsored summer camps.

F. Sports Officials. Schools involved in interscholastic contests shall use only those officials certified by MPSSAA. Only qualified officials shall be used in all sports when MPSSAA certified officials are not available.

G. Summer Camps.

(1) Students may attend a summer sports camp of their choice.

(2) Students and member schools may participate in summer camps that are sponsored by the local school system.

(3) MPSSAA member schools and coaches may not require school personnel or students to participate in a summer camp.

(4) Participation in summer camps is strictly voluntary and does not have any bearing on seasonal participation.

(5) It is a violation of the out-of-season practice rule established in Regulation .03 of this chapter for coaches of member MPSSAA schools, while affiliated with a camp that is not sponsored by the local school system, to conduct any form of team or group practice involving their school.

(6) A member MPSSAA school may not provide school uniforms or equipment for students who attend a camp outside of the defined sports season in Regulation .03 of this chapter.

H. Competitors.

(1) Member MPSSAA schools shall only practice with or play against high school teams that:

(a) Ensure fair competition, athlete safety, and appropriate supervision by a responsible entity;

(b) Maintain athletics as an integral part of the total educational program;

(c) Promote academic progress;

(d) Develop leadership; and

(e) Deter exploitation of students.

(2) High school teams that meet these purposes include high school teams that:

(a) Are members of a state interscholastic athletic association recognized by the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS);

(b) Have been approved to play members of a state interscholastic athletic association recognized by the NFHS;

(c) Are members of an athletic conference that:

(i) Formally adopts the standards of competition as established by the Maryland State Superintendent of Schools as part of its constitution and bylaws; and

(ii) Has enforcement authority; or

(d) Represent a school that verifies compliance with standards of competition as established by the Maryland State Superintendent of Schools.

(3) To verify compliance under §H(2)(d) of this regulation, the administrative head of the school who is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the school shall:

(a) Sign the verification provided by the Maryland State Department of Education; and

(b) Submit the verification for approval to the State Superintendent of Schools annually before the first practice or athletic competition against a member MPSSAA school team.

Md. Code Regs. 13A.06.03.04

Regulation .04 amended effective 40:16 Md. R. 1345, eff.8/19/2013
Regulation .04B amended effective December 24, 1990 (17:25 Md. R. 2908); August 31, 1992 (19:17 Md. R. 1608); November 29, 2010 (37:24 Md. R. 1659)
Regulation .04D amended effective January 6, 2005 (31:26 Md. R. 1864); July 3, 2006 (33:13 Md. R. 1064)
Regulation .04E amended effective October 6, 1997 (24:20 Md. R. 1405)
Regulation .04J adopted effective July 3, 2006 (33:13 Md. R. 1064); amended effective 48:26 Md. R.1112, eff. 12/27/2021; amended effective 49:17 Md. R.790, eff. 8/22/2022