Ineligible Player

Bylaw 304

• If an ineligible player is used in any interscholastic contest, whether deliberately or inadvertently, forfeiture of the game and honors for team sports and points and honors for individual sports shall be automatic and mandatory.

• The MSHSL Board may penalize the school official or officials responsible for an error under powers granted in the League Constitution, if they judge the error by school officials to be deliberate, intentional, or sufficiently careless to warrant special action.

Undue Influence on Students

A system of fines shall be imposed for schools whose personnel exert undue influence on students to participate on non-school teams or to attend camps, clinics, open gym, captains practice, weight training or other related activities.

Bylaw 307

Any verbal or written contact initiated by a representative of another school resulting in the transfer of a student will be considered as asserting undue influence, for which the school may be publicly censured, removed from tournament competition, suspended from the League, or fined.

Undue Solicitation of a Student

Bylaw 308

Coaches Education 300-Level Bylaws

• Group and individual physical development programs open to all students between the close of one season and the opening of the next season are encouraged.

• Can use high school gymnasiums and facilities

• Cannot teach skills and techniques of specific sport

• No chalk talks or “skull practice”

• Cannot be mandatory for athletes to participate in the program as a qualification for being on the high school team

Physical Development Programs

Bylaw 406

Protests Against Officials

Bylaw 407

Protests against contest officials will not be honored.

• League officials will render an interpretation to all parties involved as to the proper application of contest rules in cases protested if the complete facts are presented, in writing, to the League office. Such interpretations, however, will not alter the outcome of the contest. The decisions of contest officials are final.

Protests Against Officials

Bylaw 407

• It is recognized that errors in interpretations and application of bylaws and in judgment situations are inevitable. However, the orderly and sportsmanship conduct of high school activities requires that officials’ decisions must be honored and be final.

• Videotape replay will not be used to overrule an official’s decision or change the outcome of a game, meet, or contest.

• League bylaws prevent the scheduling of practice, games, meetings, pictures or scrimmage on a Sunday for all League-sponsored activities including dance team and cheerleading.

• League bylaws do not prevent scheduling games on a legal holiday; however, the Board discourages schools from scheduling games on legal holidays and withholds sanctions for those events requiring a sanction.

Bylaw 411

Sundays & Legal Holidays

Code of EthicsCODE OF ETHICS FOR COACHES:

A coach will be in violation of the standards for good sportsmanship established by the MSHSL by:

1. Making degrading/critical remarks about officials duringor after a contest either on the field of play, from thebench or through any public news media;

2. Arguing with officials or going through motions indicatingdislike/disdain for a decision;

3. Detaining the officials following the contest to requesta ruling or explanation of actions taken by the official; or,

4. Being ejected from any contest.

Code of Ethics

ACTIONS AND RESPONSE:

Unsportsmanlike actions by a coach shall be reported to the League by the school and by the head contest official. The school shall document the results of their investigation and actions taken, where necessary and appropriate.

Penalties:Penalties for violation of these standards may include, but are not limited to, reprimand, censure, fines, or other actions as deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.

Code of Ethics Q & A

Interpretation:

Q. What action should be taken if the coach of a school team who is the only coach present at a contest, is ejected from the contest and removed from the immediate playing area?

A. With no remaining coach present, the school may not continue to participate. The contest should be terminated and forfeited to the opponent, and a Special Report should be filed with the League by the officials involved.

Player Participation Limits

Bylaw 502

• League Bylaw breaks down daily limits and season limits for player participation based on sport.

• Player participation limitations include participation in Junior high, B-Squad, Junior Varsity and Varsity games.

• For example, in girls’ lacrosse, the daily limit is three halves on any given day, so a player could play two JV halves, and one varsity half.

• Communicate these limitations with your assistant coaches, and communicate clearly about daily playing time, especially for student-athletes who are playing or rostered on multiple level teams.

Coaches Education: 400- and 500-Level Bylaws