Bona Fide Team Rule

45. Loyalty to the High School Team: Bona Fide Team Members A bona fide member of the school team is a student who is consistently present for, and actively participates in, all high school team sessions (e.g., practices, tryouts, competitions). Bona fide members of a school team are precluded from missing a high school practice or competition in order to participate in a non-school athletic activity/event in any sport recognized by the MIAA. Students cannot be given special treatment (late arrival, early dismissal, etc.) for non-school athletic programs. 

 

45.1 A student-athlete must be a team member for a minimum of 50% of the regular season schedule for that sport to participate in any MIAA Tournament competition. • A team member is defined as any student-athlete who attends practices or games for their sport team – e.g., Freshman basketball player moved to JV and then Varsity. 

 

45.2 Bona Fide waiver requests for Saturday and Sunday practices only do not need submission to the MIAA rather approval determined by the High School Principal or principal’s designee. 

 

45.3 MIAA Bona Fide waivers are only allowed during the pre-season or regular season. Bona Fide Team Member Waivers (for missing any practice or game) are not permitted during MIAA post-season play. The postseason officially begins the day after the cut-off date. 

 

45.4 Unattached athletes are not eligible for tournament participation (see Rule 30). 

 

PENALTIES: 

 

First Offense: Student-athlete is suspended for one (1) contest and shall not participate in the next scheduled interscholastic competition that is part of their regular season schedule or in tournament play. 

 

 Second Offense: Student-athlete is suspended for an additional 25% of the season and is ineligible for tournament play immediately upon confirmation of the violation. 

 

Penalty Carry Over: An unserved portion of the penalty for a violation toward the end of a season will carry over to the very next high school season in which the student is a legitimate participant. For example, a soccer player who violates the rule by missing the last high school match (regular season or tournament) would serve the required suspension (1 game if first offense) at the start of basketball season, if that student is a legitimate basketball participant. 

 

45.4 An ineligible student cannot be in uniform at an event. Attendance at the event will be determined by their High School Principal.