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Post by coachbdud on May 8, 2008 22:00:14 GMT -6
Here in NCS(my section in nor Cal) they have a mimimum age rule for football. You cant play varsity til you are 15 no matter what grade you are in. We have a great freshman QB (going to be a sophomore) who will be 14 for our first 6 games of the season. He is legit, size arm strength, athleticism and intelligent. but according to the rules here he cant play til his 15th birthday. There is no appeal process to this. The only way i can see him being able to get onto the field is if his father threatens to sue.
I want to know which states have and do not have a minimum age requirement to play varsity football.
Please post your state and if there is or is not a minimum age requirement. If there is please list the minimum age
Thanks for all your help, i appreciate it very much
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Post by Coach Huey on May 8, 2008 22:32:38 GMT -6
Not really an age restriction on the low end ... to participate in any UIL (our governing body) sanctioned athletic event the student must be in the 7th grade. There are rules for being too old and, thus, not allowed to participate. 7th grade as an age limit - and if one is over, then they must play 8th grade. Likewise, if one is over the age limit for 8th grade then they must play freshmen or higher. There is no restriction at the high school either. Freshmen can be on varsity. In fact, an 8th grader who is too old to play 8th grade ball is eligible to play varsity. It is not uncommon for a freshmen to play varsity football ... I've coached a few, most freshmen don't turn 15 until after the season anyway. Below is small sample of the rules:
Section 1478: SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE ATHLETIC PLAN
(b) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE PARTICIPANTS.
An individual may participate in League athletic competition or contests as a representative of a participant school if he/she:
_(1) Has met the requirements of Section 1400 (a) regarding general eligibility:
_(2) For seventh grade athletic competition, has not reached his/her 14th birthday on or before September 1, and has not enrolled in the ninth grade.
_(3) For eighth grade athletic competition, has not reached his/her 15th birthday on or before September 1, and has not enrolled in the ninth grade.
_(4) A student who initially entered the seventh or eighth grade the current school year and is too old for seventh or eighth grade participation may participate according to age, that is, seventh graders on the eighth grade, ninth grade, high school junior varsity or high school varsity team, and eighth graders on the ninth grade, high school junior varsity, or high school varsity team.
___(A) Four Consecutive Years. A student has only four consecutive calendar years to complete high school varsity eligibility. Exception: See Section 463.
___(B) Athletic Class. Overage junior high school students who have reached their 15th birthday on or before September 1 of that school year may be assigned to high school athletic periods if they are participating with the high school sub-varsity or varsity. Otherwise seventh and eighth grade students remain in their junior high school athletic class throughout the school year.
___(C) Full Participation Allowed. Only seventh and eighth grade students who are too old to represent the eighth grade team may participate on the high school’s athletic team. Overage junior high school students who participate with a high school ninth grade, sub-varsity or varsity team, may participate fully under the rules for high school athletes in that sport, including, but not limited to, rules governing number of games, post-season games, etc.
won't bore you with the high school age limit ... again, nothing about being too young, only too old.
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Post by coachcoyote on May 9, 2008 0:19:42 GMT -6
Are you sure the age limit isn't just for playing on Varsity?
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Post by coachcoyote on May 9, 2008 0:20:40 GMT -6
OOPS!! Didn't read it completely. Sorry.
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Post by wingtol on May 9, 2008 5:14:39 GMT -6
None I know of in PA, your in 9th grade you can play varsity. Of course they have the rule for being to old, but nothing I know of for 9th grade.
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Post by fbdoc on May 9, 2008 6:25:56 GMT -6
Florida has no minimum age rule to play varsity. We have had a few 8th graders that were able top play (limited action ) at the varsity level at our school over the years.
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Post by phantom on May 9, 2008 6:27:25 GMT -6
Virginia-no minimum age.
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Post by knighter on May 9, 2008 9:16:49 GMT -6
Iowa- freshman regardless of age may play at any level of HS ball.
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Post by poweriguy on May 9, 2008 11:33:11 GMT -6
Must be a California thing, our section, i believe, has the same rule. 15 to play varsity.
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Post by safetycoach34 on May 9, 2008 11:51:19 GMT -6
Here in NCS(my section in nor Cal) they have a mimimum age rule for football. You cant play varsity til you are 15 no matter what grade you are in. We have a great freshman QB (going to be a sophomore) who will be 14 for our first 6 games of the season. He is legit, size arm strength, athleticism and intelligent. but according to the rules here he cant play til his 15th birthday. There is no appeal process to this. The only way i can see him being able to get onto the field is if his father threatens to sue. I want to know which states have and do not have a minimum age requirement to play varsity football. Please post your state and if there is or is not a minimum age requirement. If there is please list the minimum age Thanks for all your help, i appreciate it very much Do you see a lot of people holding their kids back to make sure that they are not affectd by this rule. I think that may be something a lot of partents would look into my son wont be 15 until after football seasons so hold him back to make sure he can play varsity 3 years if he has the ability |
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Post by cqmiller on May 9, 2008 11:55:46 GMT -6
Here in NCS(my section in nor Cal) they have a mimimum age rule for football. You cant play varsity til you are 15 no matter what grade you are in. We have a great freshman QB (going to be a sophomore) who will be 14 for our first 6 games of the season. He is legit, size arm strength, athleticism and intelligent. but according to the rules here he cant play til his 15th birthday. There is no appeal process to this. The only way i can see him being able to get onto the field is if his father threatens to sue. I want to know which states have and do not have a minimum age requirement to play varsity football. Please post your state and if there is or is not a minimum age requirement. If there is please list the minimum age Thanks for all your help, i appreciate it very much I thought that they just changed it... I know that we had a problem with it last year because one of our best LB turned 15 like 2 weeks after the season... I thought it was changed, but maybe just by the CIF (Central Cali)... Good luck with that. |
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Post by senatorblutarsky on May 9, 2008 13:29:09 GMT -6
I want to know which states have and do not have a minimum age requirement to play varsity football.
Please post your state and if there is or is not a minimum age requirement. If there is please list the minimum age
Thanks for all your help, i appreciate it very much
Nebraska- no age limit, but must be in HS. The exception is if the student will turn 19 in August before his 7th semester he/she may play varsity while in JH (or in theory, while in elementary school... if it is a 15 year old 6th grader)... basically once they are 15 in August, regardless of grade, they may play HS sports).
Since we are on the South Dakota border, I know that an athlete in SD may begin to play on the HS teams as 8th graders (possibly 7th grade, though we've never played any teams with 7th graders; we've played several in basketball who have played 8th graders). If we could do that, I'd have at least 2 8th graders who would see time for us next year.
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Post by the1mitch on May 9, 2008 14:54:46 GMT -6
Washington has no language for minimum age, just maximums
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Post by phantom on May 9, 2008 15:08:33 GMT -6
It occurs to me that this rule would have cost me half of my high school career, such as it was. My birthday is in late November. I was on the borderline of whether I could or couldn't start Kindergarten. I didn't turn 15 until after the football season was over in my sophomore year.
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barnone
Sophomore Member
Posts: 132
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Post by barnone on May 9, 2008 15:18:37 GMT -6
Oklahoma no age limit that I am aware of. You are a freshman you can play varsity ball.
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ramsoc
Junior Member
Posts: 431
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Post by ramsoc on May 9, 2008 17:45:49 GMT -6
CCS (CA) -same rule, probably a CIF rule.
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Post by lionhart on May 9, 2008 18:32:02 GMT -6
new jersey, no minimum age requirement
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coachwoody
Freshmen Member
Gotta love it!!!
Posts: 45
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Post by coachwoody on May 9, 2008 18:51:21 GMT -6
No minimum age limit in Louisiana and as long as you are under the same roof and principal you can play varsity football no matter what grade you are in. If you had a 16 year old 6th grader that was under the same principal as the high school then he could play on the varsity HS team.
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coachmpope
Sophomore Member
"QUIT TALKIN...LET'S PLAY BALL!"
Posts: 145
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Post by coachmpope on May 9, 2008 19:41:25 GMT -6
IN SOUTH CAROLINA YOU MUST BE A NINTH GRADER TO PLAY VARSITY FOOTBALL, SOCCER OR WRESTLING. MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS HAVE A MAXIMUM AGE LIMIT OF 15 YEARS OLD AND YOU MUST NO TURN 19 BEFORE MAY 1ST BEFORE THE SEASON YOUR LAST YEAR. MIDDLE SCHOOLERS CAN PLAY JV FOOTBALL, WRESTLING AND SOCCER IN ALL THE OTHER SPORTS YOU CAN PLAY VARSITY AFTER ENTERING THE 7TH GRADE.
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Post by coachdjenkins on May 9, 2008 21:54:55 GMT -6
Louisiana - Lutcher High (7-12)
We had a 13 year old 8th grader rush for 100 yards in a game prior to his 14th birthday. Finished the season with 550+ and 10 TDs on 60 carries. AAA Quarterfinalist in 2007
Rule is the middle school must be under the same principal.
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Post by coachmoore42 on May 10, 2008 8:24:07 GMT -6
Georgia - 9th grade and up have no restrictions on the number of games allowed. 8th grade can play 60% of the varsity schedule (6 games here in Georgia, playoff games don't count). No one under 8th grade can play HS sports.
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Post by poweriguy on May 10, 2008 10:35:15 GMT -6
Here in NCS(my section in nor Cal) they have a mimimum age rule for football. You cant play varsity til you are 15 no matter what grade you are in. We have a great freshman QB (going to be a sophomore) who will be 14 for our first 6 games of the season. He is legit, size arm strength, athleticism and intelligent. but according to the rules here he cant play til his 15th birthday. There is no appeal process to this. The only way i can see him being able to get onto the field is if his father threatens to sue. I want to know which states have and do not have a minimum age requirement to play varsity football. Please post your state and if there is or is not a minimum age requirement. If there is please list the minimum age Thanks for all your help, i appreciate it very much I thought that they just changed it... I know that we had a problem with it last year because one of our best LB turned 15 like 2 weeks after the season... I thought it was changed, but maybe just by the CIF (Central Cali)... Good luck with that. From the CIF Central Section Bylaws: www.cifcs.org/ConstitutionandBylaws/bylaws19.htmARTICLE 19
FOOTBALL
1900. AGE REQUIREMENT
A student under 15 years of age may not participate in an interscholastic contest or scrimmage against the varsity team of another school unless the following criteria have been met for a student aged 14 years or older. Fourteen (14) year old student athletes may be allowed to compete at the varsity level by the principal provided the following conditions have been met:
A. Participant must be at least 14 years of age;
B. A letter of file from a licensed medical doctor that the student is able to compete at the varsity level.
C. Signed consent form from the parents allowing participation at the varsity level.
D. A statement from the coach that the student athlete has the physical and mental maturity to compete at the varsity level.
E. A statement of compliance by the principal must be forwarded to the respective section office verifying that all required documentation has been completed and is on file in the appropriate school office.
(Revised May 2004 Federated Council).1900A. The Central Section has not adopt the waiver of the 15 year age rule. |
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Post by midlineqb on May 10, 2008 22:51:35 GMT -6
In Kansas there is no age limit per se as long as they are at least a freshman in HS.
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brmurf
Freshmen Member
Posts: 93
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Post by brmurf on May 11, 2008 7:47:29 GMT -6
No age req in Tn
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Post by Coach Klemme on May 13, 2008 11:13:11 GMT -6
MN anyone 7-12 is ok to play at varsity level. Same in South Dakota.
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Post by coachbdud on May 13, 2008 14:48:46 GMT -6
ok so from what i can gather in every other state you can play varsity as long as you are in HS, in some states even middle school.
Do you think that if they kid lawyers up he has a realistic chance of being able to be cleared to play?
What would the kid/his father/myself have to do
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Post by cqmiller on May 13, 2008 15:30:06 GMT -6
I thought that they just changed it... I know that we had a problem with it last year because one of our best LB turned 15 like 2 weeks after the season... I thought it was changed, but maybe just by the CIF (Central Cali)... Good luck with that. From the CIF Central Section Bylaws: www.cifcs.org/ConstitutionandBylaws/bylaws19.htmARTICLE 19
FOOTBALL
1900. AGE REQUIREMENT
A student under 15 years of age may not participate in an interscholastic contest or scrimmage against the varsity team of another school unless the following criteria have been met for a student aged 14 years or older. Fourteen (14) year old student athletes may be allowed to compete at the varsity level by the principal provided the following conditions have been met:
A. Participant must be at least 14 years of age;
B. A letter of file from a licensed medical doctor that the student is able to compete at the varsity level.
C. Signed consent form from the parents allowing participation at the varsity level.
D. A statement from the coach that the student athlete has the physical and mental maturity to compete at the varsity level.
E. A statement of compliance by the principal must be forwarded to the respective section office verifying that all required documentation has been completed and is on file in the appropriate school office.
(Revised May 2004 Federated Council).1900A. The Central Section has not adopt the waiver of the 15 year age rule.Our HC thought they had changed it... We'll have to check with the AD |
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Post by senatorblutarsky on May 13, 2008 15:41:47 GMT -6
Do you think that if they kid lawyers up he has a realistic chance of being able to be cleared to play?
What would the kid/his father/myself have to do
I can not say for sure... but I would hope not. This is not anything against you (or anyone), but there is a process for change in state associations... one of the negatives is that generally one would need to implement change 1-2 years in advance of the particular situation.
Back in Feb. I testified at the state legislature in opposition of a bill that would allow high school athletes to compete on club teams during the HS season (in other words, I was on the side of our state association). The bill was brought forth by swimmers and their parents (and they had some support from tennis and soccer parents as well). In this particular case, I could care less if a swimmer wants to be on a club team during the HS season... let them do it... fine by me. However, this bill was way too broad and allowed for too many abuses (which would eventually occur)... small school athletics (and thus small schools) would eventually die off.
Now if these families wanted their swimmers to be allowed dual participation, they should have gone through channels- have any AD present it at a meeting where their specific proposal could be proposed, voted on and then accepted or rejected. I am not sure how it works in CA, but I would guess it is similar to here (NE). If their proposal is rejected, then they could explore other avenues, including law. (Though I HIGHLY doubt that a rational, well thought out proposal would be rejected.) This group could have easily passed their proposal if they would have limited their target to "swimmers". I bring this up, because I see allowing high school students (regardless of age - up to a certain point) to play high school football seems very reasonable.
Generally state associations (or in this case, sectional) have rules in place that were instituted by coaches/ADs. There was a reason this rule was put in to place (safety, ensure proper development of young adults, concern by a coach that a rival had a 6'2 250# 4.3 runnin' 13 year old stud he didn't want to face for 6 years...etc.)...and there are probably more reasons to repeal this rule than there are/were to maintain it. Still, when you go over the head of your state (or section) and let the state congress (or lawyers) interfere... it becomes one of those "be careful what you wish for... you might get it" scenarios. Once a state association loses its authoritative power to self govern, then any issue becomes subject to court or legislative intervention (including eligibility issues, recruiting/transfer issues, game and practice regulations, etc.)
What I would recommend is talk to 1) your AD (or whoever represents your district) and talk to your sectional football administrator... most of the time they have no specific agenda... other than to uphold the rules the coaches/ADs made in the first place. This does sound like a ridiculous policy... and perhaps it can be changed in some kind of executive meeting (we have a board of control that is made up from one representative of each region, and they can implement proposals after the voting, which in our case is in mid January). My guess though is if you go this route, the best you can hope for it a change that will take place in the 2009-10 school year.
Good Luck.
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