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High School Eligible?
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 2:47 pm
by Hockeymom13
Some hockey mom's and I were discussing our sons future in HS hockey. Seems we have a disagreement on whether or not our son is eligible to transfer HS without having to sit out one year.
My son, who is in 9th grade this year, just finished his second year of Bantam hockey. He is enrolled at our local high school currently.
Since he didn't play hockey for our HS this year, can he change schools (public or private) and not have to sit out his sophomore year of hockey?
Thanks for your help, and as many details as possible.
Thank you so much!
Re: High School Eligible?
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 2:56 pm
by InYourFace09
Hockeymom13 wrote:Some hockey mom's and I were discussing our sons future in HS hockey. Seems we have a disagreement on whether or not our son is eligible to transfer HS without having to sit out one year.
My son, who is in 9th grade this year, just finished his second year of Bantam hockey. He is enrolled at our local high school currently.
Since he didn't play hockey for our HS this year, can he change schools (public or private) and not have to sit out his sophomore year of hockey?
Thanks for your help, and as many details as possible.
Thank you so much!
Regardless if he played HS hockey or not, he would not be elgible for Varsity sports the following year he chose a different HS. Now there are loopholes in having that yr of elgibility waived, but off of you example if he would just attend a diff HS next year with nothing else happening, he could play JV just not Varsity.
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 3:08 pm
by Bleed Maroon and Gold
I thought he would be able to transfer and still be able to play high school hockey as long as he did not play a varsity sport the previous year?
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 3:09 pm
by pioneers
If you move to the public school attendance area of the school you want to attend, he will not have to sit. If you transfer to a private school, you just need to move to a new residence and he can play. If you don't move, he would need to sit or I beleive he could play JV.
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 3:09 pm
by bemused
Bleed Maroon and Gold wrote:I thought he would be able to transfer and still be able to play high school hockey as long as he did not play a varsity sport the previous year?
Nope
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 4:01 pm
by urban iceman
How about if a player leaves school their junior year and goes to another state and plays club hockey, (midgetAAA), Can they return to school and play the senior season?
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 4:26 pm
by goldy313
Not in less his parents changed residence. There have been a few kids caught up in that the past few years.
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 4:38 pm
by Roy01
I thought there was an appeal process for eligibility?
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 4:43 pm
by observer
Must be a student for 9th grade at the school where he'd like to play hockey.
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 5:01 pm
by HShockeywatcher
Can a student attend a private school and play for the public school whose attendance zone they live in?
Or OE in one school and play sports at a different one?
I know there used to be some weird rules with private schools, but they seem to be gone, so thought I'd see if anyone knows.
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 5:53 pm
by slacsap
Believe it or not, he could transfer to another school and play varsity for his old school and then be eligible to play varsity at his new school the following year. Does that make any sense at all?
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:34 pm
by HShockeywatcher
slacsap wrote:Believe it or not, he could transfer to another school and play varsity for his old school and then be eligible to play varsity at his new school the following year. Does that make any sense at all?
Seriously?

Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:49 pm
by old goalie85
What if 9th graders go to a separate JR high? Does that matter ??
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:08 pm
by Tigers33
This gets discussed every other month. Its not that difficult people...Once the kid starts his 9th grade year, he is then obligated to play hockey for that high school.
UNLESS the family moves to another school district then he is required to play for the new school. Without moving he is forced to play at the school he began his 9th grade season.
Former Spud Leabo Eligibility
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 10:02 pm
by RRubberbeeskit
Former Spud T Leabo was a Fargo, ND resident until his parents gave parental rights to his older adult sister who had a place of residence in Moorhead making him eligible to play for the Spuds. I believe this happened his sophmore year.
I recall reading an arcticle in the Fargo Forum last winter about his situation.
As I recall some Moorhead parents were upset about this and hired an attorney to investigate his eligibility as they were supposedly concerned with the Spuds having an ineligible player. The coach and school admin had already done the homework but it must not have been up to the standards of the " secret group of parents" that hired the attorney. Leabo was eligible until he graduated last year from Moorhead.
Another Option

Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 10:35 pm
by HShockeywatcher
Tigers33 wrote:This gets discussed every other month. Its not that difficult people...Once the kid starts his 9th grade year, he is then obligated to play hockey for that high school.
UNLESS the family moves to another school district then he is required to play for the new school. Without moving he is forced to play at the school he began his 9th grade season.
The discussion seems to also be about non-waiver "exceptions" to the rule. I think the places (I know of Burnsville) where the high school starts in 10th grade are an interesting discussion point.
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 7:55 am
by Zamman
If they go from a private to a their residence public there is an appeal process for a hardship waiver. But do not try this for going from private to private.....will not work.
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:11 am
by MrBoDangles
Is an 8th grader that already plays varsity able to switch to another program without sitting out a year?
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:36 am
by Zamman
I have to say yes, because the rule states 9th grade.
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 11:19 am
by Hockeymom13
Thank you for the information. You all have raised more variables than we could have imagined.
If I can summarize:
My son, who is in 9th grade having just finished his 2nd year of Bantams, but hasn't played jv or varsity hockey for his school, is only eligible to play varsity hockey next year at the high school he is currently attending.
If he enrolls next year at a private school or switches public schools with no move by his parents (no chance), he will only be eligible to play JV at that school for his sophomore season.
Thank you all so much, my head hurts, by I think I understand now.
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 11:25 am
by Tigers33
What are you fishing for??
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 12:28 pm
by goldy313
Hockeymom13 wrote:Thank you for the information. You all have raised more variables than we could have imagined.
If I can summarize:
My son, who is in 9th grade having just finished his 2nd year of Bantams, but hasn't played jv or varsity hockey for his school, is only eligible to play varsity hockey next year at the high school he is currently attending.
If he enrolls next year at a private school or switches public schools with no move by his parents (no chance), he will only be eligible to play JV at that school for his sophomore season.
Thank you all so much, my head hurts, by I think I understand now.
Even though I beliieve what you you just posted is wouldn't it have been easier to just call the Athletic office at your sons school?
By the way you should do that anyway if you're thinking about transferring or even moving just to be sure.
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 1:26 pm
by urban iceman
urban iceman wrote:How about if a player leaves school their junior year and goes to another state and plays club hockey, (midgetAAA), Can they return to school and play the senior season?
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 1:29 pm
by RonBurgandy
Zamman wrote:If they go from a private to a their residence public there is an appeal process for a hardship waiver. But do not try this for going from private to private.....will not work.
Unless of course one private is 42K per year and the other is 7K per year...and the player's parents have a great lawyer.
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 2:00 pm
by hockeydad
Another exception if considering a move to a private school - He can be eligible immediately if the family moves out of the school district or school attendance area in which they currently live.... Doesn't have to move into any particular area, just out of the school area they live in.