Eligibility Guidelines
Academics
- Grades: Each member team and/or program shall have standards to ensure that all participating players maintain at least a 2.0 GPA (on a 4-point scale) during the active season.
- HomeSchooled Continuously: Must be HomeSchooled continuously from the start of the school year. If a student started the year in school, they must request a Hardship Exemption.
Definition of a HomeSchool Student-Athlete
“Homeschooling” is defined by NCHC & THSSBC Member Organizations that a student’s education is parent-directed and done at home.
As such, the parents shall be directly involved in their child’s education, playing the role of the headmaster, thereby (1) selecting curriculum, (2) selecting and/or approving course materials and study schedules, & (3) selecting tutors, coop’s, teachers, dual enrollment options, &/or resources for their child’s education. HomeSchooling would also include a person of legal responsibility of the student filling the role of a parent.
Private and Public Schools
- Full-time enrollment in a traditional public or private school is not homeschooling because the child’s education in such schools is not parent-directed. A player that attends any type of school full-time is not eligible. Even if the school is small and does not offer sports, for part-time students at these types of schools, the student must maintain at least 51% of his/her education from classes that meet the homeschooling definition.
Vocational Classes
- A student may take classes at vocational schools as long as he/she maintains at least 51% of his education from classes that meet the homeschooling definition.
51% Rule (this does not apply to Dual Credit/Enrollment classes)
- For clarification purposes, a normal course load for a full-time student is six (6) core courses; therefore, if a student-athlete is taking more than three (3) courses at a public, private, or vocational, he/she is not considered 51% homeschooled (dual credit/enrollment classes are not counted against the student.)
Dual Credit/Enrollment Clause
- Freshman, Sophomore, & Junior HomeSchool Student-Athletes taking advantage of Dual Credit/Enrollment Programs are required to take three (3) High School Courses per semester. Senior HomeSchool Student-Athletes that are taking advantage of Dual Credit/Enrollment Programs are required to take a minimum of two (2) High School Courses per semester. High School Courses can be electives (like Physical Education, etc.). High School Courses can be taken through Co-Ops or any other eligible parent-directed definition.
Transfers under Disciplinary action
- Not Eligible. Any student who transfers from a public school, Christian/Private School, or another HomeSchool team and is under disciplinary action(s) must wait one (1) year before he/she is eligible to participate.
Age & Gender Requirements
Age Cut-Off Date: A student-athlete’s age for eligibility shall be determined by their age on August 1st. A player must be the specified age of the division OR YOUNGER on August 1st to be eligible for that age group for the entire season.
Age Division Limits:
| Division | Maximum Age (Must be this age or younger on August 1st) |
| 18U (Varsity) | 18 |
| 16U | 16 |
| 14U | 14 |
| 12U | 12 |
| 10U | 10 |
- Clarified Example: A player who is 16 years old on July 31st and turns 17 on August 1st is ineligible to play in the 16U division. This player must compete in the 18U divisio
- Playing ‘up’: Players are permitted to participate in one or more higher (older) age groups if desired. This will be by invitation only and at the discretion of the coach.
- Playing ‘Down’: Players are not permitted to participate in a younger age group for which they are age-ineligible on the August 1st cut-off date. No exceptions will be made for players attempting to play down due to skill level, team need, or family logistics.
- Multiple Age Groups at Events: Players may participate on multiple teams in different age groups at NCHC events, provided they meet the age eligibility requirement for each team they play on.
- Proof of age requirements: Players must be able to provide their birth certificate in the case of any disputes.
- Gender: A player is only eligible to play in the gender division that the player was born, as recorded on their original birth certificate.
Additonal Requirements
- Marriage: A player cannot be married.
- Attended School as a Senior: An upperclassman transfer that attended school as a Senior is not eligible.
- HomeSchooled Continuously: Must be HomeSchooled continuously from the start of the school year. If a student started the year in school, they must request a Hardship Exemption.
- Mile Radius: A player must live within a 100-mile radius of the team’s practice facility.
- Player Registration: All players attending an NCHC Event must have the NCHCLive.com player registration completed by their parents.
- Live at Home with Parents: A player must live at home with his/her parent or court-appointed legal guardian. In the case of foster children or other family hardships, an organization can seek a Hardship Exemption.
- Graduation Ceremony Participation: A player that has already participated in a graduation ceremony is not eligible to participate.
*This is NOT an exhaustive list of eligibility guidelines. WTXT may deny any player from participation in our program, if deemed necessary, for any reason.