Eligibility Rules for High School Soccer

Eligibility rules for high school soccer in the U.S. vary from state to state. Regulations have changed slightly over the years but student-athletes can expect to encounter roughly the same set of guidelines no matter where they go to school or what sport they play. Student-athletes must demonstrate their eligibility in order to play on a school's soccer team. Unauthorized participation or failure to comply with state regulations can result in penalties for student-athletes as well as their teams, coaches and school officials. As such, it's important for everyone involved to make sure all requirements are met as the start of the season approaches.

  1. Enrollment and Attendance

    • Schools generally enforce eligibility rules for enrollment and attendance. Students can only get eligibility to play soccer at a school in which they are enrolled full-time. Home-schooled students can also check with public schools in the district in which they reside to examine eligibility options. Once enrolled, students must attend class regularly to maintain eligibility. For example, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association has a rule stating that student-athletes who are absent from school for a total of 20 or more days per semester will lose their eligibility until they have been in attendance for a total of 45 school days following the suspension.

    Age and Amateur Status

    • High school soccer players must also prove that their age and amateur status are valid in order to participate. The cutoff age for participation in high school sports is generally 19. Both the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) have rules which stipulate that student-athletes must not have reached their 19th birthday by June 30 immediately preceding the school year. In addition to age requirements, athletes must also maintain their amateur status in order to play for their school's soccer team. In other words, student-athletes may not receive money, property or other incentives for their play. Receiving anything aside from small gifts of little monetary value or state-recognized awards for participation in school sports teams would effectively convert the athlete's status into that of a professional, thereby ruling him out for scholastic athletics.

    Academic and Curricular Requirements

    • High school soccer players must meet the academic and curricular requirements of their home state. Standards vary greatly by state. The Sport Journal cites sweeping discrepancies across state borders when it comes to scholastic athletics rules based on minimum grade point averages, maximum number of failing grades, minimum number of passing grades and the definition of a full-time curriculum. The responsibility falls to students, teachers and coaches to coordinate and communicate so that student-athletes can achieve excellence both on the field and in the classroom.

    Parental and Medical Consent

    • High school soccer players will have to turn in a certificate of parental consent to their principal with the signatures of their parents or legal guardians. State athletics associations also require that student-athletes pass a physical evaluation by a licensed medical doctor prior to participation in scholastic sports teams as a protective measure designed to keep youth with potentially dangerous health circumstances from exacerbating their condition.