GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION VOL. 112 NUMBER 1 CONSTITUTION and BY-LAWS 2018-2019 A Member of the National Federation of State High School Associations P.O. Box 271 151 South Bethel Street Thomaston, Georgia 30286-0004 706-647-7473 FAX 706-647-2638 www.ghsa.net GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION Revised BEGINNING AND ENDING DATES FOR 2018-2019 7/17/18 DATE FOR FIRST FIRST MAXIMUM LAST GHSA STATE PLAYOFF DATES AREA/REGION ACTIVITY PRACTICE CONTEST GAMES/DATES PLAY DATE First Round/ Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals QUALIFIERS Sectionals DETERMINED FOOTBALL July 25 (Conditioning) Feb. 1 or later (Spring) Aug. 17 10 (7 JV) Nov. 3 Nov. 3 Nov. 9-10 Nov. 16-17 Nov. 23-24 Nov. 30-Dec. 1 Dec. 7-8 CHEERLEADING July 30 Aug. 4 6 (4 JV) Oct. 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 3 Nov. 9 Nov. 10 Feb. 1 or later (Spring) (Class A & Coed) (Coed & A Finals) (2A through 7A) SOFTBALL (FP) July 30 Aug. 3 26 (18 JV) Oct. 6 Oct. 6 Oct. 10-12 Oct. 17-19 Oct. 25-26 Oct. 27 SOFTBALL (SP) Feb. 18 Feb. 23 16 March 30 March 30 April 3-4 April 10-11 VOLLEYBALL July 30 Aug. 6 18 (13 JV) Dates Oct. 13 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 23-24 Oct. 27 Oct. 30 Nov. 3 CROSS COUNTRY July 30 Aug. 6 10 (7 JV) Dates Oct. 27 Oct. 27 Nov. 2-3 ONE ACT PLAYS July 30 Aug. 3 – Oct. 27 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 & Nov. 10 LITERARY July 30 Aug. 3 – March 5 March 5 March 16 RIFLERY July 30 Oct. 29 – March 16 March 16 March 30 April 13 April 27 SWIMMING Oct. 15 Oct. 29 10 (7 JV) Feb. 7-9 BASKETBALL Oct. 22 Nov. 10 25 (18 JV) Feb. 9 Feb. 9 Feb. 15-16 Feb. 20-21 Feb. 26-27 March 1-2 March 6-9 WRESTLING Oct. 22 Nov. 9 20 (14 JV) Dates Feb. 2 Du - Jan. 11-12 Du - Jan. 17-19 Tr - Feb. 1-2 Tr - Feb. 8-9 Tr - Feb. 13-16 GYMNASTICS Jan. 7 Jan. 28 10 (7 JV) April 19 April 27 May 3 TENNIS Jan. 7 Jan. 28 18 (13 JV) April 13 April 13 By April 18 By April 23 By April 27 By April 30 May 4 (Class A Areas) (Class A 1st Round) SOCCER Jan. 14 Feb. 4 18 (13 JV) April 18 April 18 April 23-26 May 1-2 May 7-8 May 14 May 16-18 (Class A Semis) TRACK Jan. 14 Feb. 4 10 (7 JV) April 27 April 27 May 4 May 9-11 BASEBALL Jan. 14 Feb. 11 30 (21 JV) April 20 April 20 April 24-26 May 2-3 May 8-9 May 14-15 May 20-22 LACROSSE Jan. 21 Feb. 11 18 (13 JV) April 27 April 27 May 1-2 May 6-7 May 9-10 May 14-15 May 18 GOLF Feb. 11 Feb. 16 12 (8 JV) Dates May 7 May 7 May 20-21 NOTE: 2019 "DEAD" WEEK: Sunday, June 30 through Saturday, July 6, 2019 – the GHSA Office is closed. GHSA DEADLINE DATES - 2018-19 Due Date Material to be Submitted Sent To July 25, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Football GHSA July 30, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Cheerleading GHSA July 30, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Cross Country GHSA July 30, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - One Act Play GHSA July 30, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Literary GHSA July 30, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Riflery GHSA July 30, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Fast Pitch Softball GHSA July 30, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Volleyball GHSA August 1, 2018 Directory & Pass Information Due (Post Electronically) GHSA October 1, 2018 Final Date to Withdraw from Coed Cheerleading GHSA October 1, 2018 Notice of Entry - Cheerleading (Post Rosters Electronically) GHSA/Reg. Sec. October 1, 2018 Notification of Entry - One Act Play Region Secretary October 15, 2018 Membership Dues Form & Payment Deadline GHSA October 15, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Swimming GHSA October 19, 2018 Contestants List - Cross Country (Post Electronically) Meet Director October 22, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Wrestling GHSA October 22, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Basketball GHSA January 7, 2019 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Gymnastics GHSA January 7, 2019 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Tennis GHSA January 14, 2019 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Soccer GHSA January 14, 2019 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Boys & Girls Track GHSA January 14, 2019 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Baseball GHSA January 21, 2019 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Lacrosse GHSA February 1, 2019 Contestants List for Literary Competition Region Secretary February 11, 2019 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Golf GHSA February 18, 2019 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Slow Pitch Softball GHSA March 1 , 2019 Football Schedules Due GHSA April 1 , 2019 Participation Survey GHSA April 1 , 2019 Notice of Intent to Enter Volleyball, Wrestling, Riflery, Lacrosse, Gymnastics, Slow Pitch SB & A Soccer (2019-20) GHSA April 29, 2019 Golf Rosters Due (Boys and Girls) (Post Electronically) Region Secretary End Regular Season Contestants List - Boys & Girls Track Region Secretary End Regular Season Team Tennis Roster Region Secretary TABLE OF CONTENTS GHSA CONSTITUTION.................................................................................................................................................................7 BY-LAW SECTION 1.00 - STUDENT..........................................................................................................................................14 By-Law 1.10 - Certification of Eligibility....................................................................................................................14 By-Law 1.20 - Enrollment and Team Membership.....................................................................................................14 By-Law 1.30 - Age...........................................................................................................................................................15 By-Law 1.40 - Limits of Participation...........................................................................................................................15 By-Law 1.50 - Scholastic Standing / Scholarship.........................................................................................16 By-Law 1.60 - School Service Areas / Transfer / Migrant Student..........................................................................19 By-Law 1.70 - Recruiting / Undue Influence...........................................................................................................22 By-Law 1.80 - Financial Aid..........................................................................................................................................22 By-Law 1.90 - Amateur Status / Awards.......................................................................................................................23 BY-LAW SECTION 2.00 - SCHOOL...........................................................................................................................................23 By-Law 2.10 - School Membership to GHSA..............................................................................................................23 By-Law 2.20 - Administrative Responsibilities...........................................................................................................24 By-Law 2.30 - Eligibility Reports Filed By The School.............................................................................................25 By-Law 2.40 - Student Retention for Athletic Activities............................................................................................26 By-Law 2.50 - Qualifications to Coach........................................................................................................................26 By-Law 2.60 - Interscholastic Contests and Practices................................................................................................27 By-Law 2.70 - Sportsmanship........................................................................................................................................32 By-Law 2.80 - Media and Filming Regulations...........................................................................................................35 By-Law 2.90 - Regulations of Competitions................................................................................................................36 BY-LAW SECTION 3.00 - REGION.............................................................................................................................................38 By-Law 3.10 - Region Authority....................................................................................................................................38 By-Law 3.20 - Region Responsibilities to State Association.....................................................................................38 By-Law 3.30 - Region Financial Obligations to State Association...........................................................................38 BY-LAW SECTION 4.00 - STATE................................................................................................................................................38 By-Law 4.10 - GHSA Administrative Responsibilities to Member Schools............................................................38 By-Law 4.20 - Reclassification......................................................................................................................................39 By-Law 4.30 - State Association Contest / Event Responsibilites.............................................................................42 By-Law 4.40 - State Passes to GHSA Events...............................................................................................................43 By-Law 4.50 - Certification of Athletic Officials........................................................................................................44 By-Law 4.60 - Special GHSA Policies..........................................................................................................................45