GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION VOL. 110 NUMBER 1 CONSTITUTION and BY-LAWS 2016-2017 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 2016-2017 7/25/16 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) Aug. 19 10 (7 JV) Nov. 5 Nov. 5 Nov. 11-12 Nov. 18-19 Nov. 25-26 Dec. 2-3 Dec. 9-10 Feb. 1 or later (Spring) CHEERLEADING Aug. 1 Aug. 6 6 (4 JV) Nov. 4 Nov. 5 Nov. 5 Nov. 11 Nov. 12 Feb. 1 or later (Spring) (Class A & Coed) (Coed & A Finals) SOFTBALL (FP) Aug. 1 Aug. 5 26 (18 JV) Oct. 8 Oct. 8 Oct. 12-13 Oct. 19-20 Oct. 27-28 Oct. 29 SOFTBALL (SP) Feb. 20 Feb. 25 16 April 8 April 8 April 14-15 April 22 VOLLEYBALL Aug. 1 Aug. 5 18 (13 JV) Dates Oct. 8 Oct. 8 Oct. 12-13 Oct. 18 (AA 1st Rnd) Oct. 22 Oct. 26 Oct. 29 CROSS COUNTRY Aug. 1 Aug. 8 10 (7 JV) Dates Oct. 29 Oct. 29 Nov. 4-5 ONE ACT PLAYS Aug. 1 Aug. 5 – Oct. 29 Oct. 29 Nov. 5 & Nov. 12 LITERARY Aug. 1 Aug. 5 – March 7 March 7 March 18 RIFLERY Aug. 1 Oct. 3 – March 25 March 25 April 1 April 12 April 22 SWIMMING Oct. 17 Oct. 31 10 (7 JV) Feb. 2-4 BASKETBALL Oct. 31 Nov. 12 25 (18 JV) Feb. 11 Feb. 11 Feb. 17-18 Feb. 24-25 March 2-3 March 4 March 8-11 WRESTLING Oct. 24 Nov. 11 20 (14 JV) Dates Jan. 26 Du - By Jan. 7 Du - Jan. 12-14 Tr - Jan. 27-28 Tr - Feb. 3-4 Tr - Feb. 9-11 GYMNASTICS Jan. 9 Jan. 30 10 (7 JV) April 13 April 15 April 21 TENNIS Jan. 9 Jan. 30 18 (13 JV) April 15 April 15 By April 20 By April 25 By April 29 By May 2 May 6 (Class A Areas) (Class A 1st Round) SOCCER Jan. 16 Feb. 6 18 (13 JV) April 22 April 20 April 25-28 May 2-3 May 5-6 May 9 May 12-13 TRACK - Girls Jan. 16 Feb. 6 10 (7 JV) April 22 April 22 April 29 May 4-6 TRACK - Boys Jan. 16 Feb. 6 10 (7 JV) April 22 April 22 April 29 May 11-13 BASEBALL Jan. 16 Feb. 13 30 (21 JV) April 22 April 22 April 28-29 May 4-5 May 10-11 May 17-18 May 25-27 LACROSSE Jan. 23 Feb. 13 18 (13 JV) April 29 April 29 May 2-4 May 8-9 May 12 May 17 May 20 (6A-7A only) (May 6 in A-5A) (May 10 in A-5A) (May 13 in A-5A) GOLF Feb. 13 Feb. 18 12 (8 JV) Dates May 9 May 9 May 22-23 NOTE: 2017 "DEAD" WEEK: Sunday, July 2 through Saturday, July 8, 2017 GHSA DEADLINE DATES - 2016-17 Due Date Material to be Submitted Sent To July 25, 2016 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Football GHSA August 1 , 2016 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Cheerleading GHSA August 1 , 2016 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Cross Country GHSA August 1 , 2016 Initial Eligibility Report Due - One Act Play GHSA August 1 , 2016 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Literary GHSA August 1 , 2016 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Riflery GHSA August 1 , 2016 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Fast Pitch Softball GHSA August 1 , 2016 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Volleyball GHSA August 1 , 2016 Directory & Pass Information Due (Post Electronically) GHSA September 9, 2016 Final Date to Withdraw from Coed Cheerleading GHSA September 21, 2016 Notification of Entry - Cross Country Region Secretary October 1 , 2016 Notice of Entry - Cheerleading (Post Rosters Electronically) GHSA/Reg. Sec. October 1 , 2016 Notification of Entry - One Act Play Region Secretary October 15, 2016 Membership Dues Form & Payment Deadline GHSA October 17, 2016 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Swimming GHSA October 21, 2016 Contestants List - Cross Country (Post Electronically) Meet Director October 24, 2016 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Wrestling GHSA October 31, 2016 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Basketball GHSA January 9, 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Gymnastics GHSA January 9, 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Tennis GHSA January 16, 2017 Swim & Diving Entry Form Host Site January 16, 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Soccer GHSA January 16, 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Boys & Girls Track GHSA January 16, 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Baseball GHSA January 23, 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Lacrosse GHSA January 30, 2017 Contestants List for Literary Competition Region Secretary February 13, 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Golf GHSA February 20, 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Slow Pitch Softball GHSA March 1 , 2017 Football Schedules Due GHSA April 1 , 2017 Participation Survey GHSA April 1 , 2017 Notice of Intent to Enter Volleyball, Wrestling, Riflery, Lacrosse, Gymnastics, Slow Pitch SB & A Soccer (2017-18) GHSA April 30, 2017 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 Students ........................................................................ 19 By-Law 1.70 - Recruiting / Undue Influence ............................................................................................................... 21 By-Law 1.80 - Financial Aid .......................................................................................................................................... 22 By-Law 1.90 - Amateur Status / Awards ...................................................................................................................... 23 INTERPRETATIONS, Section 1.00 ............................................................................................................................. 23 BY-LAW SECTION 2.00 - SCHOOL .......................................................................................................................................... 32 By-Law 2.10 - School Membership to GHSA .............................................................................................................. 32 By-Law 2.20 - Administrative Responsibilities .......................................................................................................... 32 By-Law 2.30 - Eligibility Reports Filed By The School ............................................................................................. 33 By-Law 2.40 - Student Retention for Athletic Activities ........................................................................................... 34 By-Law 2.50 - Qualifications to Coach ........................................................................................................................ 34 By-Law 2.60 - Interscholastic Contests and Practices ............................................................................................... 35 By-Law 2.70 - Sportsmanship ....................................................................................................................................... 40 By-Law 2.80 - Media and Filming Regulations .......................................................................................................... 42 By-Law 2.90 - Regulations of Competitions ............................................................................................................... 44 INTERPRETATIONS, Section 2.00 ............................................................................................................................. 45 BY-LAW SECTION 3.00 - REGION ............................................................................................................................................ 48 By-Law 3.10 - Region Authority ................................................................................................................................... 48 By-Law 3.20 - Region Responsibilities to State Association .................................................................................... 49 By-Law 3.30 - Region Financial Obligations to State Association .......................................................................... 49 BY-LAW SECTION 4.00 - STATE ............................................................................................................................................... 49 By-Law 4.10 - GHSA Administrative Responsibilities to Member Schools ........................................................... 49 By-Law 4.20 - Reclassification......................................................................................................................................50