NJSIAA GENERAL INFORMATION CONSTITUTION BY-LAWS RULES AND REGULATIONS 2020 - 2021 TEMPORARY RULE AMENDMENTS FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR The COVID-19 pandemic has required NJSIAA to make certain temporary amendments to the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations and general and sport-specific schedules for the 2020-2021 school year. Considering that the amendments only apply to this school year, the Handbook itself has not been updated to reflect the changes. A summary of the temporary changes (to the extent known at the time of publication of this Handbook) is provided below. The most up-to-date information and the full text of the temporary Bylaw amendments can be found on the NJSIAA website. The NJSIAA Executive Committee and its officers adopted the following temporary Bylaw amendments for this school year: (1) NJSIAA Bylaws, Article V, Section 4(K) Transfer Rule The COVID-19 pandemic has uprooted families across New Jersey. Therefore, NJSIAA has amended the Transfer Rule to modify the “bona fide change of residence” provision, as outlined below. Any student who transfers on or before September 1, for fall sports, or on or before November 1, for winter sports, will not be required to sit 30 days, or half the season, whichever is less. Any student that transfers after those dates will be subject to the sit-period. As the pandemic progressed into late summer, some member schools chose to cancel or postpone athletic programs. Because the focus of this season is participation, and not championships, NJSIAA further amended the transfer rule to clarify that a transfer for athletic advantage does not include a transfer made because the student’s school cancels or postpones an athletic program due to the pandemic. Additionally, with regard to some member schools cancelling athletic programs, the transfer rule applicable to Vo-Tech/Public Academy and Charter Schools has been revised. Clarifications 9 and 10 to NJSIAA Bylaws, Article V, Section 4(K) normally permit students attending Vo-Tech/Public Academy or Charter School students attending schools that do not offer a particular sport, to participate in that sport at his/her sending school upon agreement of both Principals. For the 2020-2021 school year, no such agreement by either schools’ Principal is required. (2) NJSIAA Bylaws, Article V, Section 4(E) Credits Rule – NJSIAA understands that, in a virtual setting, some student-athletes may face challenges to achieve the required number of credits to participate in athletics. These challenges include, but are not limited to, lack of access to technology and differing learning methods. To accommodate those student-athletes, NJSIAA has adopted a waiver protocol, to be completed by the student-athlete’s school principal, as outlined below. (3) NJSIAA Bylaws, Article III, Section 10 Cooperative Sports Programs – The Cooperative Sports Application deadlines have been relaxed to allow schools additional time to assess enrollment and participation numbers. Additionally, the dates set forth in NJSIAA Rules and Regulations, “Program Regulations,” pertaining to Sports Season Dates (Section 5); Start of Practice (Section 6); and Opening Dates (Section 8) and the sport-specific dates found in the Rules and Regulations will be modified for the 2020-2021 school year. Please refer to the Tournament Regulations posted on NJSIAA’s website, on the individual sports page, for current information in this regard. NJSIAA MISSION STATEMENT The NJSIAA, a private, voluntary Association is committed to serving all types of student-athletes, its member schools and related professional organizations by the administration of education-based interscholastic athletics, which support academic achievement, good citizenship, and fair and equitable opportunities. We believe that member schools, along with their leagues and conferences, share these convictions: • A safe and healthy playing environment is essential to our mission. • Participation in interscholastic athletics enhances the educational experience of all students. • Interscholastic athletics is a privilege. • Excellence in both academics and athletics is pursued by all. • Interscholastic participation develops good citizenship and healthy life-styles, fosters involvement of a diverse population and promotes positive school/community relations. • Rules promote fair play and minimize risk. • Cooperation among members advances their individual and collective well-being. • Training of administrators and coaches promotes the educational mission of the interscholastic experiences. • Properly trained officials/judges enhance interscholastic competition. • The NJSIAA is the recognized state authority on interscholastic athletic programs. IN MEMORIAM Former Executive Committee Members Chas. E. Lillis Everett L. Hebel George Henckel Joseph J. Vopelak Clarence L. Woodman Richard Mirshak Spencer M. Bennett David Broffman Phillips R. Brooks Sister Joan Companick Dr. A.G. Ireland Msgr. John P. McHugh E. Fred Moller Anthony Bocchieri I.B. Somerville Robert Dotti H.T. Irvine Joseph Clements Melvin T. Rahn Vito D’Orio G.A. Falzer August Bonanne O.F. Thompson James Van Zoeren Michael E. Maloney Herbert Palmer Wm. G. Ellis, Sr. Gerald Hopkins Dr. F.W. Maroney Bernice J. Davis Dr. Howard R. Best Jerome D. Greco Arthur G. Humphrey Abner West Earl MacArthur Allison King Granville V. Magee George M. Gurisic Frank McAlarnen Joseph T. Cancellieri Thomas R. Bristow Charlie Lee Charles O. Benson Jack Sweet Josiah Conwell William J. Palese Robert F. Duncan Art Shaare Albert “Chet” Redshaw Rev. William M Giblin Albert S. Kopf James Camburn Gerald Glisson Walter E. Short, Executive Secretary – Treasurer James G. Growney, Executive Director Joseph P. Porcaro, Assistant Director Roy Schleicher, Assistant Director Michael J. Herbert, Esq., Association Attorney Dr. Johnson Harmon, Project Manager Don Danser, Assistant Director TABLE OF CONTENTS General Information National Federation Membership ...........................................................................................................................1-7 Executive Committee Members .............................................................................................................................7-9 NJSIAA Administration & Staff/About NJSIAA ...............................................................................................10-13 Composition/Realignment of the Executive Committee ....................................................................................14-15 State Board of Education Rules & Regulations ................................................................................................. 16-26 Constitution Article I Name ......................................................................................................................................................... 27 Article II Objectives ................................................................................................................................................ 27 Article III Membership .......................................................................................................................................27-28 Article IV Finances ................................................................................................................................................. 28 Article V Administration ....................................................................................................................................28-30 Article VI Classification .......................................................................................................................................... 31 Article VII Eligibility .............................................................................................................................................. 31 Article VIII Annual Meeting ................................................................................................................................... 32 Article IX Championships ....................................................................................................................................... 32 Article X Sanctions ............................................................................................................................................32-33 Article XI Prohibitions ............................................................................................................................................ 33 Article XII Amendments ......................................................................................................................................... 34 Article XIII Effective Date ...................................................................................................................................... 34 Bylaws Article I Duties of Officers ...................................................................................................................................... 35 Article II Duties of Executive Committee ............................................................................................................... 36 Article III Classification of Member Schools / Cooperative Sports Programs ................................................... 37-42 Article IV Annual Dues ........................................................................................................................................... 42 Article V Eligibility of Athletes/Requirements ..................................................................................................42-56