GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION VOL. 111 NUMBER 1 CONSTITUTION and BY-LAWS 2017-2018 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 2017-2018 7/13/17 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. 18 10 (7 JV) Nov. 4 Nov. 4 Nov. 10-11 Nov. 17-18 Nov. 24-25 Dec. 1-2 Dec. 8-9 CHEERLEADING Aug. 1 Aug. 5 6 (4 JV) Nov. 3 Nov. 4 Nov. 4 Nov. 10 Nov. 11 Feb. 1 or later (Spring) (Class A & Coed) (Coed & A Finals) SOFTBALL (FP) Aug. 1 Aug. 4 26 (18 JV) Oct. 7 Oct. 7 Oct. 11-14 Oct. 18-19 Oct. 26-27 Oct. 28 SOFTBALL (SP) Feb. 19 Feb. 24 16 March 31 March 31 April 6-7 April 14 VOLLEYBALL Aug. 1 Aug. 4 18 (13 JV) Dates Oct. 7 Oct. 7 Oct. 11-12 Oct. 17 (AA 1st Rnd) Oct. 21 Oct. 25 Oct. 28 CROSS COUNTRY Aug. 1 Aug. 7 10 (7 JV) Dates Oct. 28 Oct. 28 Nov. 3-4 ONE ACT PLAYS Aug. 1 Aug. 4 – Oct. 28 Oct. 28 Nov. 4 & Nov. 11 LITERARY Aug. 1 Aug. 4 – March 6 March 6 March 17 RIFLERY Aug. 1 Oct. 30 – March 17 March 17 March 31 April 14 April 28 SWIMMING Oct. 16 Oct. 30 10 (7 JV) Feb. 1-3 BASKETBALL Oct. 30 Nov. 11 25 (18 JV) Feb. 10 Feb. 10 Feb. 16-17 Feb. 21-22 Feb. 27-28 March 3 March 7-10 WRESTLING Oct. 23 Nov. 10 20 (14 JV) Dates Jan. 26 Du - By Jan. 6 Du - Jan. 11-13 Tr - Jan. 26-27 Tr - Feb. 2-3 Tr - Feb. 8-10 GYMNASTICS Jan. 8 Jan. 29 10 (7 JV) April 12 April 14 April 21 TENNIS Jan. 8 Jan. 29 18 (13 JV) April 14 April 14 By April 20 By April 26 By May 2 By May 8 May 12 (Class A Areas) (Class A 1st Round) SOCCER Jan. 15 Feb. 5 18 (13 JV) April 21 April 19 April 24-27 May 1-2 May 4-5 May 8 May 11-12 TRACK Girls & Boys Jan. 15 Feb. 5 10 (7 JV) April 21 April 21 April 28 May 10-12 BASEBALL Jan. 15 Feb. 12 30 (21 JV) April 21 April 21 April 26-27 May 3-4 May 9-10 May 15-16 May 21-23 LACROSSE Jan. 22 Feb. 12 18 (13 JV) April 28 April 28 May 1-3 May 7-8 May 11 May 16 May 19 (6A-7A only) (May 5 in A-5A) (May 9 in A-5A) (May 12 in A-5A) GOLF Feb. 12 Feb. 17 12 (8 JV) Dates May 8 May 8 May 21-22 NOTE: 2018 "DEAD" WEEK: Sunday, July 1 through Saturday, July 7, 2018 – GHSA Office closed. GHSA DEADLINE DATES - 2017-18 Due Date Material to be Submitted Sent To July 25, 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Football GHSA August 1 , 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Cheerleading GHSA August 1 , 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Cross Country GHSA August 1 , 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - One Act Play GHSA August 1 , 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Literary GHSA August 1 , 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Riflery GHSA August 1 , 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Fast Pitch Softball GHSA August 1 , 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Volleyball GHSA August 1 , 2017 Directory & Pass Information Due (Post Electronically) GHSA September 15, 2017 Final Date to Withdraw from Coed Cheerleading GHSA October 1 , 2017 Notice of Entry - Cheerleading (Post Rosters Electronically) GHSA/Reg. Sec. October 1 , 2017 Notification of Entry - One Act Play Region Secretary October 15, 2017 Membership Dues Form & Payment Deadline GHSA October 16, 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Swimming GHSA October 20, 2017 Contestants List - Cross Country (Post Electronically) Meet Director October 23, 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Wrestling GHSA October 30, 2017 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Basketball GHSA January 8, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Gymnastics GHSA January 8, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Tennis GHSA January 15, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Soccer GHSA January 15, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Boys & Girls Track GHSA January 15, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Baseball GHSA January 22, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Lacrosse GHSA January 29, 2018 Contestants List for Literary Competition Region Secretary February 12, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Golf GHSA February 19, 2018 Initial Eligibility Report Due - Slow Pitch Softball GHSA March 1 , 2018 Football Schedules Due GHSA April 1 , 2018 Participation Survey GHSA April 1 , 2018 Notice of Intent to Enter Volleyball, Wrestling, Riflery, Lacrosse, Gymnastics, Slow Pitch SB & A Soccer (2018-19) GHSA April 30, 2018 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 By-Law 4.30 - State Association Contest / Event Responsibilites ...........................................................................