BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE RULE
Return to "J" Rules: Title    |    Return to "J" Rules: Index
 

RATIONALE/OBJECTIVE:

The Cobb County School District (District) establishes standards under which students will be allowed to participate in competitive interscholastic activities.

RULE:

The District complies with the Rules and Regulations of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) and applicable Georgia Board of Education Rules, including 160-5-1-.18, Competitive Interscholastic Activities in Grades 9-12: No Pass, No Participate; and 160-5-1-.19, Grades 6-8, Competitive Interscholastic Activities. Specific information regarding a student’s eligibility, Georgia High School Association materials, and the District’s athletic guidelines are available to parents/guardians, students, and staff from the District Web site, the school Athletic Directors, and the District Athletic Office.

A. IN GENERAL:
    1. Competitive Interscholastic Activities:

        Competitive interscholastic activities are defined as any function held under the

        auspices or sponsorship of a school that involves students in competition between

        individuals or groups representing two or more schools. Cheerleading, bands, and

        chorus are included in this definition if the members compete in scheduled activities

        with students representing a different school.

    2. Attendance Zones:

        Attendance zones, as established by the Cobb County Board of Education, shall be
        one of the determining factors regarding the eligibility of a student participating in
        competitive interscholastic activities (athletics, band and auxiliary unit, chorus,
        cheerleading, etc.). In order for a student to be eligible to participate in competitive
        interscholastic activities that are sponsored by the District, Georgia Board of

        Education, GHSA, GMEA, or other sponsoring organization (Sponsor), the student shall

        attend the District school in the approved attendance zone.
    3. Transfer Students:

        Whether a student attends a school as a transfer student, as provided in
        Administrative Rule JFABC (Admissions/Withdrawals: Transfer Students), is also a
        determining factor in eligibility.
    4. Student Conduct:

        Violation of the Interscholastic/Extracurricular Activities Code of Conduct
        (Administrative Rule JJICA) will affect student eligibility.
    5. Participation Requirements:

        All students participating in competitive interscholastic activities in the District must
        adhere to the rules and regulations of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA),
        Georgia Board of Education Policies, Cobb County Board of Education Policies and/or

        District Administrative Rules. Academic requirements of the GHSA and policies of the

        Georgia Board of Education for student participation shall be applicable to all middle

        and high school students in any school-sponsored competitive interscholastic activities

        including all GHSA/GMEA/Sponsor-sanctioned programs. Therefore, to participate in

        any school-sponsored competitive interscholastic activity, middle and high students

        must:
        a. Have passed a minimum of five courses or equivalent block courses which carry
            credit toward grade promotion or graduation in the quarter/semester prior to their
            participation;
        b. Be enrolled as a full-time student. A full-time student is a student who is taking a
            minimum of five courses or equivalent block courses which carry credit toward
            grade promotion or graduation during the quarter/semester grading period of
            participation; and
        c. Be on-track for graduation as defined by GHSA and outlined below.  

    6. Principals and their designees will ensure that all staff members adhere to applicable

        GHSA, GMEA, and Georgia Board requirements. 

B. REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADES 9-12: NO PASS/NO PARTICIPATE:
    In addition to the requirements outlined above, high school students must conform to

    these requirements:

    1. On Track Defined:
        a. A high school student must be on track for graduation as defined by GHSA. The

            number of units (academic credits) leading toward graduation as defined by GHSA

            for competitive interscholastic activities is as follows:
            (1) First-year students shall have earned two and one-half (2 ½) units beginning

                  with the second semester.
            (2) Second-year students shall have earned four (4) units.
            (3) Third-year students shall have earned ten (10) units.
            (4) Fourth-year students shall have earned sixteen (16) units.
        b. GHSA requirements to satisfy “on track for graduation” are not as stringent as those

            required by Georgia and the District for grade promotion and satisfaction of

            graduation requirements. Refer to Administrative Rule IKF (Graduation

            Requirements) and Administrative Rule IKE (Promotion, Placement, and Retention

            Rule) for academic requirements for grade promotion and to advance towards

            graduation.

    2. Physical Examinations:
        All students in grades 9-12 who participate in competitive interscholastic athletics
        and cheerleading shall have an annual physical examination anytime after the final
        GHSA state championship of the preceding school year and prior to participation in
        any tryout, practice, conditioning, and games whichever comes first. The physical
        examination form shall indicate approval for participation and be signed by a doctor of
        medicine or a doctor of osteopathy. The physical examination form shall include the
        date that the exam was performed (month, day, year), the student's name and the
        physician's signature.
    3. Date and Time Restrictions:
        a. The dates for practice and play officially adopted by the GHSA shall be followed.
        b. Competitive interscholastic activities with dates not set by GHSA shall be
            considered in-season for the entire school year.
        c. Competitive interscholastic activities and all individual and group practice for such
            activities by students in grades 9-12 shall be conducted outside the school day.
        d. Time Restrictions for Students: Students will be governed by all GHSA
            Constitution and By-Laws involving limits of participation.
    4. Students must be enrolled in a District high school as full-time students in 9th-12th  

        grade in order to participate in high school competitive interscholastic activities.

C. REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADES 6-8: NO PASS/NO PARTICIPATE:

    See Georgia Board of Education Rule 160-5-1-.19 Grades 6-8, Competitive

    Interscholastic Activities. For purposes of applying this Rule, a grading period is defined

    as an academic quarter.

Adopted: 7/25/85
Reclassified an Administrative Rule: 9/1/04
Revised: 7/10/86; 2/12/87; 8/13/87; 10/08/87; 3/24/88; 6/8/88; 6/14/89; 1/10/90; 5/9/90; 5/29/90; 5/23/91; 8/14/91; 7/23/92; 7/23/98, 7/22/99, 8/24/00; 8/10/05; 1/14/09