Athletics FAQs
Note: Important Changes for the School Year - See Intradistrict Transfer Procedure
Q: When can my child start playing on school sports teams?
A: Students can begin participating on school sports teams at the beginning of their 7th grade year.
Q: What sports teams are offered at the middle school level in the district?
A: Football, volleyball (girls only), cheerleading, basketball (boys and girls) and soccer (boys and girls)
Q: My high school student is approved to attend a school other than his/her zoned school. Can my 7th or 8th grade student play sports at that high school?
Middle school students who live within the district are allowed to participate on allowable high school sports teams at the high school for which they are zoned to attend. If the middle school student has a sibling who is approved to attend a high school other than their zoned school, a Richland Two Sports Waiver (see links at bullets below) may be completed. Once the student is approved to participate in a high school sports program, the student is expected to play the remainder of their high school years at the approved school. Any transfer of schools after a student enters the 7th grade that does not involve a bona fide change of residence as defined by the South Carolina High School League would result in the student being ineligible to participate on any middle school or high school sports team(s) that has school to school competition for one calendar year.
Q: What if my child wants to play a sport not offered at the middle school level?
A: Middle school students who live within the district are allowed to participate on allowable high school sports teams at the high school for which they are zoned to attend. At the current time, the allowable sport teams includes: swimming (boys and girls), cross country (boys and girls), tennis (boys and girls), golf (boys and girls), JV wrestling (boys and girls), JV lacrosse (boys and girls), track & field (boys and girls), softball (girls only) and baseball (boys only).
Q: Are there any age requirements for athletic eligibility?
A: Yes, there is a maximum age requirement for participation on both middle school and high school teams. A student who becomes 15 years of age prior to July 1 of the current school year will not be eligible to compete on any middle school teams during that school year. A student who becomes 19 years of age prior to July 1 of the current school year will not be eligible to compete on any high school teams during that school year. Note: Should a student become too old to participate on a middle school team, he or she may be considered as enrolled in the 9th grade for eligibility purposes.
Q: While in middle school, does a transfer from one middle school to another within the district affect my child’s athletic eligibility?
A: It may affect your child’s athletic eligibility. Any transfer of schools after a student enters the 7th grade that does not involve a bona fide change of residence as defined by the South Carolina High School League would result in the student being ineligible to participate on any middle school or high school sports team(s) that has school to school competition for one calendar year. Please contact the Athletic Director at your student’s school.
Q: Does my child’s middle school athletic eligibility affect his/her high school eligibility?
A: Yes. A student must be eligible to represent his/her middle school in order to be able to participate on allowable high school sport teams.
Q: If my child plays on a sport team(s) at his or her zoned high school while in middle school and then attends another high school within our district through one of the district’s choice options as a 9th grader, will my child be eligible to play immediately?
A: Yes, provided the student was academically promoted and his/her family lives in the school district.
Q: Are rising 9th graders (current 8th graders) allowed to participate in spring practice/activities held at the high schools once they have been accepted for a choice option and then registered at the choice school?
A: Yes. However, if the student participates in an athletic activity (cheerleading tryouts, spring practice, weight-lifting, summer practice, summer team camps, etc.) at this school beginning in the spring and continuing throughout the summer will lose one (1) calendar year of athletic eligibility if he/she changes schools in the future without a bona fide change of residence.
Q: While in high school, does a transfer from one high school to another within the district affect my child’s athletic eligibility?
A: It may affect your child’s high school eligibility. Generally, a transfer of schools after a student enters the 9th grade that does not involve a bona fide change of residence as defined by the South Carolina High School League would result in the student being ineligible to participate on any high school sport team(s) that has school-to-school competition for one (1) calendar year. Noted Exception: A student who enters a high school International Baccalaureate (IB) or magnet school program offered by the school district in which the student lives will have a one time move to that program and a one time move back to his/her home school without loss of eligibility. Students entering the magnet program can do so as 9th graders only. The move to or from these programs must be made the first day of school. A move at any other time will require a one calendar year waiting period for the student to be eligible. Please contact the Athletic Director at your student’s school.
Please Note: The questions and answers presented here are not intended to be all inclusive. The rules and regulations of the South Carolina High School League determine athletic eligibility. Various factors may affect eligibility.
For more information, please contact
Cleveland Smith
Chief Pupil Services Officer
csmith@richland2.org
803.738.3228