NJSIAA / AOSE ELIGIBILITY RULES:

Enrollment:

A student-athlete must be enrolled at AOSE and meet all of the eligibility requirements outlined in the NJSIAA's Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules and Regulations in order to participate in interscholastic athletics Every student-athlete must have participated in a minimum of six practices (not sessions) before the first scrimmage or game unless she has participated in a state championship contest in the preceding season, or within three days of the previous season, as per the NJSIAA.

NJSIAA Amateur Rules/NIL Provision:

A student-athlete must maintain their amateur status An amateur student-athlete participates in athletics solely for physical, mental, social, and educational benefits. The amateur student-athlete views all athletic activities she participates in as a hobby

Effective January 1, 2022, the NJSIAA permits student-athletes to profit off of the use of their own name, image, and likeness ("NIL"), in such activities including, but not limited to, "commercial endorsements, promotional activities, social media presence, product or service advertisements, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs)" Student-athletes, however, cannot engage in NIL activities with:

(1) "Adult entertainment products and services";

(2) "Alcohol products";

(3) "Tobacco and nicotine-related products";

(4) "Cannabis products";

(5) "Controlled dangerous substances";

(6) "Prescription pharmaceuticals";

(7) "Casinos and gambling, including sports betting, the lottery, and betting in connection with video games, on-line games and mobile devices; and"

(8) "Weapons, firearms and ammunition"

AOSE expects all student-athletes to comply with all NJSIAA rules and guidelines.

Athletic Recruitment:

The granting of "Athletic Scholarships" or other assistance of monetary value in exchange for athletic participation at any level is forbidden.

Age:

If an athlete turns nineteen before September 1st, she becomes ineligible for high school athletics. However, any athlete turning nineteen on or after September 1 is eligible for the following school year A birth certificate issued at the time of birth is the standard proof of age In the absence of this, other proofs, such as baptismal records or early school records, may be used.

Academic Eligibility:

A student, to be eligible for participation in the interscholastic athletic programs, must meet all the eligibility requirements of the New Jersey Sports Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). Eligibility rules apply to all freshman, junior varsity, and varsity teams involved in interscholastic athletic competition Please review the details below regarding Academic eligibility and the NJSIAA guidelines. Eligibility for sports or extra-curricular activities is determined by students’ academic and physical standing

● First semester (September 1 to January 31), a student must have earned 30 credits during the immediately preceding academic year

● Second semester (February 1 to June 30), a student must be passing 15 credits at the close of the preceding semester (January 31)

● Credits recovered in pre-approved summer school courses can only be applied to the preceding year and must be completed by the sixth day of school for eligibility purposes

● All first-time 9th-grade students are eligible during the first semester of the school year (September 1 to January 31).

● The NJSIAA has no appeal process for ineligible students

Transfers:

Students are entitled to one penalty-free transfer during the first six semesters after their initial high school enrollment, provided that the transfer occurs on or before the Start of Practice Date of the sports season in which the transfer occurs. Students who transfer after the Start of Practice Date will be subject to a 30-day period of ineligibility (or ½ the Maximum Number of Contests in that sport, whichever is less). In addition to the period of ineligibility, any student who transfers after the Competition Start Date will not be eligible for NJSIAA postseason competition in that sport. Senior transfers are subject to a 22-day period of ineligibility (or 1/3 the Maximum Number of Contests, whichever is less) in each sport in which they participated during or after their third season of eligibility, during the 12-months preceding the transfer This Transfer Rule applies to all student-athletes at all levels of participation (not just varsity athletes) and is applicable to all NJSIAA-sanctioned sports in which the student participated during the 12-months preceding the transfer. Transferring students may participate in a new sport without penalty

The period of ineligibility will begin on the Competition Start Date of each sport For students who transfer after the Competition Start Date, the period of ineligibility will begin on the date of enrollment. Immediate eligibility, without penalty, will be granted for transfers resulting from DCP&P placement, court placement, HIB transfers, and military transfers The NJSIAA monitors transfers with the cooperation of the member schools through an online Transfer Portal. For each transferring student, the sending school and the receiving school must enter the required information into the Transfer Portal.

A student‐athlete who transfers from one secondary school to another because of a bona fide change of residence by his/her parents or guardians, becomes eligible to represent her new school immediately upon entrance unless recruitment or transfer for athletic advantage is alleged and provided all other eligibility regulations are satisfied. Both the former and new school must complete a transfer form affirmatively stating that the transfer is a bona fide change of residence and that there was no athletic recruitment or a transfer for athletic advantage.

Any evidence of a transfer for athletic advantage shall subject the athlete to a prompt determination of eligibility by the Eligibility Appeals Committee and may subject the school and the athlete to appropriate disciplinary proceedings A transfer for athletic advantage is defined as, but not limited to:

● Seeking a superior athletic team;

● Seeking relief due to a conflict with the philosophy or action of an administrator; teacher or coach relating to sports;

● Seeking a team consistent with the student's athletic abilities;

● Seeking a means to nullify punitive action by the previous school; or

● Seeking to be coached by the coach at a new school

Graduated Athletes:

If a student has received a diploma, she is ineligible However, she may continue to represent her school until the official end of that semester - either January 31st or June 30th.

Re-Enrolled Students:

If a student has left school but re-enrolls, she will be eligible 30-days from the date of re-enrollment

The Eight Semester Rule:

No student shall be eligible for high school athletics after the expiration of eight consecutive semesters following her entrance into the ninth grade.

Number of Practices:

A student shall not be permitted to participate in any interscholastic scrimmage or a game until she has completed SIX days of practice and one day of rest

IN & OUT OF SEASON NJSIAA GUIDELINES:

In-Season:

Out of Season Period:

Summer Period:

The in-season period starts on the first official day of practice and concludes on the final championship in a particular sport.

The out-of-season period shall be from the final championship in a particular sport to the first official day of practice the following year in that sport, except for the summer recess.

The summer period begins the Monday after the last scheduled spring NJSIAA event and ends on August 31.

Camps or Clinics:

During the off-season, schools or school-related groups may not support a student-athlete through attending a camp or clinic. This includes providing uniforms, equipment, and funds for the camp or clinic, as well as transportation. Coaches are not permitted to instruct their student-athletes during the off-season. As spectators, coaches may attend a participating clinic. However, regardless of the format or separation of stations at a clinic, they may not be involved in any way when their student-athletes are present at a camp or clinic

Please keep in mind that many of our teams will attend a summer camp together or play in a summer or off-season league Participation in any of these leagues or camps is entirely voluntary and is not sanctioned by The Academy of Saint Elizabeth. Participation in these leagues/camps will have no bearing on one's ability to make an AOSE team once tryouts begin While student-athletes are encouraged to work on their skills during the offseason, future team participation is not contingent on off-season attendance Summer workouts with the coaching staff are also included. While participation in such workouts is encouraged, it has no bearing on one's tryout status

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) GuidelinesPreparation for Participation in College Athletics:

If a student intends to participate in NCAA Division I or II college athletics as a freshman, the student must be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Certain academic criteria must be achieved in high school in order to be eligible to participate in college. The student’s counselor can determine if initial eligibility standards apply. If met, go to the NCAA Eligibility Center and submit the application the summer after the junior year. The application is online at wwweligibilitycenterorg Meeting the minimum NCAA eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission into the college of choice Please confirm course requirements via the NCAA website at wwwncaa org

Four Year Plan for College Recruitment:

Preparing for the future is an exciting time for students and their parents. The Counseling Office, Head Coach, and the Department of Athletics will assist the students in the college recruiting process. The following outline will provide a 4-year plan to guide student-athletes in their college selection process.

Freshman Year Agenda:

● Students should start planning now, work hard to get the best grades in your classes

● Students should take classes that match your high school’s list of NCAA approved core courses (you can access and print Northern’s list of approved core courses at wwweligibilitycenterorg; select “Resources, then “U S High School Students” and “Are you on Track?”, then select “List of approved Core Courses”, follow prompts to select school by name The NCAA Eligibility Center will only use approved core courses to certify your initial eligibility

● The Counseling Department and Head Coach will introduce the idea of college athletics and the variety of options to play after high school (NCAA Division I, II, III, as well as NIAA, NJCAA and NCCAA)

● The Counseling Deparment and Director of Athletics will explain current NCAA academic eligibility requirements (core courses, grades, test scores) Encourage students to work with their counselor and coach Encourage students to visit the web site address for the NCAA Guide for the College Bound Student-Athlete (ncaa org, click on “Legislation and Governance” on left hand side of the screen and then “Eligibility and Recruiting”; by clicking on “Information for College-Bound Student-Athletes and Parents” users will be directed to a page where current Guide can be downloaded.)

● The Director of Athletics will help students understand the collegiate playing arena by observing a range of college teams and examine coaching styles.

Sophomore Year Agenda:

● Students should start planning now, and work hard to get the best grades in your classes

● Students should take classes that match your high school’s list of NCAA approved core courses (you can access and print Northern’s list of approved core courses at wwwnccaclearinghouse net) The NCAA Eligibility Center will only use approved core courses to certify your initial eligibility

● The Counseling Department and Head Coach will assist students in identifying factors that should be considered in assessing a collegiate sports program, i.e. coaching style, team chemistry, playing time/schedule, time commitment during the season and in the offseason, training and conditioning programs, level of competition within league and school support of the athletic program.

● The Counseling Department and Director of Athletics will explain current NCAA academic eligibility requirements (core courses, grades, test scores).

● The Counselor Department and Director of Athletics will explain to students that they should carefully evaluate recruiting services to ensure they meet their needs before using one.

● The Counseling Department and Head Coach will have students develop goals for their own athletic progress moving toward college.

Junior Year Agenda:

● Students will at the beginning of junior year register at www.eligibilitycenter.org.

● Students will complete the Amateurism Questionnaire (same site as above)

● Students will register to take the ACT, SAT, PSAT and use the Eligibility Center code “9999” as score recipient. Doing this sends your scores directly to the Eligibility Center.

● Students will double check to make sure you are taking courses that match the Northern’s list of NCAA-approved core courses.

● Students will request that your counselor send an official transcript to the Eligibility Center after completing your junior year. (The Eligibility Center does not accept faxed transcripts)

● The Director of Athletics will introduce specific rules/regulations relating to contacts with college coaches.

● The Director of Athletics will have students register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

● The Counseling Department will explain current NCAA academic eligibility requirements (core courses, grades, test scores).

● The Head Coach and Director of Athletics will be honest about evaluating a student’s talent level and the probability of playing at certain colleges

● The Counseling Department will make sure all students are enrolled in correct classes and getting good grades

● The Counseling Department will consider the student’s overall wants and needs in college (not just athletics)

● The Director of Athletics will share access to all NCAA resources with students

● The Director of Athletics will encourage students to come with any questions they may have or any help they may need.

● The Counseling Department and Head Coach will reevaluate goals for the student's own athletic progress moving toward college.

● The Counseling Department and Director of Athletics will be proactive throughout the year to remind students about deadlines.

Senior Year Agenda:

● Students will at the beginning of his/her senior year check with Counselor and the Eligibility Center to determine the number of core courses that need to be completed by the senior year

● Students will determine if taking the SAT or ACT is necessary The Eligibility Center will use the best scores from each section of the SAT or ACT to determine your best cumulative scores

● Students will check to make sure the courses being taken match Northern’s list of NCAA-approved core courses.

● Students will review the Amateurism Questionnaire responses and request final amateurism certification beginning April 1 (for fall enrollees) or October 1 (for Winter/Spring enrollees).

● Students will continue to earn the best grades possible.

● Students will ask the Counselor after graduation to send a final transcript with proof of graduation.

● Students will graduate on time (in eight academic semesters). If a student falls behind, use summer school sessions prior to graduation year to catch up.

● The Director of Athletics will introduce specific rules and regulations relating to recruiting, recruiting calendars, and unofficial and official visits. Will explain differences between Division I, II, and III.

● The Director of Athletics will discuss specific circumstances that may present themselves during an unofficial or official visit and prepare students in their response

● The Director of Athletics will provide lists of possible questions for students and parents to ask potential coaches and academic personnel

● The Counseling Deprtment will remind students that the college selection process should be based on a combination of academic and athletic fit

Graduate on Time:

● From the time the student enters the ninth grade, they have four years, or eight semesters to graduate from high school. If the student does not graduate “on time” in eight semesters, no core courses taken after the eighth semester will be counted toward your NCAA academic eligibility requirements.

● Graduation “on time” also means that if the high school graduation takes place June 1, and the student graduated on June 1. If the student does not graduate on June 1 with the rest of the high school class, the student has not graduated “on time”

Contact:

Contact Period:

Recruiting Regulations for the High School Student:

Contact occurs any time a coach has any face to face contact with you or your parents off the college campus and says more than hello A contact also occurs if a coach has any contact with you or your parents at your high school or any location where you are competing or practicing

During this time, a college coach may have in-person contact with you and/or your parents on or off the college campus The coach may also watch you play or visit your high school You and your parents may visit a college campus and the coach may write and telephone you during this period

Dead Period:

Evaluation:

A college coach may not have any in person contact with you or your parents on or off campus at any time during a dead period The coach may write and telephone you or your parents during this time

An evaluation is an activity by a coach to evaluate your academic or athletics ability This would include visiting your high school or watching you practice or compete

Evaluation Period:

National Letter of Intent:

During this time, a college coach may watch you play or visit your high school, but cannot have any in person conversation with you or your parents off the college campus. You and your parents can visit a college campus during this period A coach may write and telephone you or your parents during this time

The National Letter of Intent (NLI) is a voluntary program administered by the Eligibility Center. By signing an NLI, your son or daughter agrees to attend the institution for one academic year. In exchange, that institution must provide athletic financial aid for one academic year. Restrictions are contained in the NLI itself. Read them carefully. These restrictions may affect your eligibility If you have questions about the National Letter of Intent, visit the Web site at wwwnational-letterorg or call 877-262-1492

Any visit to a college campus by you and your parents paid for by the college. The college may pay all or some of the following expenses:

● Your transportation to and from the college

● Room and meals (three per day) while you are visiting the college

Official Visit:

Prospective Student-Athlete:

● Reasonable entertainment expenses, including three complimentary admissions to a home athletic contest.

Before a college may invite you on an official visit, you will have to provide the college with a copy of your high school transcript (Division I only) and SAT, ACT, or PLAN score and register with the Eligibility Center.

You become a prospective student athlete when:

● You start 9th grade classes

● Before your ninth-grade year, a college gives you, your relatives or your friends any financial aid or other benefits that the college does not provide to students generally

Quiet Period:

During this time a college coach may not have any in person contact with you or your parents off the college campus The coach may not watch you play or visit your high school during this period You and your parents may visit a college campus during this time A coach may write or telephone you or your parents during this time.

Recruiting Calendar:

Unofficial Visit:

Division I & II Recruiting Calendars: https://wwwncaa org/sports/2018/5/8/division-i-and-ii-recruiting-calendars aspx

Any visit by you and your parents to a college campus paid for by you or your parents is an unofficial visit The only expense you may receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a home athletic contest You may make as many unofficial visits as you like and may take those visits at any time The only time you cannot talk with a coach during an unofficial visit is during the dead period

Verbal Commitment:

This phrase is used to describe a college-bound student athlete commitment to a school before he or she signs (or is able to sign) a National Letter of Intent A college-bound student athlete can announce a verbal commitment at any time While verbal commitments have become very popular for both college bound student athletes and coaches, this commitment is NOT binding on either the college bound student athlete or the institution Only the signing of the National Letter of Intent accompanied by a financial aid agreement is binding on both parties

Information supplied in this section was obtained from the NCAA You may visit the website at wwwncaa org for updated information or contact of the counseling office or athletic department for further information