SECTION .0200 ‑ Interscholastic athletics

16 NCAC 06E .0201 DEFINITIONS

As used in this Section, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Administering organization" is defined in G.S. 115C-407.50(1).

(2) "Aggrieved party" means a student, coach, participating school, PSU, or other party that is directly and adversely affected by a final decision of a rule administrator, including a determination of ineligibility under Rule .0207 of this Section, a penalty imposed under Rule .0209 of this Section, or a finding of undue influence or a recruiting violation under Rule .0210 of this Section. If a student is affected, the student's parent or legal guardian may appeal the final decision pursuant to Rule .0215 of this Section.

(3) "Bona fide purpose" means a purpose not primarily related to participation in interscholastic athletics.

(4) "Final decision" means a written decision of a rule administrator regarding the application or enforcement of rules under this Section to a set of facts or circumstances. A ruling by a referee or official enforcing gameplay rules during an athletic competition, as recorded by the referee or official in the game record maintained by the rule administrator, that results in the ejection or suspension of a player or coach shall be deemed a final decision upon exhaustion of any available mechanisms for review under the rule administrator's internal policies and procedures.

(5) "Immediate family member" means a spouse, parent, legal guardian or custodian, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, half-sibling, or step-sibling. The term applies to any such relationship whether by blood, adoption, or marriage.

(6) "Initial entry" means:

(a) a student's first day of attendance at a participating school in which the student is enrolled as recorded by that school; or

(b) the first day on which a student practices or otherwise participates as a member of an interscholastic athletics team at a participating school.

(7) "Interscholastic athletics" or "interscholastic athletic activity" means any extracurricular athletic activity that:

(a) involves students in any Grades 6 through 12;

(b) is sponsored by an individual school, PSU, or administering organization; and

(8) "Local superintendent" means the superintendent of a local school administrative unit, as provided in Chapter 115C, Article 18 of the General Statutes, or the staff member with the highest decision-making authority for a PSU, if there is no superintendent.

(9) "NFHS" means the National Federation of State High School Associations.

(10) "Parent" is defined in G.S. 115C-407.50(6).

(11) "Participating school" means a middle school, junior high school, or high school that elects to participate in interscholastic athletic activities.

(12) "Principal" means a school administrator employed as the principal of a school, as provided in Chapter 115C, Article 19 of the General Statutes, or the staff member with the highest decision-making authority at a school, if there is no principal.

(13) "Rule administrator" means any of the following:

(a) An administering organization, when administering and enforcing the rules provided by this Section at the high school level.

(b) A local superintendent or his or her authorized designee, when administering and enforcing the rules provided by this Section at the middle and junior high school level.

History Note: Authority G.S. 115C-12(12);115C-12(23); 115C-47(4); 115C-407.50; 115C-407.55; 115C-407.60; 115C-407.65; 116-235(b);

Eff. July 1, 1986;

Exp. Eff. June 1, 2022 pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A.

Temporary Adoption Eff. July 1, 2024;

Temporary Adoption Eff. January 2, 2025;

Eff. July 1, 2025.