High School eligibility

Students who want to play sports in high school must meet certain requirements. This page explains the rules for age, academics, attendance, and enrollment.

Here are the sports currently offered in high school. (Unless otherwise noted, a sport is offered for both men and women.)

High school sports calendar

NCHSAA Calendar

Eligibility requirements

To join tryouts, practices, or games, you must follow all North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) and Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) rules.

Age

• You cannot participate if you turn 19 on or before Aug. 31 of the current school year.
  
  

Attendance

• You must attend 85% of the previous semester.

• You must be present all day for practices or games.
  
  

Academics

• A student, upon first entering grade nine (9), is academically eligible for competition during the first semester on high school teams. All requirements must be met the first semester (Fall) in order for this student to maintain eligibility for athletic participation the second semester (Spring).

• To stay eligible:

  • Earn passing grades in at least 70% of your courses.

  • Stay on track to move to the next grade.

  • Keep a grade point average of 1.5 or higher.
    
    

Enrollment

• Students must participate at the school to which he or she is assigned by the local board of education based on the residence of the parent or legal custodian within the administrative unit. The athlete must live with the parents or legal custodian. According to WCPSS Board Policy 4100, a “legal custodian is a person or agency that has been awarded legal custody of the student by a court."

• If you transfer schools, you may lose eligibility for 365 days. To appeal, complete the Athletic Participation Appeal Form.
  
  

Medical requirements

• You must have a sports physical every 395 days.

• After 5 or more days out due to illness or injury, you need a doctor’s note to return.

• You and your parent or guardian must review and sign the Concussion Information Sheet.
  
  

Other rules

• You can only play high school sports for eight semesters.

• You may not play more than four seasons in the same sport.\

• Students with certain felony convictions are ineligible.

• You cannot accept money or valuable prizes.

• You cannot have a professional sports contract or play on a college team.
  
  

View the NCHSAA Handbook for full details.

Other WCPSS Policies