Due to the current status of schools in the commonwealth being closed for the remainder of the year in response to COVID-19, the Virginia High School League (VHSL) has received numerous questions regarding spring sports, eligibility and other issues.
Therefore, VHSL Director of Communications Mike McCall has provided a list of frequently asked questions and the answers to them to provide guidance and to use as a resource on topical issues. The questions will be updated with additional information in the coming weeks, so please check back frequently.
Question: My child was offered a college scholarship, and now the school has rescinded it because their current player at that position is returning since the NCAA is granting college athletes an additional year of eligibility. My child needs a semester waiver to stay in high school. What are the options?
Answer: The NCAA increased the number of scholarships for next year to accommodate those incoming freshmen offered scholarships and for those current student athletes who wish to take advantage of the NCAA decision. Therefore, this is an issue related to the NCAA universities and colleges wishing to save money, and it is neither an NCAA nor a VHSL issue. Those high school athletes in this situation need to communicate their concerns with the schools wishing to withdraw scholarship offers.
Question: What is the VHSL’s position on spring sport athletes being granted an extra year of eligibility as the NCAA has done?
Answer: The VHSL and the NCAA are uniquely different organizations. While there is a semester waiver appeal process, the VHSL has multiple concerns relative to granting such waivers. They include but are not limited to: 1) students having already met graduation requirements; unlike the NCAA, no post-graduate opportunities exist for high school students that include eligibility within the school system; 2) semester eligibility having historically been granted only for serious medical conditions that led to the student’s inability to complete course work and to participate in sports for a year or long; 3) semester waivers having historically been granted only for an entire school year, not for a single semester or sport season. Granting eligibility just to spring athletes does not match the consistency with which this rule has been applied previously.
Question: Why doesn’t the VHSL just grant every student an extra year of eligibility?
Answer: The answer is multi-faceted and includes but may not be limited to the following problems: 1) those who have met graduation requirements would not be eligible to return to high school and participate; 2) allowing some students five years of a sport violates the semester rule, and fall and winter athletes would not be eligible if they have had four seasons to participate; 3) allowing students who have not played four years of a sport an extra year is also inconsistent with the semester rule, which states that students have eight consecutive semesters of opportunity to participate beginning with their entrance to the ninth grade.
A rule change of this magnitude would require the approval of the VHSL Executive Committee through its two-vote rule change process.
Question: Why hasn’t the VHSL committed to playing spring sports contests in July and August?
Answer: There are multiple reasons that no decision has been made at this time. They include: 1) It has not been determined exactly when it will be safe to return to anything close to a normal existence, much less the level and time at which extracurricular activities would be considered.
Schools are faced with many issues during this time including providing learning opportunities, determining grading structures, conducting major school events such as graduation, and potentially eliminating required seat time. To undertake and then allow extracurricular activities would seem quite inconsistent and highly disingenuous. 2) VHSL physicals expire at the end of June. Additionally, many physicians have postponed or cancelled well visits. Students receiving updated physicals have the potential to be very inconsistent or an impossible option deep into the summer. 3) School student insurance for a school system expires in most cases sometime in June. The cost to receive a rider is not likely to be something school systems will have the ability to add. 4) Some students have alerted the VHSL that their travel teams have what they consider important events scheduled for the summer. Adding the high school component would create issues that these students would like to avoid.
Question: What is the status relative to fall sports?
Answer: It is too early to make any definitive decision(s) relative to any sports and activities for the fall of 2020. VHSL staff are is monitoring the current situation and gathering all appropriate available information to establish “what if” protocols should they become necessary.
Question: Are VHSL deadlines still in force?
Answer: There are some notable adjustments to the deadlines as published by the VHSL. They include 1) the Coaches Eligibility Form – Deadline moved from May 1 to August 4; 2) Participation Survey – Deadline moved to August 4 3) Membership Application – Deadline Moved to August 4 4) Football Schedules – Deadline moved from May 1 to June 15.
Question: What is the status of VHSL Awards and Scholarships?
Answer: The VHSL scholarship applications are in the process of being reviewed, and the scholarships will be awarded for the 2019-2020 school year.
The Wells Fargo Awards for Sports and Activities yearlong accomplishments will not be awarded this year as the spring season is a critical component of those awards.
The Claudia Dodson Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award will not be awarded this year.
The VHSL Stay in the Game Award will not be given out this year. Schools that received no ejections in either the fall and/or winter, however, will be recognized for those accomplishments on the VHSL website.
