South District News

THSLL Eligibility Rules & Application for Fort Bend ISD THSLL Member School Programs for the 2018 THSLL Season.
The THSLL Board of Directors is posting this notice to eliminate any confusion or misunderstanding regarding the current THSLL Eligibility Rules as defined and outlined in the 2018 THSLL Rulebook.

The THSLL eligibility rules support the THSLL Member School Program driven philosophy of school-based lacrosse.  The THSLL Member School Program a student plays for is determined based on THSLL priority order – school, attendance zone, independent school district, and then adjacent independent school district and is determined in the sequence below:   
FIRST, SECOND, THIRD.  To arrive at a student’s THSLL Member School Program based on THSLL eligibility, the paragraphs below must be considered from content and context perspectives collectively and in sequence
A student who attends a Fort Bend ISD high school (public or private by THSLL definition) with a THSLL Member School Program (school declared as the host school for THSLL eligibility purposes even if there is no formal association with the school) must play for that school per the FIRST rule of 8.0 Eligibility.
 There are four exceptions:
 1. The family (student) moves their primary residence to another school attendance zone and the student attends another school (public or private by THSLL definition).  The THSLL requires proof of residency (current utility bill) and a signed, current Proof of Enrollment from the school the student attends.  At that time, an eligibility review is required by the THSLL, and the 8.0 Eligibility Rules will be applied to determine THSLL Member School Program eligibility for the current or upcoming THSLL Season.
2. The family (student) seeks and receives approval to transfer to another school in the ISD or in another ISD (public or private by THSLL definition) and provides the THSLL Board of Directors with a signed, current Proof of Enrollment from the school the student attends.  At that time, an eligibility review is required by the THSLL, and the 8.0 Eligibility Rules will be applied to determine THSLL Member School Program eligibility for the current or upcoming THSLL Season.
3. A THSLL Member School Program in the ISD or in another ISD submits a THSLL Hardship Waiver Request on behalf of the student for consideration by the THSLL Board of Directors.  The definition of a “hardship” and the process for consideration is defined and outlined in the 2018 THSLL Rulebook.  THSLL Hardship Waiver Requests require documented proof of a valid hardship.  A “hardship” is defined as an unforeseeable, and unavoidable condition or event that causes the imposition of a severe and non-athletic burden upon the student or his family. A hardship may include, but is not limited to, financial hardship, divorce, or curriculum challenges.  As an example, a Hardship Waiver Request related to a divorce requires submission of a final decree of divorce along with a sworn statement & affidavit.  If approved by the THSLL Board of Directors, an eligibility review is required by the THSLL, and the 8.0 Eligibility Rules will be applied to determine
THSLL Member School Program eligibility for the current or upcoming THSLL Season based on the “hardship” and family circumstances.
4. Sections 8.1 through 8.9 outline and define the rules around eligibility where the THSLL Board of Directors can make decisions with input from THSLL Member School Programs on individual student eligibility scenarios.
 A student who attends a Fort Bend ISD high school (public or private by THSLL Definition) with no THSLL Member School program (no declared host school for THSLL eligibility purposes even if there is no formal association with the school) must play for the closest THSLL Member School Program to his home or school within the ISD, and within the closest adjacent ISD when no THSLL Member School Program exists within the ISD, per the FIRST, SECOND, THIRD rule of Eligibility, and Sections 8.1 through 8.9.

THSLL Member School Programs submit their team information and valid team rosters according to Appendix C in the 2018 THSLL Rulebook – The THSLL 2017-2018 Season Timetable.  This information is due to the THSLL Board of Directors by January 18, 2018.  The THSLL Board of Directors validates this information and player eligibility prior to the start of the 2018 THSLL Season on January 19, 2018.  Ineligible roster players are not allowed to play in THSLL games, and penalties for doing so are spelled out in the 2018 THSLL Rulebook. 

It is the responsibility of each THSLL Member School Program to see that student athletes do not compete unless they comply with all THSLL eligibility rules. It is also the responsibility of the student athlete and their family to observe and obey the THSLL rules according to the 2018 THSLL Rulebook.

General questions related to THSLL 8.0 Eligibility and/or the 2018 THSLL Rulebook can be submitted via the Contact Us form at www.THSLL.org/contact or through the Email the Coordinator link at http://thsll.org/district_contact?district=104.

Individual student eligibility scenarios should be communicated through the THSLL Member School Program to the appropriate THSLL South District Coordinator – DI Joe Donoghue, and DII/DIII Mike Ormsby.