High School Athletic Eligibility Requirements

Students interested in participating in high school athletics should familiarize themselves with the NCHSAA (NC High School Athletic Association) general regulations, academic and attendance requirements, and athletic policies. 

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for tryouts, practice, or participation in interscholastic athletic contests, a player must meet all North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) and Currituck County School System (CCS) eligibility requirements and policies:

Age

A student shall not participate on a high school team if the student becomes 19 years of age on or before August 31 of that school year.
  

Attendance

A student-athlete must meet the LEA attendance policy during the previous semester at an approved high school. Regularly enrolled member of the school’s student body, according to local policy. If there is no local policy, “regularly enrolled” is defined as enrolled for at least one-half of the “minimum load.” It is recommended the student be in school the day of the contest.  CCS requires the athlete to be present half the day in order to participate in activities or practices.

North Carolina Public School Attendance Requirement for high school student-athletes

• To remain eligible for sports, student-athletes must be present for at least 85% of the total instructional days in the previous semester.

• Excused and unexcused absences are treated the same when it comes to athletics

• Eligibility for Fall/Winter 2025 will be enforced from the previous semester of the 2024-25 school year. This means students who wish to play sports in the second semester cannot exceed 13 school absences during the second semester.

• Eligibility for Spring 2026 will be enforced from 1st semester of the 2025-26 school year. This means students who wish to play sports in the second semester cannot exceed 11 school absences during the first semester.

• NCDPI rationale: To encourage high school attendance and ensure that student-athletes prioritize their academic commitments.

The link to the State Board of Education Athletic Eligibility Rules, which must be followed by NCHSAA member schools, is posted in multiple places on the NCHSAA website: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction – Interscholastic Athletics. It is to be noted that these rules will be part of the 2025-2026 NCHSAA Handbook.

Academics

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

Must meet promotion requirements at their school to be eligible for the fall semester.

Must earn passing grades in three of four courses the previous semester.

Enrollment

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.

Must be a properly enrolled student in a member school of the CCS district, must be enrolled no later than the 15th day of the present semester, and must be in regular attendance at that school.

Medical Examination

Must receive a medical examination once every 365 days by a duly licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant.

Must be released by a licensed physician if absent from athletic practice for five or more days due to illness or injury.

Other NCHSAA Requirements

• Must not participate at the high school level for a period lasting longer than eight consecutive semesters beginning with the student's first entry into grade nine or participation on a high school team.
• Must not participate at the high school level for more than four seasons in that sport (one season per year).
• Must not be convicted of a felony in this or any other state, or adjudicated as a delinquent for an offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult in this or any other state.
• May not play, sit on the bench, or practice if ineligible.
• To maintain amateur status, the athlete must not accept money or awards having utilitarian value (golf balls, clubs, tennis rackets and balls).
• Must not have signed a professional contract, played on a junior college team or be enrolled and attending class in college.