With Hurricane Harvey bringing devastation to much of the Texas Gulf Coast area, there are many Texas residents who have homes and dwellings that are inhabitable. The immediate future for residence at their current homes may be unknown. Then there are some who for sure will have to look for new homes or places to reside.
This, of course impacts student-athletes. As exhibited by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a mass of student-athletes had to relocate and transfer to new schools across the state of Louisiana and even some across the nation. With no certain time frame for some families to take a path back to normalcy, it may take months and even a year or more for people to return to what they once called home. With a suddenly homeless after the disaster, the student-athletes across the state are in need of food, shelter, and a place where they could go to school and participate in sports.
With the possibility of many athletes from the Port Arthur /Beaumont, Greater Houston area, on down through the Corpus Christi area, being displaced and having to evacuate and relocate permanently, the UIL has taken action and released the Athletic Eligibility Waiver for Student Athletes Displaced by Hurricane Harvey.
See below
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Superintendents and Athletic Administrators -
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the UIL is preparing procedures for displaced students who wish to participate at their new location. The desire of UIL is for all students who can safely do so to return to their original school for participation. However, we realize this hope will not be possible for all displaced students. In light of that, we have developed the following process.
UIL will release the Athletic Eligibility Waiver for Student Athletes Displaced by Hurricane Harvey (Hurricane Harvey Waiver) to all schools in the coming days. In the meantime, below is information for your school to begin to determine the eligibility of displaced students enrolling in your school. This information only applies to students displaced as a result of Hurricane Harvey. See UIL rules for students changing schools for other reasons.
• Forms - All Displaced Students
All students enrolling in a new school must complete the following forms required in section 1205 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules:
· Pre-participation Physical (if applicable) and Medical History Form
· Acknowledgment of Rules-Parent Permission Form
· Concussion Acknowledgement Form
· Sudden Cardiac Awareness Form
· Illegal Steroid Use Parent and Student Notification/Agreement Form
• Sub-Varsity Participation - All Schools
Displaced students can immediately participate in sub-varsity activities upon enrolling in the new school and completing the forms listed above.
• Varsity Athletic Participation - 15- Calendar Day Rule
Displaced student athletes who choose to temporarily attend a new school and participate in varsity athletics with a Hurricane Harvey waiver are subject to the 15- calendar day rule at the new school if enrolling after the sixth class day of the school year.
Displaced students who return to their original school when it opens would not be subject to the 15-day rule upon returning to their original school. They could become eligible for participation after one school day back in their original school. These students would not need to complete a Previous Athletic Participation Form prior to varsity athletic participation at the original school.
Displaced student athletes who participate in any practice (before, during or after school) or contest at any level at the new school, and are subsequently displaced to a different school would not be subject to the 15-day rule upon enrolling in the new school. They could become eligible for participation after one school day in their new school, pending approval of a new Hurricane Harvey waiver. If a student changes schools prior to satisfying this 15-day requirement, the balance of those 15 days will apply at the new school. Contact UIL with questions for these circumstances. These students would not need to complete a Previous Athletic Participation Form.
• Varsity Athletic Participation - Hurricane Harvey Waiver for Student Athletes Displaced by Hurricane Harvey
For each student desiring to participate in varsity athletics, the receiving school must complete and submit the University Interscholastic League Athletic Eligibility Waiver for Student Athletes Displaced by Hurricane Harvey and notify their District Executive Committee (DEC) chairperson that they are filing for the eligibility waiver. Displaced students are ineligible for varsity athletic participation until the UIL approves the Waiver. UIL will notify the school and the DEC of the waiver decision. Waiver decisions can be appealed to the State Executive Committee (SEC) within 14 days of issuance by contacting the UIL Athletic office and requesting information on the appeal process.
Upon approval of the Hurricane Harvey Waiver, students could participate in varsity athletic activities upon completion of the forms required in section 1205 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules listed above. Additionally, the provisions of the 15-calendar day rule will apply for varsity participation to students who enroll after the sixth class day of the school year.
If a displaced student athlete is granted a Hurricane Harvey Waiver to participate at a new school, the Hurricane Harvey Waiver is valid as long as the student remains continuously enrolled in that new school.
• Varsity Athletic Participation - Multiple High School Independent School Districts
The eligibility for varsity athletic participation in a multiple high school independent school district is determined based on the school assignment made by that ISD. Students who attend the school as determined by the ISD in which the student is temporarily housed could be eligible for varsity athletic participation with an approved Hurricane Harvey Waiver.
Student athletes who attend a school other than the one determined by the ISD in which the student is temporarily housed, or attend a school outside the ISD in which the student is temporarily housed, would be ineligible for varsity athletic participation for one calendar year, unless the student applies for and is granted a standard waiver of the parent residence rule.
• Varsity Athletic Participation - Single High School Independent School Districts
The eligibility for varsity athletic participation in a single high school independent school district is determined based on the temporary residence/location of the displaced student. Students who attend school in the ISD in which the student is temporarily housed could be eligible for varsity athletic participation with an approved Hurricane Harvey Waiver.
Student athletes who attend a school outside the ISD in which the student is temporarily housed would be ineligible for varsity athletic participation for one calendar year, unless the student applies for and is granted a standard waiver of the parent residence rule.
If you have questions, please contact the UIL staff at (512) 471-5883 or athletics@uiltexas.org.
Charles Breithaupt, EdD
UIL Executive Director
Jamey Harrison, EdD
UIL Deputy Director
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