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2021-2022 Information

Information for the 2021-2022 summer and school year:

Updated 2/3/22

2022-2024 Reclassification and Realignment

The 2022-2024 Reclassification and Realignments have been released: https://www.uiltexas.org/alignments

Updated 1/18/22

UIL - Updated Return to Play Requirements

As schools continue to navigate challenges presented by COVID-19, UIL is providing the following information.

Following a called meeting of the UIL Medical Advisory Committee (MAC), UIL has altered the return to play requirements for students diagnosed with COVID-19 related to requiring clearance from a physician or physician-approved delegate. The UIL MAC strongly recommends a student who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 receive clearance from a physician, or physician-approved delegate, prior to returning to participation in UIL marching band or athletics activities in accordance with the most current resources available from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and/or the American College of Cardiology (ACC). This change also provides medical providers with additional guidance related to when a student who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 requires clearance from a physician, or physician-approved delegate. 

Additionally, UIL is reminding schools of the available exception to the school week limitation for varsity district contests rescheduled due to COVID-19. The following has been posted on the UIL website for some time and remains in effect:

The COVID-19 Pandemic has been identified as a ‘public disaster’ by the State of Texas. As long as we remain under this status as ordered by Governor Abbott, UIL varsity district contests postponed because of COVID-19 reasons may be rescheduled and played as exceptions to the school week limit as noted in state regulations, as long as they are rescheduled and played on a date agreed upon by the two schools involved in the contest, or on a date as determined by the District Executive Committee, if the two schools cannot agree. 

Updated 12/2/21

Preliminary Enrollment Figures - Reclassification and Realignment

The University Interscholastic League has released preliminary enrollment figures for all schools for the 2022-2024 reclassification and realignment as submitted by member schools: https://www.uiltexas.org/alignments.

The 2022-24 alignments will be released February 3, 2022 for football, basketball, and volleyball. District alignments for other activities will be released by the middle of March, 2022. 

More information about UIL alignments can be found at https://www.uiltexas.org/alignments.

Updated 11/16/21

Reclassification & Realignment: Verification of Enrollment Information

A summary of the enrollment information submitted for each school for the 2022-2024 Reclassification and Realignment period was sent to Superintendents today. 

  • Superintendents must verify that the enrollment information is accurate. 
  • After the conference cut-offs are released, no changes to enrollment figures will be accepted.
  • The deadline to verify this information is November 22. If there are no corrections, no action is necessary.
  • If there are any corrections to the information sent, please contact the UIL by email (alignments@uiltexas.org) immediately so we can reopen your submission online.

The Reclassification and Realignment for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years will be released on February 3, 2022, at 9:00 am CST.

Updated 11/12/21

Amendments to the Online-C&CR Effective Immediately

The following amendments were passed by UIL Legislative Council at the October 2021 Legislative Council Meeting and approved by the Commissioner of Education to be effective immediately. The Online-UIL Constitution & Contest Rules has been updated to reflect these changes.

  • Section 350: Establishing Conferences - This amendment to Section 350, Establishing Conferences, would allow the UIL Executive Director to conduct reclassification and realignment via pre-existing approved policies in situations where new policies which have been approved by the Council have not been approved by the Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency (TEA), as required by law.
  • Section 1209: (Basketball) Non-School Participation - This amendment to Section 1209(g), Non-School Participation would allow boys’ basketball coaches the opportunity to coach their students only during the NCAA/NFHS approved June Scholastic Basketball event hosted by TABC.
  • Section 1220(f): Baseball Plan & Section 1280(f) Softball Plan, Post-Season Playoffs - Under current rule, playoff games shall not be scheduled before Wednesday of that week unless by mutual consent. This amendment would prohibit playoff games from being scheduled before Thursday without mutual consent of the two schools. Weather delays and pitch count restrictions can lead to one school having a competitive advantage over the other if a coin flip forces a game to be played prior to Thursday.
  • Section 1034(b)(5): One-Act Play Contest Ethics Code - The practice of physically slapping, kicking and hitting in performance, specifically above the shoulders, is dangerous. Students run the risk of breaking bones, damaging their ears, eyes, nose, lips and teeth, due to a lack of knowledge or training in stage combat techniques. Properly executed stage combat creates the illusion of fighting without causing harm. Regularly, contest directors and judges have addressed their concerns of seeing students performing dangerous strikes in the one-act play contest.

* Click here for the detailed amendments to the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules. 

10/21/21 - Second Reclassification and Realignment Notice Added

10/15/21 - First Reclassification and Realignment Notice Added

2022-2024 Reclassification and Realignment Information

All UIL member schools will submit enrollment figures for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 Reclassification and Realignment soon. The enrollment snapshot date is October 29, 2021. UIL will release the 2022-24 Reclassification and Realignment on February 3, 2022.

No information may be entered into the online enrollment system until October 29, 2021. The deadline for submission of Reclassification and Realignment data will be November 5, 2021.

All enrollment data will be collected through the UIL Online Portal. Once the enrollment system is open, superintendents will log into uil.registermyathlete.com to submit enrollment data.

Additionally, once logged in, the superintendent can digitally assign and transfer this responsibility in the portal to another registered district employee with an account.

Conference and District Assignment Policies and Procedures for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Realignment are posted on the UIL website at: http://www.uiltexas.org/alignments

Updated 9/8/21

Music: Concert and Sight-Reading Adjustments Extended

The following concert and sight-reading adjustments from the 2020-21 school year have been extended through the 2021-22 school year.

  • The requirement for a school to enter a varsity music ensemble when participating in concert and sight-reading evaluation for the 2021-22 school year has been waived. When completing the registration process with the music region, each school may declare the status – varsity, non-varsity, or sub-non-varsity - of each band, choir, and orchestra ensemble that participates in concert and sight-reading evaluation.

  • For the 2021-22 school year the prescribed music list requirements and sight-reading levels have been adjusted.  The resulting sight-reading levels and associated time structures may be found here.

  • Band Sight-Reading .5 Criteria

  • Orchestra Sight Reading .5 Criteria

Updated 8/25/21

Varsity District Contests - School Week Exception

UIL continues to work to provide schools as much flexibility as possible to reschedule varsity district contests postponed due to COVID-19 related reasons. UIL has worked closely with TEA to clarify what this flexibility may include.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has been identified as a ‘public disaster’ by the State of Texas. As long as we remain under this status as ordered by Governor Abbott, UIL varsity district contests postponed because of COVID-19 reasons may be rescheduled and played as exceptions to the school week limit as noted in state regulations, as long as they are rescheduled and played on a date agreed upon by the two schools involved in the contest, or on a date as determined by the District Executive Committee, if the two schools cannot agree.

This exception applies only to varsity district contests when the Governor’s disaster declaration is in effect.

Updated 8/23/21

2021-2022 UIL Risk Mitigation Guidelines

UIL has posted updated UIL Risk Mitigation Guidelines consistent with the most recent TEA Public Health Guidance. Please feel free to contact UIL staff with any questions you may have.

Updated 8/3/21

UIL Guidance: Name, Image, Likeness (NIL)

UIL is issuing the following guidance related to high school student-athletes profiting from their name, image, or likeness (NIL).

Updated 7/14/21

UIL Guidance Related to SB 1697

UIL is issuing guidance related to the passage of SB 1697, which allows parents and guardians to elect for a student to repeat a grade, and its impact on UIL rules.

Updated 7/14/21

Eligibility Calendars

The following information is provided to help school districts develop their eligibility calendars. It can be found in the TEA/UIL Side-by-Side:

Updated 7/14/21

2021-2022 UIL Rule Changes 

UIL is providing information related to actions taken by the UIL Legislative Council on June 15, 2021 for the 2021-2022 school year. These changes will go into effect August 1, 2021.

Updated 6/4/21

2021-2022 UIL Risk Mitigation Guidelines

School Health Operations Requirements The guidance in this document is authorized by Executive Order GA-34, which has the effect of state law under Section 418.012 of the Texas Government Code. Executive Order GA-34 provides TEA with the legal authority to publish requirements for the operation of public school systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. This document takes effect June 5, 2021, replacing all prior guidance. These guidelines for all UIL activities are in addition to guidance issued by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and intended to be implemented along with TEA guidance, which applies to academic and extracurricular non-UIL activities. UIL recommends that public school systems consult with their local public health authorities and local legal counsel before making final decisions regarding the implementation of this guidance.

Updated 5/5/21

2021-2022 Information Related to Summer Activities and Fall Sports

Summer Activities

UIL summer marching band and strength and conditioning activities may begin following the end of 2020-2021 school year. Links to complete information, including the same additional time and allowances from the summer of 2020, are below:

  • Summer Marching Band Activities
    • Bands may spend 20 hours on marching fundamentals between the end of the 2020-2021 school year and August 1, 2021.
    • The first day for bands to begin learning the visual curriculum for the 2021 contest show is August 1, 2021.
  • Summer Strength and Conditioning and Sport Specific Skill Instruction
    • Strength and conditioning sessions may be conducted Monday through Friday.
    • Students may participate in 90 minutes per day of sport specific skill instruction with no more than 60 minutes per day in a given sport, Monday through Friday.
    • There are no “Periods of Inactivity” on the UIL calendar for summer 2021.

2021-2022 Fall Sports

For fall sports, there will be no limit on the number of schools who may participate in a meet or tournament. This includes team tennis, cross country, volleyball, and basketball. UIL will continue to monitor conditions and will announce any adjustments as they are available.

Updated 2/8/21

2021-2022 Report Forms & Pre-Participation Physicals

1205 (a) INDIVIDUAL REPORT FORMS. It shall be the responsibility of each school to keep on file the following required annual forms for each student who participates in any practice, scrimmage or game.

(1) Pre-participation Physical Examination. Upon entering the first and third years of high school, a physical examination signed by a physician, a physician assistant licensed by a State Board of Physician Assistant Examiners, a registered nurse recognized as an advanced practice nurse by the Board of Nurse Examiners or a Doctor of Chiropractic is required. Standardized Pre-Participation Physical Examination Forms, available from the UIL office and authorized by the UIL Medical Advisory Committee, are required. For the 2020-21 school year only, any participant in athletics or marching band, in any grade level, who has not previously completed a Pre-Participation Physical examination (PPE), and been cleared for participation, will be required to complete the Medical History Form as noted below, as well as a PPE prior to participation in any UIL practices, games, performances, or matches.

  • For the 2021-22 school year: Any participant in athletics or marching band, who was in their first or third year of high school during the 2020-21 school year and did not complete a Pre-Participation Physical Examination (PPE) for the 2020-21 school year, will be required to complete the Medical History Form as noted below, as well as a PPE prior to participation in any UIL practices, games, performances, or matches for the 2021-22 school year.

1478  (d) GENERAL REGULATIONS FOR ATHLETIC COMPETITION.

(4) Pre-Participation Physical Examination. Upon entering the first year in junior high athletics a physical examination signed by a physician, a physician assistant licensed by a state board of physician assistant examiners, a registered nurse recognized as an advanced practice nurse by the board of nurse examiners or a Doctor of Chiropractic is required. Standardized pre-participation physical examination forms, available from the UIL office and authorized by the UIL Medical Advisory Committee are required. 

(5) Medical History Form. Each year prior to any practice or participation a UIL medical history form signed by both student and a parent or guardian is required. A medical history form shall accompany each physical examination and shall be signed by both student and a parent or guardian. For the 2020-21 school year only, any participant in athletics or marching band, in any grade level, who has not previously completed a Pre-Participation Physical examination (PPE), and been cleared for participation, will be required to complete the Medical History Form as noted below, as well as a PPE prior to participation in any UIL practices, games, performances, or matches. 

  • For the 2021-22 school year: Any participant in athletics or marching band, who was in their first year of junior high school during the 2020-21 school year and did not complete a Pre-Participation Physical Examination (PPE) for the 2020-21 school year, will be required to complete the Medical History Form as noted, as well as a PPE prior to participation in any UIL practices, games, performances, or matches for the 2021-22 school year.

2021 Summer Strength and Conditioning Activities and Sport Specific Skill Instruction

Information related to and guidelines for summer 2021 strength and conditioning activities will be released soon. The following information can be used for planning purposes until further information is released:

  • Strength and conditioning sessions are limited to once per day, and no longer than two hours per day.
  • Sport-specific skill instruction may be conducted in addition to strength and conditioning sessions. A student may participate in a maximum of 90 minutes per day with no more than 60 minutes per day in a given sport.
  • Sessions for each may be scheduled only Monday through Friday.
  • There are no “Periods of No Activity” on the UIL calendar for the summer of 2021.

2021 Summer Marching Band Activities

Information related to and guidelines for summer 2021 marching band activities will be released soon. At this time, we anticipate the following will be in place for summer 2021 marching band activities.

  • Bands may spend 20 hours on marching fundamentals between the end of the 2020-2021 school year and August 1, 2021.
  • The first day for bands to begin learning the visual curriculum for the 2021 contest show is August 1, 2021.

2021-2022 UIL Tentative Calendar

The 2021-2022 UIL Tentative Calendar is now available. Please note this calendar is tentative and based on information available to us at this time. Changes that become necessary will be released as soon as they are available.

2021-2022 Fall Sports

The following information is for planning purposes and is based on information available at this time. UIL will continue to monitor conditions and will announce adjustments as they are available.

  • At this time, 2020-2021 team tennis and cross country meet and tournament restrictions will continue for 2021-2022. Adjustments based on changing conditions will be announced as they are available.
  • We anticipate volleyball teams will be allowed to participate in tournaments for the 2021 season. At this time, schools can plan for those volleyball tournaments to be limited to eight schools per tournament site, with no more than four schools on-site at one time. Adjustments will be announced as they are available.
  • We anticipate basketball teams will be allowed to participate in tournaments for the 2021-2022 season. Information and restrictions related to those basketball tournaments will be released at a later time.