UIL Creates New Eligibility Form for Student Athletes Displaced by Hurricane Rita

Date: Sep 28, 2005
Category: Athletics

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN, TX- The University Interscholastic League created a new eligibility form today to be used for student athletes displaced by Hurricane Rita. The new form, along with information regarding the varsity athletic eligibility of these students can be found on the UIL web site: www.uil.utexas.edu .

Additionally, the UIL is issuing the following information regarding the modification of the 15-Day Rule for those students who temporarily attend a new school and then return to their original school once it is re-opened.

15-Day Rule
ο Displaced student athletes who choose to temporarily attend a new school and participate invarsity athletics with an eligibility waiver are subject to the 15-day rule at the new school. 

ο Displaced student athletes who choose to temporarily attend a new school and participate in any practice (before, during or after school) or contest at any level, and 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 need to complete a Previous Athletic Participation Form prior to varsity athletic participation at the original school.

ο Displaced student athletes who choose to temporarily attend a new school and do not participate in any practice (before, during or after school) or contest at any level and 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.

The following information is clarification of the Parent Residence Rule as is pertains to students displaced by Hurricane Rita.

Parent Residence Rule
If a student athlete displaced by Hurricane Rita is granted an Athletic Eligibility Waiver to participate at a new school, that eligibility waiver is only valid as long as the student's parents remain in the attendance zone of that new school. If the original school re-opens and the parents of the displaced student athlete return to the attendance zone of the original school, the Athletic Eligibility Waiver will be null and void. If the parents of the displaced student leave the attendance zone to establish residence in another school attendance zone, the Athletic Eligibility Waiver will benull and void. If the displaced student athlete remains in the new school, they would be ineligible for varsity athletic participation beginning with the time their parents leave the new school attendance zone until they have been enrolled in the new school consecutively for one year, or until the student has filed for and been granted a Waiver of the Parent Residence Rule.

Any questions on requirements associated with this situation should be directed to the UIL Athletic Office. 

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