The fall sports season is on the horizon, and school officials should prepare to tackle issues related to student-athlete discipline, eligibility, physicals, annual consent forms, concussion awareness, transfers, and personal branding activities. The frequently asked questions below will assist school officials with answering questions about student athletics.
Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) member-schools are bound by MHSAA rules, including those addressing eligibility and enrollment. In some cases, MHSAA rules may be nuanced and may require consultation with MHSAA. The FAQs below are general answers, but specific situations may require a close review of MHSAA rules to ensure compliance.
- Are student-athletes subject to the student code of conduct?
Yes. Student-athletes are not only subject to the student code of conduct, but also any athletic code of conduct, which may be more stringent. Student handbooks should describe behavior rules and expectations specifically for students who participate in sports and the disciplinary consequences for violating those rules. Rules must be carefully tailored and applied uniformly so as not to infringe on student rights, including free speech and free exercise of religion.
- Is the school required to provide a student-athlete with due process before suspending them from an athletic activity?
It depends. Athletic participation is a privilege, not a right. Therefore, no due process is required unless a school voluntarily established due process procedures for student athletes, such as in the student code of conduct.
If due process procedures are in place, the procedures should be limited to providing notice of the alleged wrongdoing and an opportunity to respond. We recommend reviewing student handbooks before fall sports begin to ensure that any due process procedures for athletics are legally compliant and not overly burdensome.
- Are there age requirements to participate in MHSAA-sponsored sports?
Yes. To participate in 7th grade sports, a student must be 13 years old or younger, unless the student turns 14 on or after September 1 of the 7th grade school year. For 8th grade athletic eligibility, a student must be 14 years old or younger, unless the student turns 15 on or after September 1 of the 8th grade school year. A student must be 18 years old or younger to play high school sports, unless the student turns 19 on or after September 1 of the competition school year.
- When must a student be enrolled to participate in MHSAA-sponsored sports?
Generally, a student must be enrolled in the school not later than the fourth Friday after Labor Day for the fall season (i.e., October 2, 2026) and not later than the fourth Friday of February for the winter season (i.e., February 26, 2027) to be eligible to play MHSAA- sponsored sports.
- What forms must students submit before they participate in MHSAA-sponsored sports?
Students must submit a Medical Eligibility Form signed by a health care professional (M.D., D.O., P.A., or N.P.) verifying that they had a physical examination. This form also requires parental consent, emergency contact information, acknowledgment of an assumption of the risk statement, medical treatment consent, and proof of medical insurance.
Additionally, Michigan’s sports concussion law requires the student and their parent or guardian to sign a Concussion Education Acknowledgement Form verifying that they received educational materials on sports concussions, including a description of concussion signs and symptoms.
- Are transfer students eligible to participate in MHSAA-sponsored sports?
It depends. In general, students are eligible to participate in MHSAA-sponsored sports at the school located within the district in which one of the student’s parents reside. Students who change schools and do not meet one of MHSAA’s 15 enumerated exceptions are not eligible for the upcoming season in the same sport that they participated in during the immediately preceding season. If a student is participating in a sport and transfers to a new school mid-season, the student is ineligible to participate in that same sport during the remainder of the current season and the following season.
- What are Personal Branding Activities, and what limitations apply to school districts?
As of January 2026, the MHSAA permits Michigan high school student-athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness through Personal Branding Activities (PBAs). A PBA is broadly defined as an arrangement in which a student-athlete promotes or endorses a product or service in exchange for current or prospective fees, money, compensation, income, or another thing of value, regardless of whether the activity is tied directly to athletics. School officials should understand the following limitations and ensure they are clearly communicated to students, families, coaches, and support organizations:
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- No school branding: Student-athletes may not use school or MHSAA names, logos, mascots, trademarks, uniforms, varsity jackets, or other school-branded clothing in any PBA, nor may they imply that the school or MHSAA endorses the activity.
- No use of school property: School facilities and property cannot be used in connection with earning PBA compensation.
- No pay-for-play or recruiting inducements: Compensation cannot be tied to athletic performance, statistics, awards, team participation, or competition outcomes, and it cannot be used to influence a student to attend or remain enrolled at a particular school. In addition, schools and associated individuals may not provide, arrange, or facilitate PBA deals.
- No PBA during school or school-related events: Students may not engage in PBA activities during school hours or while participating in any MHSAA event, including practices, scrimmages, meetings, and competitions.
- No PBA with inappropriate industries: PBAs cannot involve products, services, individuals, companies, or industries the MHSAA deems inappropriate, unsafe, or inconsistent with the values and goals of interscholastic athletics, including gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, banned substances, adult content, and firearms.
School officials should review board policies, student handbooks, booster practices, and staff training to ensure that no school employee or affiliated individual improperly facilitates or endorses PBA activity and that students receive clear guidance before opportunities arise.
Additionally, to prepare for the upcoming season, school officials should review their school’s athletic code of conduct to ensure compliance with any more stringent eligibility requirements beyond those imposed by MHSAA.