The following regulations have been established by the State Superintendent of Schools to govern the athletic program for all high school students in Maryland public secondary schools that are members of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA).  Local school systems may adopt rules governing their athletic programs that are more restrictive than those of the MPSSAA. Less restrictive rules may not be adopted.

Student Participation Regulations:

Students shall be officially registered and attending a member MPSSAA school.   They may represent only the school in which they are registered and at which it is anticipated they will complete their graduation requirements. Ninth grade public school students, who reside in the attendance area of a high school organized 10-12 may participate in the interscholastic athletics program of that high school.  Each local school system shall establish standards of participation which assure that students involved in interscholastic athletics are making satisfactory progress toward graduation.

Students who are 19 years old or older as of August 31 are ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics.

Students may participate in interscholastic athletic contests for a maximum of three seasons in any one sport in grades 10, 11, and 12. Students who participate on an interscholastic team in grade 9 will have a maximum athletic eligibility of four seasons in any one sport.  Middle,  intermediate,  or junior high school students are not eligible to compete or practice with high school teams.  However,  ninth grade public school students, who reside in the attendance area of a high school organized 10-12 may participate in the interscholastic athletics program of that high school.

Sport Season Regulations:

MPSSAA member schools shall conduct all interscholastic athletic contests and practice sessions in accordance with the following:

The sports seasons shall be defined as follows:

1. “Fall” means the sixth Saturday following the first full week of July until the final date of the county, conference, district, regional, or state tournament..
2. "Winter" means November 15th until the final date of the county, conference, district, regional, or State tournament.
3. "Spring" means March 1st until the final date of the county, conference, district, regional, or State tournament.
4. When August 15th, November 15th, or March 1st falls on Sunday, practice will start the preceding Saturday.

County Eligibility Standards:

1. To be eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics or extracurricular activities, grades 9 through 12, a student must maintain a "C" average (2.0 grade point average or greater) as determined by existing county grading procedures in the courses taken in a given eligibility period. A student may earn a maximum of one "E" grade in courses taken during that eligibility period.

2. Academic eligibility period means the period of time during which a student may participate in interscholastic athletics and extracurricular activities. Academic eligibility periods are determined by the date of issuance of report cards reflecting grades earned during the marking period.

3. Academic probation means the consequence that occurs when a student fails to maintain academic eligibility standards.
Academic probation period means the period of time during which a student may participate in interscholastic athletic practices or extracurricular clubs, meetings or rehearsals, but will not participate in interscholastic athletic contests or extracurricular contests or performances.

4. Academic Athletic Eligibility - A senior high school student on academic probation may resume participation in interscholastic athletics and extracurricular activities at the conclusion of the 15th senior high school day if the sponsor of the activity notifies the principal that the student has corrected an academic deficiency and is now academically eligible. Students who are placed on academic probation may participate in interscholastic athletic practices or extracurricular clubs, meetings, or rehearsals provided the student attends academic assistance sessions approved by the principal and forwarded to the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction or designee for review.

5. Any student who fails to meet the standards of eligibility at the end of the school year may attend summer school and remove the deficiencies. Fall eligibility will be computed by using the 8 highest grades from the fourth marking and summer school.