PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
It is important to realize that the CYO athletic program has been created to offer youth an opportunity to compete in sports while stressing traditional Christian values. Families support the activities with volunteer time and money. We are interested in maintaining a fair and even playing field and have general expectations of all who participate in the program.It is expected that youth who attend a particular Catholic school or parish will compete for that school or parish team unless that school or parish does not have a team. In that case the youth should explore playing up a grade. In the event that the sport is not offered, the youth should look to the geographically closest school or parish that does offer that sport. When a participant is granted an exception to leave their school or parish then they are required to return to their school or parish if that sport or team does form at any time in the future.
When a youth is required to return to their school or parish and attends a church in a different parish, they are expected to make a choice as to which team they will participate with and then stay with that school or parish team. They may not change back and forth unless the school or parish team they have selected does not offer a particular sport they want to participate in.
Children that attended a Catholic School last year and now attend public school will have the option of participating for that same Catholic School however, you are still required to fill out an Eligibility and Exception form and have it processed through the Club Athletic Director to Rules & Compliance for approval.
All eligibility cases must be written on the Eligibility and Exception form, required signatures must be gathered and the form must be submitted with a boundary map showing the participants location, through the athletic director to the CYO office. All Eligibility and Exceptions must be approved in writing prior to the participation of the youth on a team (that includes practices).
All decisions in regard to Eligibility and Exceptions will be made by the Rules and Compliance committee, not the CYO staff. Once a decision has been made the Club Athletic Director will be notified.
CATEGORY
- Youth attends a Catholic school or is an active, participating member of a Catholic parish.
- High school, football and cheerleading participants must meet additional eligibility requirements outlined in the sport specific rule section of the CYO Sports Manual.
- Any youth not meeting the above criteria will be treated as an “Exception” and must be presented to the CYO Rules and Compliance Committee.
IN ADDITION
- Youth must play for the CYO Club geographically closest to their school or parish.
- All youth meeting the CYO eligibility requirements are to participate in CYO athletic programs without cuts.
- Youth requesting consideration under the American Disabilities Act should be aware that CYO is exempt under Title 3. CYO, after assessment from the information provided by the participant’s medical provider, will give the youth the opportunity to participate with accommodation in the CYO Program. The parent/guardian shall facilitate and pay for the CYO required information. The parent/guardian shall pay the cost of the CYO accommodations.
- Youth may participate on another community-sponsored team (including practices and/or games) and will be eligible to participate in the same CYO sport in the season as long as that alternate participation does not affect the player’s availability for CYO practice and games. EXAMPLE: community-sponsored teams including those sponsored by school districts, park departments, private clubs, private individuals, commercial firms, AAU and the like.
- The number of “Exception” players per team is limited as follows:
- Volleyball - two players
- Basketball - two players
- Swimming - 25% of team
- Track & Field - 25% of team
- If a team requires more than the allowed amount to field a team, they may NOT be eligible for post season tournaments/championships. Your eligibility will be determined by the Rules & Compliance Committee.
- For football, cheerleading, volleyball and basketball youth must participate in at least 75% of the CYO sport specific events excluding post season and non-league events. For track youth must have qualifying time from a regular season meet. For swimming youth must participate in a minimum of 2 regular season meets. Failure to meet the above standards will result in the youth not being eligible to participate in post-season championship events. Participation in another CYO sport event is an exception to the above. (Example: youth participating in both basketball and swimming and had simultaneous sport events can only participate in one event. They will not be penalized for the event they did not participate in).
- Participants must register online and agree to the terms and conditions of the Annual Permission and Participation Agreement, the CYO Code of Conduct and the Concussion Management Training. The CYO athletic director must be notified prior to participation in any CYO program.
- Non-Club teams: CYO reserves the right to admit non-profit institutions possessing an IRS 501c3 Certificate teams providing they comply with the eligibility requirements set down by CYO.
ELIGIBILITY EXCEPTIONS
All exceptions to the eligibility criteria must be approved each sport season in writing prior to youth participating with the team. This must be accomplished by submitting a detailed, written request on the Eligibility Exception Request form, with a boundary map showing the participants location, through the CYO athletic director, to the CYO office. The CYO Rules & Compliance Committee will make all eligibility determinations. Once a decision has been made, your Athletic Director will be notified. There is no guarantee that if an exception was approved in previous years that it will be approved again.
- Goals of Player Eligibility Exceptions:
- To honor and respect Club and Non-Club organizations geographical boundaries so that participant populations have an equal opportunity to compete at equal levels.
- To provide a format of facilitating youth to participate in the CYO organization without the intent of stacking teams” or “recruiting more skilled players” with a focus of winning.
- To accommodate participants of a CYO organization that does not offer a particular CYO Sport to participate at another CYO organization offering that same sport.
- To acquaint youth and parents who are not members of the CYO organization that may not otherwise have participated in the CYO community, an opportunity to understand, appreciate and participate in the benefits of CYO.
- To allow CYO organizations to complete roster requirements.
- Criteria
- Youth must attempt to play for the CYO organization geographically closest to their CYO organization.
- When this does apply:
- The athletic director from that CYO organization geographically closest must agree to waive rights to the CYO organization accepting the participant. (This does NOT automatically guarantee that your exception will be approved).
- The accepting CYO organization must demonstrate that a beneficial connection exists between the proposed participant and the requesting CYO organization.
- The CYO organization team requesting the exception does not compromise the requirement of the number of exception players permitted.
