Ohio high schools have unanimously approved all 13 proposed revisions to the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Constitution and Bylaws during the annual referendum voting period that concluded Thursday.
The sweeping changes, which will mostly take effect August 1, include modifications to school membership requirements, transfer eligibility rules, and competitive balance measures.
“Ohio High School Athletic Association member schools have passed all 13 proposed revisions to the OHSAA Constitution and Bylaws,” OHSAA Director of Media Relations Tim Stried announced in a release on Friday.
The referendum voting period ran from May 1 through May 15, with each member school’s high school principal casting one vote on each item as required by OHSAA Constitution Article 8-1-9.
One of the most significant changes reduces the minimum sports requirement for OHSAA member schools. Schools will now need to sponsor at least one recognized sport per season and a total of six throughout the school year, down from the previous requirement of two sports per season.
Schools failing to meet these requirements will face penalties, including postseason ineligibility. Not offering a total of six sports during a given year will result in probation and ineligibility for all postseason participation the following school year, while not offering at least one sport during a season will make a school ineligible for postseason participation during that season the following year.
Other key changes include new exceptions for transfer students and adjustments to competitive balance measures. Issue 5B creates a new exception allowing the Executive Director’s Office to grant eligibility to students when a non-relative obtains custody while their parents move outside Ohio, provided certain conditions are met.
Issues related to home instruction, residency requirements, and mid-season transfers also received approval, with all 13 items passing by substantial margins.
The approved Constitution changes took effect immediately on May 16, while most Bylaw revisions will be implemented on August 1.
Member school principals also voted for representatives to fill expiring positions on their respective OHSAA District Athletic Boards, with new terms beginning August 1, 2025.
The OHSAA, a voluntary, unincorporated, and nonprofit membership organization, currently consists of 817 high schools and 744 7th and 8th grade schools across Ohio.
Complete voting results and detailed information about the referendum issues are available on the OHSAA website.
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