Sanderson High School strictly adheres to North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) eligibility rules and regulations. To be eligible to participate in athletics, students must meet certain requirements. There are so many eligibility rules, it is impossible to list them all here. Some of the most important ones are--

• You must submit the ATHLETIC FORMS packet prior to trying out, practicing or playing any sport. The packet includes the medical exam form. The medical exam is valid for 365 days.
• You must pass at least three out of four subjects EACH SEMESTER in order to play a sport the next semester.
• You must meet the promotion standards to go from one grade to the next each year.
• You must have a cumulative GPA of at least 1.5 or 2.0 during the prior semester.
• You must have attended school at least 85% of the days of the past semester to participate during the present semester. Appeals for a waiver can be made in special medical cases. See your coach for details. Appeals to waive an FF in a class have nothing to do with an athletic eligibility appeal.
• You must be in attendance at school all day to play or practice that day, with the exception of doctor's visits or other activities approved by the principal.
• You must live with a parent or legal custodian and be assigned to Sanderson.
• From the time you enter ninth grade for the first time, you get the next eight consecutive semesters to play high school sports.
• You cannot play sports in any high school in NC if you are 19 or older as of Oct. 16th of the academic year.
• You cannot participate if you have been convicted of a felony OR are an adjudicated delinquent for an offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult.

Students or parents with questions about the eligibility rules should contact a coach or athletic director Tony Lewis.

Preface: The criteria for earning the SHS varsity letter have been established by the members of the Sanderson High School coaching staff. A philosophy underlies the criteria. The coaching staff believes that, for students at our school, earning a varsity letter should require evidence of commitment to team and expertise in sport. Measuring expertise is not a science. Nonetheless, we have well-defined standards for the sake of uniform decision-making. The criteria are set according to standards the coaching staff believes are high, yet reasonable. The policies are intended to encourage students to persevere toward the goal of earning the varsity letter rather than to discourage or belittle anyone who fails to attain the standards. All coaches are invited to participate in the process of adopting and amending the criteria. Suggestions for change must be recommended by a coach and are adopted only upon approval of a majority of the full coaching staff.

I. General Policies

1. Varsity athletes who remain as members of the team in good standing throughout the full season are eligible to earn a varsity letter, subject to the provisions below.
2. Senior athletes who have participated in a given program (varsity or junior varsity) for at least three years shall receive a varsity letter.
3. Injured athletes who meet the playing time criteria for the contests held up to the time of the injury may receive a letter.
4. A student-trainer will receive a letter after his/her second season of service. This will be done under the direction of the Faculty Trainer and the Athletic Director.
5. Managers who have held the position for at least three seasons in the same sport may earn a letter. Only those who, in the judgment of the coach, have made a significant commitment of time and effort shall be awarded the letter.
6. Any student involved in the athletic program who does not receive a letter will receive a certificate of participation.
7. In cases of extenuating circumstances, exceptions to the standards listed below are permitted with the approval of the coach and the athletic director

II. Playing Time Criteria for each Sport (regular season events)

1. Baseball & Softball: participate in 50% of innings played
2. Basketball & Football: participate in 50% of quarters played
3. Cross Country: must earn 20 points per season...points awarded per meet are 9,8,7,6,5, 4,3
4. Golf: participate in 50% of team matches played
5. Gymnastics: compete in 60% of the team's meets AND score an 8.0 or above for a routine during the season
6. Soccer: participate in 50% of halves played
7. Swimming & Diving: 1. compete in 60% of the team's meets AND 2. a. score in 2 events in the county/conference championship meet OR b. meet the qualifying standards for regional competition set by the NCHSAA
8. Tennis: participate in #1-6 flite singles or #1-3 flite doubles for at least 50% of the matches played
9. Track & Field: score at least 18 points during the season in competition against opponents
10. Volleyball: participate in 50% of the games played
11. Wrestling: participate in 50% of the team's matches
12. Cheerleading: varsity members must cheer in at least 87% of the games and attend 86% of the practices during the combined fall and winter seasons in a single academic year.

Adopted: Fall 1983 Revised: Fall 1987, Fall 1988, Fall 1989, Spring 1990, Fall 1991, Fall 1994, Fall 1995, Fall 1996, Fall 2000, Spring 2002, Spring 2005, Spring 2010

Please click on the following link for the SHS Parent Brochure for all information dealing with Ethics, Sportmanship and Parent coach communication.  Click Here