The Latest Headlines from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association
September 2019
Changes to the Transfer Rule for 2019-20
In late July, the Central Committee revised the NYSPHSAA Transfer Rule after several years of discussion. Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director, said “this change will allow the transfer rule to focus on varsity participation and what is in the best interests of the students we serve.”

The Transfer Rule will now allow a student who transfers without a corresponding change of address, to be eligible for sub-varsity participation and practice (grades 7-10) and practice only for non-corresponding transfer students in grades 11 and 12. In the past, if a student transferred without a corresponding change of address, they were deemed ineligible for the period of one year in all sports they played in the prior year for both competition and practice. 

The less restrictive transfer rule now affords students to be introduced into the new program, make friends and gain a valuable and often times much needed sense of belonging at their new school, without negatively impacting another school’s opportunity of playing for a Sectional or State title.

Any questions pertaining to the new transfer rule should be sent to Dr. Robert Zayas at rzayas@nysphsaa.org
NYSPHSAA in the News
According to a recent released survey from the NFHS, there has been a decline in participation in High School Athletics across the country for the first time in 30 years.
Click here to see the NFHS press release.

NYSPHSAA Executive Director Dr. Robert Zayas gave his thoughts on the news to WGRZ (Channel 2) In Buffalo the day the information came out.

2019-20 Athletic Director Workshops
Please take note of the mandatory Athletic Director workshops that will be taking place in your sections in the coming days.

Topics such as eligibility standards, NYSED Regulations, review of recently revised rules and an overview of the NYSPHSAA Handbook are covered during the two-hour workshop hosted by Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director and Todd Nelson, Assistant Director.

9/9/19 - Section 9 – 9:30 AM – Wallkill HS
9/10/19 - Section 1 – 9:30 AM – Pearl River Elks, 2041 Elks Drive, Nanuet
9/16/19 - Section 4 – 9:00 AM – Chenango Valley HS
9/17/19 - Section 7 – 9:30 AM – Lake Placid Training Center
9/19/19 - Section 11 – 8:30 AM – Holbrook Country Club
9/20/19 - Section 8 – 8:30 AM – George Farber Administration Center
9/25/19 - Section 3 – 8:30 AM – Tailwater Lodge, 52 Pulaski Street, Altmar
9/26/19 - Section 10 – 8:30 AM - BOCES, 40 West Main Street, Canton
10/2/19 - Section 2 – 8:00 AM - Van Patten Golf Course, Clifton Park (Registration @ 7:30 AM)
10/16/19 – Make-Up – 9:00 AM – NYSPHSAA Office, Latham
Consult the NYSPHSAA Handbook
The most recent changes and additions to the NYSPHSAA handbook have been updated. This includes changes to the Girls Tennis practice rule, minimum practice requirements and changes to modified sports.

The NYSPHSAA handbook can always be found here.
Officials Appreciation Day
The first ever NYSPHSAA Official Appreciation Day will take place Wednesday, October 2.

This is an opportunity to thank the people who help keep interscholastic athletics going in New York State.

Thank an official in person that day or use the hastag #NYSPHSAAOfficialsDay on social media channels like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Share photos, memories of relationships with officials or just say Thank You!
Scholar-Athlete Opens October 28th
The fall Scholar-Athlete submission period opens on Monday, October 28th.

Click here to submit your Scholar-Athletes for the fall of 2019

Deadline to submit is Monday, December 9th.
Free Hazing Prevention Course
Back for the 2019-20 school year is the free hazing prevention course offered by NYSPHSAA."Hazing Prevention: It's Everyone's Responsibility"

Before the fall season starts why not sit with your coaches and use this free course that can help your school?

To use the hazing prevention course offered by prevent.zone and hazingprevention.org click here

Don't wait till it's too late! Use the free course today!
Championship Site Bids Open Now
Currently, NYSPHSAA is accepting bids to host future state championships.

  • Boys Golf Championships 2020-2022 (deadline Sept. 13, 2019)

  • Boys and Girls Bowling Championships 2021-2023 (deadline Oct. 16, 2019)

If you know of a site that would be interested in hosting one of these state championships, please use the link here and submit a Championship RFP.
2019-20 Community Service Challenge
The fall Community Service Challenge is now open. This is an opportunity to reward and honor the great work your student-athletes are doing in their communities.

Nominate for the Community Service Challenge three times a year, in the fall, winter and spring seasons thanks to out partners at Team Up 4 Community.

Deadline to apply for the fall Community Service Challenge is Monday, November 11.

Want to be an Official?
Check out the officials page on nysphsaa.org. It has important information for current officials and information on signing up if you are interested in becoming an official.

Click here to visit the officials page
Expert Sports Nutritionists Weigh in on
Trending Topics
Refuel With Chocolate Milk by the American Dairy Association North East is proud to sponsor high school athletes and provide nutrition information for coaches and athletes. All content is prepared by our expert panel of sports nutritionists. 

This month, Pittsburgh Steelers sports dietitian Matt Darnell has advice for injury recovery. Check out his tips and download the locker room handout.  

Leslie Bonci, sports dietitian for the Kansas City Chiefs and consultant for the NCAA, MLB and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, takes on the question, "Is Keto right for you?" Download the Keto handout.
Free Courses Avaliable from NFHS
Did you know the NFHS offers free on-line educational courses on a variety of topics?

The latest course is focused on Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. For a complete list of the courses available click here.
#MyReasonWhy
Don't forget to tell us #MyReasonWhy on social media. Tell us why you participate in sports, after school activities, coaching, officiating or other ways athletics have made a difference in your life.
Return to Learn Training
The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS) was recently awarded a grant by the New York State Health Foundation to provide educators throughout New York State with Return to Learn training for when they are working with concussed students. BIANYS is a statewide, non-profit membership organization that advocates on behalf of people with brain injuries and their families. BIANYS provides education, advocacy and community support services that lead to improved outcomes for individuals and families impacted by brain injury.

These presentations are completely free for all participants and can be done at any teacher training day, staff meeting, etc., during the 2019-2020 school year. The presentation has been created by Dr. Brian Rieger and Dr. Andrew Hess, BIANYS Concussion Initiative Co-chairs, and by Michelle Kellen, M.Ed., a former Teacher, Coach, Associate Principal and Athletic Director, who also gives the presentation.

For a training that requires an overnight stay, the presenter will be available to do a free presentation for parents and students about Concussions and Concussion Management during an evening program. 

Each training is 75-90 minutes long. BIANYS is a New York State approved CTLE provider. Please contact Michelle Kellen at 518-459-7911 or mkellen@bianys.org to schedule a training. The schedule will fill up fast, so please reach out today!
Access to financial aid is a key factor in whether low-income students – including many of New York’s student athletes – have the opportunity to attend college.

Yet across New York, low-income high school students are more likely than their wealthier peers to attend schools with low rates of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The New York FAFSA Completion Project aims to raise awareness of the importance of completing the FAFSA and provide easily accessible resources to schools so they can help more students through the process, drawing on national research and best practices already being used in New York schools.

Those resources include an interactive data tool that allows users to track the progress of New York high schools, with new FAFSA completion estimates updated weekly and comparisons to similar schools and top performers
.
The “3 Steps Every High School Can Take” resource at NYFAFSAChallenge.org encourages schools to:
1. Help their seniors make a plan to complete the FAFSA;
2. Hold a FAFSA completion event; and
3. Set targets and track the data.

At the end of the school year, Ed Trust–NY’s FAFSA Completion Challenge will recognize schools with high completion rates and that show improvement. Twelve awards will be granted to schools across the state. Each award will consist of $750 granted to the winning high schools for the purpose of providing a scholarship to one of its students.
Explore the data, read more about FAFSA completion strategies being used at New York schools, and find additional resources at NYFAFSAChallenge.org.
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