OHSAA schools to vote to allow public to public sports participation

In May, Ohio High School Athletic Association member schools will decide on giving kids more opportunities to play sports.

During the annual referendum voting period from Mat 1-15, OHSAA member schools will vote on 12 referendum issues facing high school sports. The 12 proposals could apply changes to the OHSAA constitution and bylaws.

BEST OF THE BEST: Richland County high school sports efforts shine in top performers list

The most interesting issue is Issue 2B - Bylaw 4-3-1 (Enrollment and attendance, exc. 8, non-enrolled participation) which if passes would allow students at an OHSAA member public school that does not sponsor a particular team sport to participate in that sport at another OHSAA member public school. If the issue passes, there would be two conditions:

1. The other school is within 20 miles by the most direct route.
2. The superintendents of both schools have to approve the arrangement.

In multi–high school districts, students whose school does not offer a specific sport may be assigned to participate at another school within the same district.

This issue became a hot topic in Richland County during the 2026 spring season when Mansfield Senior could not field a full varsity softball team with parents and athletes seeking an opportunity to play high school softball. Under current rules, no student at a public school that does not offer a varsity sport the student would like to participate in is not allowed to play that particular sport at a different school. The referendum is seeking to change that.

Students at a private school wishing to participate in a sport that is not offered by the private school are allowed to play at the public school in which they reside. That has become popular with students at Mansfield Christian and St. Peter's playing football at the school district in which they live.

Voting results will be announced on May 18 and a simple majority vote is needed to pass an issue. The OHSAA is expected to hold meetings on April 14, April 15, April 20, April 23, April 27 and April 28 to explain each referendum issue in full detail to school administrators so they may cast an educated vote.

Below are the other 11 OHSAA referendum issues as announced by Tim Stried, Director of Media Relations at the OHSAA.

Mansfield Senior's Hannah Nolen delivers a pitch during an Ohio Cardinal Conference softball game on April 1, 2025. Nolen was not offered a chance to play softball in 2026 after Mansfield Senior canceled the season due to a shortage of eligible players.

2026 OHSAA Referendum Issues

Constitution Articles (1 Issue – Voted on by High School Principals):

ISSUE 1C – Constitution Article 8, Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws (Modification)

Would allow the OHSAA Board of Directors to reinstate a bylaw or constitutional provision that was previously removed to comply with state law, if that law is later repealed. This eliminates the need for an emergency referendum and allows the rule to take effect immediately as it was last approved by the membership.

7th & 8th Grade Ballot (3 Issues):

ISSUE 1B – Bylaw 4-2-2, Exceptions 1 & 2, 7th & 8th Grade Age Exceptions (Modifications) AND

ISSUE 2B – Bylaw 4-3-4, Exception 1, 7th & 8th Grade Semesters Exception (Modification)

Would revise the current requirement that a student must have no impact on the outcome of a contest to qualify for the requested exception, changing it to require that the student does not have a significant impact. This allows students who play a limited role (e.g., are in the rotation but not a major contributor) to still be eligible. The Executive Director’s Office will consider the extent of the student’s participation when making determinations. All other requirements remain unchanged.

ISSUE 3B – Bylaw 4-4-5 Exception 1, 7th & 8th Grade Academic Hardship Exception (Modification)

Would remove the requirement that a student must have been withdrawn or removed from school during the immediately preceding grading period for the exception to apply. Instead, the student and/or family must provide documentation showing that a hardship existed at the time their ineligibility occurred.

Bylaw Articles (8 Issues – Voted on by High School Principals):

ISSUE 1B – Bylaw 4-1-4, Member of an Interscholastic Team (Modification)

Would add language to clarify that a school is considered to have “sponsored a sport” once its team participates in a regular-season contest (not a preseason event). This helps determine student eligibility to participate elsewhere, either under state law or Bylaw 4-3-1 Exception 8 (if approved), when their school of attendance cancels its season.

ISSUE 3B - Bylaw 4¬-4-1 Exception 1, High School Academic Hardship Exception (Modification)

Would remove the requirement that a student must have been withdrawn or removed from school during the immediately preceding grading period for the exception to apply. Instead, the student and/or family must provide documentation showing that a hardship existed at the time their ineligibility occurred.

ISSUE 4B – Bylaw 4-6-2, Exceptions 4 & 6, Residency Exceptions (Modifications)

Modifications to Exception 4 would permit a student whose parents live outside the state of Ohio, but who have been continuously enrolled within the same member public school/district since the start of 6th grade**, to participate at the member high school in which they are enrolled.

**Current requirement is enrollment from the start of 1st grade for public high schools, and the start of 6th grade for non-public high schools. Proposed modification brings consistency to requirements.

Parallel modifications to Exceptions 4 and 6 would add language to permit students whose parents live outside the state of Ohio, but who have been continuously enrolled within the same member school district/system since the start of 4th grade, to participate within that district/system in 7th & 8th grade. Applicable for both public and non-public members.

ISSUE 5B – Bylaw 4-7-2, Definition of Transfer (New Note)

Would exempt a student from being subject to the transfer bylaw when they change their enrollment to a different but return to the same school of attendance without participating in any sport(s) while enrolled at the other school.

ISSUE 6B – Bylaw 4-7-2, Exception 1, Bona Fide Change of Residence (New Definition)

Would codify a formal definition of a bona fide change of residence. The definition would require a student’s parents to fully relinquish all responsibility for their previous residence, such as by selling it, leasing it to a non-family member, transferring it to an LLC for business purposes, or terminating the lease, in order for this exception to apply. The new language also gives the Executive Director’s Office discretion to review and address cases where this requirement has not been fully met.

ISSUE 7B – Bylaw 4-7-8, Superintendent’s Memorandum of Understanding, Transfer (New Bylaw)

Would allow a transfer student to have their eligibility fully restored upon a transfer if the Superintendents or Heads of School from both OHSAA member school systems enter into a memorandum of understanding confirming that the transfer is necessary to protect the student’s physical or mental well-being or to address other appropriate extenuating circumstances. This exception may be used up to two times during a student’s high school career. If approved, Bylaw 4-7-2 Exceptions 4 (Self-Support), 9 (Discontinues Entire interscholastic Athletics Program), and 10 (Death of Immediate Family Member) would be stricken.

ISSUE 8B – Bylaw 4-11 NIL (Modifications and New Section)

Would add clarifying language to Bylaws 4-11-2 (b) and (d), and 4-11-3 to ensure consistent application within NIL regulations. Also creates new Bylaw 4-11-8, which allows students to enter into agreements with athlete agents (only as defined in ORC §§ 4471.01) solely for marketing purposes. Any such agreement must also be disclosed to the Executive Director’s Office within 14 days.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: OHSAA schools to vote to allow public to public sports participation