Eligibility Requirements – Omaha Lightning Volleyball

Omaha Lightning Volleyball Eligibility Requirements

Academic qualifications

A player must be homeschooled. “Homeschooled” means that a player must be receiving his or her primary educational direction through the home. See how Omaha Lightning Volleyball defines Homeschool.
- “Homeschool” includes the following:

1. 1. Dual-credit college courses where the college institution admits the student as a high school student.
  2. Courses that are taught in the home/studio of the player’s parent(s), grandparent(s), sibling (age 18 or older), legal guardian, or another home school parent or tutor, provided the instruction by a non-parent is done under the direction and supervision of the child’s parent(s).
    - If the player attends a Christian, Rule 13 or Rule 12, school that does not offer the sport of interest, they may petition to play with us.
  3. Courses that are taught at a central location (e.g. home school support group “co-op” classes, such as chemistry, speech, or calculus) by a parent or tutor. A newer form of homeschooling called University Model Schools would fall under this definition provided:
    - The student doesn’t attend the classes more than 2-1/2 days a week (because then not more than 50% of their time is actually at the school, while the other 50% is wherever their parents decide they should be)
    - The particular school in question does not itself provide athletics.
    - Not more than 50% of your team is made up of girls from the same University Model School.
  4. Correspondence/virtual/distance learning courses provided by a PRIVATE kindergarten through grade 12 program or school.

- Courses taught or otherwise provided by a public or private school, where the player is counted in that school’s enrollment, are not considered as part of the 50% of classes which are home school classes.
A player must be living at home with a parent or guardian.
A player is ineligible if that player is enrolled in more than 3 dual-credit and/or college courses.
A player is ineligible if that player has gone through a homeschool, public school, or private school high school graduation ceremony prior to that season’s first game.
A player must be passing all courses in order to participate in a contest or tournament. In performing the role of administrator for the homeschool, the parent is solely responsible for enforcing this rule.

Athletic Grade Classifications and Designations

Omaha Lightning Volleyball is a grade-based athletic program, is designed for middle school and high school homeschooled students. Middle school includes grades 5 through 8; High school includes grades 9 through 12.
An athletic grade designation must be declared prior to the first week of practice and must conform to Omaha Lightning Volleyball maximum age qualifications.
After or during the first week of practice of the first year of high school participation (whether participation took place at Omaha Lightning Volleyball or another homeschool, public, or private school team), an athletic grade re-classification is not allowed.
A player shall become ineligible after 4 years of high school participation. Note: An exception is allowed if the Board approves the participation of an 8^th grader on an Omaha Lightning Volleyball high school sub-varsity team, in which case that player is granted 5 years of high school participation.
A high school player is ineligible to play on a middle school team. In other words, a ninth grader is prohibited from playing on a middle school team regardless of his or her age.
A middle school player is ineligible to play on a high school team, unless the middle school player is prevented from playing on a middle school team due to the age requirement, in which case the middle school player is considered a 9th grader for sports eligibility purposes. Note: An exception is allowed if the Board approves the participation of an 8^th grader on an Omaha Lightning Volleyball high school sub-varsity team.
A 12th grader may be assigned to either JV or varsity depending on skill level.

Maximum Age Qualifications

A player is ineligible to play on any team on the next September 1^st following that player’s 19th birthday.
A player is ineligible to play on a middle school team on the next September 1^st following that player’s 15^th birthday.

Minimum grade/Age Qualifications

A player must be in at least the 5^th grade AND must be at least 10 years old on September 1^st of the current school year in order to participate on a middle school team.

Transfers and Expulsions

If a player started the season on another homeschool, public, or private school team, no transfer shall be allowed during the season without the approval of the Board. Our season begins on August 1.
If a player was expelled from a public or private school during the academic school year or in the year prior, no transfer shall be allowed without the approval of the Board.
A player cannot play on another homeschool, public, or private school team in the same sport at the same time as playing on an Omaha Lightning Volleyball-sponsored team.

Exceptions

Exceptions to any eligibility requirement (except age limitations) may be made only by express approval of the Board. No exceptions will be permitted to the age limitations.

These Eligibility Requirements Last Revised by the OLV Board of Directors:

November 17, 2020