These are the sport specific rules
under each Middle Level section. There
may be references to other parts of the handbook. The entire handbook may be viewed online. HANDBOOK
51.61.0
MIDDLE LEVEL SCHOOL BASEBALL
|
Total Season Including Practice |
Minimum Practice Days Per
Individual |
Season Contest Limit |
|
12 weeks |
10 |
10 + Jamboree for 7th or 8th graders 10 + jamboree for 7th or 8th graders on 9th grade teams 12 + Jamboree for 9th graders |
51.62.0
SEASON - The
starting date is determined by each league but no middle level season may start
before the date established for senior high school fall sports.
51.63.0
JAMBOREE - A baseball
jamboree is an abbreviated contest during which not more than six (6) innings
per team and/or six (6) innings per player may be played. All general jamboree
rules also apply.
51.64.0
PLAYER LIMITATION -
A player shall participate in no more than three (3) baseball contests per
week.
51.64.1
Extra Innings: Extra innings may be played following the regular contest. These
extra innings are for those players who were not starters and who played in two
(2) innings or less of the regular contest. Up to four (4) extra innings may be
played.
51.64.2
Any substitute who does not play in more than two (2) innings of a contest
shall not have it count against the ten (10) individual season contest limit.
51.65.0
PITCHER LIMITATION -
A pitcher is eligible to pitch in no more than seven (7) innings or one
complete contest if shorter than seven (7) innings during any consecutive five
day period. The following examples indicate when a pitcher could pitch:
Monday-Saturday, Tuesday-Monday, Wednesday-Monday, Thursday-Tuesday, Friday-Wednesday.
51.65.1
Days shall be counted from start to start of contest. Example: Monday
51.66.0
CALLED GAME – Refer
to high school baseball.
52.61.0
MIDDLE LEVEL SCHOOL BASKETBALL
|
Total Season Including Practice |
Minimum Practice Days Per Individual |
Season Contest Limit |
|
12 weeks |
10 |
10 + Jamboree for 7th or 8th graders 40 quarters + jamboree for 7th or 8th graders on 9th grade teams 12 + Jamboree for 9th graders |
52.62.0
SEASON - The
starting date is determined by each league but no middle level season may start
before the date established for senior high school fall sports.
52.63.0
JAMBOREE - A
basketball jamboree is an abbreviated contest during which a squad may play no
more than twenty (20) minutes. All general jamboree rules also apply. Each
squad and each player is limited to schedule and to participate in only one (1)
jamboree.
52.64.0
SQUAD AND CONTEST LIMITATIONS - Each interscholastic contest played must be credited as a
contest to a definite squad. Each squad is allowed to schedule and to
participate in only one (1) contest per day.
52.64.1
The ninth grade squad may schedule twelve (12) contests and a jamboree, in
accordance with middle level rules.
52.64.2
There shall not be more than three (3) contests per week per squad
52.65.0
PLAYER LIMITATION -
The ten (10) contest limitation equates to a maximum of forty (40) quarters per
season; the twelve (12) contest limitation equates to a maximum of forty-eight
(48) quarters per season.
52.65.1
Each player is limited to participation in four (4) quarters of play in any one
(1) day. Any appearance in a quarter, regardless of the length of time played,
is to be considered as one (1) quarter.
52.65.2
The contest in which the player exceeds the allotted four (4) quarters shall be
automatically forfeited by the team using the player.
52.65.3
Seventh and eighth grade teams are allowed to play in quarters up to eight (8)
minutes in length.
52.65.4
Fifth Quarter: A fifth quarter may be played following the regular contest. The
5th quarter is for players who were not starters and played in two (2) quarters
or less of the regular contest.
52.66.0
RULEBOOK - The modifications
for girls' basketball at the high school level apply, with the exception of
52.7.1.2d (the ball does NOT have to hit the rim in order to be considered a
shot attempt, thereby resetting the 30-second shot clock.)
52.66.1
Leagues have the option to utilize the NFHS ten (10) second backcourt
possession rule, rather than follow the 30-second shot clock operations.
52.66.2
Team shirts and undershirts, if worn, shall be the same solid color front and
back. Undershirts shall be white or similar in color to the shirt and shall not
have frayed or ragged edges. If the undershirt has sleeves, they shall be of
the same length.
55.61.0
|
Total Season Including Practice |
Minimum Practice Days Per Individual |
Season Contest Limit |
Individual Contest Limit |
|
12 weeks |
10 |
7 |
7 |
55.62.0
SEASON - The
starting date is determined by each league but no middle level season may start
before the date established for senior high school fall sports.
55.63.0
JAMBOREE – A cross country jamboree is an abbreviated contest during which all
individuals are limited to one (1) mile. The minimum number of practice days
per individual for participation in a cross country jamboree is ten (10). All
general jamboree rules also apply.
55.64.0
SQUAD LIMITATION - A
cross country team or team member shall not participate in more than two (2)
cross country contests per week, with at least a 36-hour interval between
contests.
55.64.2
Some classification should be used when competing which employs one or more of
the following: Age, grade, height, weight, gender.
55.65.0
DISTANCE - The
maximum distance for middle level/junior high school competition will not
exceed two (2) miles.
55.65.1
Early season contests are recommended to be a shorter distance than the
recommended maximums, with the distance increased to the maximum approximately
halfway through the season.
57.61.0
MIDDLE LEVEL SCHOOL FOOTBALL
|
Total Season Including Practice |
Minimum Practice Days Per Individual |
Regular Season Contest Limit |
|
12 weeks |
12 |
6 + Jamboree for 7th and 8th grade
teams 7 + Jamboree for 9th grade teams 7 + Jamboree for 7th and 8th graders
playing on a 9th grade team |
57.62.0
SEASON - The
starting date is determined by each league but no middle level season may start
before the date established for senior high school fall sports.
57.63.0
JAMBOREE - All
criteria for a jamboree at the high school level apply.
57.64.0
PRACTICE - The first
three (3) days of practice for each football player shall be without shoulder
pads. The same practice requirements at the high school level apply.
57.65.0
PLAYER LIMITATION -
A football participant shall be eligible to compete in up to four (4) quarters
of play during any three-day period of the football season. A team shall be
allowed one (1) week during the season to play two (2) contests with a minimum
of three days between contests.
57.65.1
A player may play in up to twenty-four (24) quarters of play during a season if
playing on a 7th or 8th grade team or for 7th
and 8th graders playing on a 9th grade team, or twenty-eight (28) quarters if playing on the 9th grade team, exclusive of a jamboree.
57.65.2
A player's participation in two (2) quarters of a contest one day and in two
(2) quarters the next day, shall count as playing in one (1) contest.
57.65.3
FIFTH QUARTER - A fifth quarter may be played only by freshmen football squads
following the regular contest. The 5th quarter is for players who were not
starters and played in two (2) quarters or less of the regular contest. This
quarter shall not include kick offs, punts, tries or field goals.
57.65.4
A quarter of play shall be defined as participation in more than one (1) play,
excluding participation on the kickoff, kickoff return, punting, punt return,
point after touchdown or field goal team.
57.66.0
LENGTH OF PLAYING PERIODS- Varsity teams that involve ninth grade students, and may include some eighth
or seventh grade students, may play ten-minute quarters. Seventh and eighth
grade teams shall play no more than eight-minute quarters.
57.67.0
POINTS AFTER TOUCHDOWN - To promote place kicking, a football league may adopt a rule, whereby
a successful place kick after a touchdown scores two (2) points. A successful
extra-point attempt by any other method shall be awarded one (1) point.
57.68.0
TIE-BREAKER (
58.61.0
MIDDLE LEVEL SCHOOL GOLF
|
Total Season Including Practice |
Season Contest Limit |
|
12 weeks |
8 |
58.62.0
SEASON - The
starting date is determined by each league but no middle level season may start
before the date established for senior high school fall sports.
58.63.0
PLAYER LIMITATIONS -
During regular season play, the maximum number of holes of play per day shall
be eighteen (18) unless a match is tied.
58.64.0
SCORING - Methods of
scoring matches will be determined by leagues.
58.65.0
MEET LIMITATIONS -
There will be no more that two (2) matches per week during the specified
season.
58.66.0
RULES - The USGA
rules will govern play except in cases of local ground rule changes.
59.61.0
MIDDLE LEVEL SCHOOL GIRLS’ GYMNASTICS
|
Total Season Including Practice |
Minimum Practice Days Per Individual |
Season Contest Limit |
|
12 weeks |
15 |
7 |
59.62.0
SEASON - The starting
date is determined by each league but no middle level season may start before
the date established for senior high school fall sports.
59.63.0
MEET LIMITATION -
There shall be no more than one (1) meet per week during the specified season.
59.64.0
RULE BOOK - The WIAA
rule book for gymnastics shall apply to all competitions.
60.61.0
MIDDLE LEVEL SCHOOL SOCCER
|
Total Season Including Practice |
Minimum Practice Days Per Individual |
Season Contest Limit |
|
12 weeks |
10 |
10 + Jamboree |
60.62.0
JAMBOREE - A soccer
jamboree is an abbreviated contest and a team may not compete in more than half
of the time allocated to a regulation contest. All general jamboree rules also
apply. Each squad and each player is limited to schedule and to participate in
only one (1) jamboree.
60.63.0
SEASON - The
starting date is determined by each league but no middle level season may start
before the date established for senior high school fall sports.
60.64.0
PLAYER LIMITATION –
A player may participate in a maximum of two halves in a day and a maximum of
two (2) contests per week.
60.65.0
GAME LIMITATION - As
a recommendation, middle level schools should play up to 30-minutes halves.
Permission for four (4) equal quarters of 15 minutes each will be granted with
written request to the WIAA office.
60.66.0
MIDDLE LEVEL SOCCER RULEBOOK EXCEPTIONS - Same as listed for high school soccer.
61.61.0
Fast
pitch and Slow pitch softball are considered separate and
distinct sports.
|
Total Season Including Practice |
Minimum Practice Days Per Individual |
Season Contest Limit |
|
12 weeks |
10 |
10 + Jamboree |
61.62.0
SEASON - The
starting date is determined by each league but no middle level season may start
before the date established for senior high school fall sports.
61.63.0
JAMBOREE - A
softball jamboree is an abbreviated contest and shall include not more than six
(6) innings per team and/or six (6) innings per player. All general jamboree
rules also apply. Each squad and each player is limited to schedule and to
participate in only one (1) jamboree.
61.64.0
PLAYER LIMITATION -
A player shall participate in no more than three (3) softball contests per
week.
61.64.1
Extra innings: Extra innings may be played following the regular contest. These
extra innings are for those players who were not starters and who play no more
than two (2) innings. Up to four (4) extra innings may be played.
61.64.2
Any substitute who does not play in more than two (2) innings of a contest
shall not have it count against ten (10) individual season contest limit.
61.65.0
CALLED GAME - When a
non-league or league contest is called by the umpire before the completion of
the required number of innings, and the league has no rule pertaining to the
situation, then the contest is declared a "no contest".
61.65.1
The contest may be replayed.
61.66.0
ADDITIONAL NFHS SOFTBALL RULES - Same as listed for high school softball.
63.61.0
MIDDLE LEVEL SCHOOL TENNIS
|
Total Season Including Practice |
Minimum Practice Days Per Individual |
Season Contest Limit |
|
12 weeks |
10 |
10 |
63.62.0
SEASON - The
starting date is determined by each league but no middle level season may start
before the date established for senior high school fall sports.
63.63.0
ALTERNATE SEASON -
Alternate season rules apply.
63.64.0
RULEBOOK - USTA
(United States Tennis Association) contest
administration rules
apply.
63.65.0
PLAYER LIMITATION -
Players may compete in only two (2) contests per week.
63.65.1
A player may not play more than one (1) singles match and one (1) doubles match
on the same day against the same team during league competition in regular
season play.
63.65.2
A player must be granted a 15-minute rest period between matches, if requested.
64.61.0
MIDDLE LEVEL SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD
|
Total Season Including Practice |
Minimum Practice Days Per Individual |
Season Contest Limit |
|
12 weeks |
10 |
7 |
64.62.0
SEASON - The starting
date is determined by each league but no middle level season may start before
the date established for senior high school fall sports.
64.63.0
JAMBOREE – A track
and field jamboree is an abbreviated contest during which an individual is
limited to two (2) events. All general jamboree rules also apply.
64.64.0
PARTICIPANT LIMITATION - A participant is limited to two (2) contests per week.
64.64.1
In any competition a participant may enter a maximum of four (4) events per
contest. If four (4) events are entered, the competitor may enter no more than
three (3) track events or three (3) field events.
64.65.0
LIMITATION OF MEETS -
A track squad or squad member shall not participate in more than two (2)
contests per week. County and district meets are permitted but are to be
included in the seven (7) contests allowed. One (1) event is considered
participation.
64.65.1
The running of a preliminary contest may take place the same week as the
championship contest if (a) such preliminaries are held at least three (3) days
before the finals, and if (b) these preliminaries will be a part of the
championship contest, but will not count as separate events.
65.61.0
MIDDLE LEVEL SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
|
Total Season Including Practice |
Minimum Practice Days Per Individual |
Season Contest Limit |
|
12 weeks |
10 |
10 + Jamboree for 7th or 8th graders 30 games + jamboree for 7th or 8th graders on 9th grade teams 12 + Jamboree for 9th graders |
65.62.0
SEASON - The starting
date is determined by each league but no middle level season may start before
the date established for senior high school fall sports.
65.63.0
JAMBOREE – A
volleyball jamboree is an abbreviated contest during which a team may not play
in more than four (4) games. All general jamboree rules also apply. Each squad
and each player is limited to schedule and to participate in only one (1)
jamboree.
65.64.0
CONTEST LIMITATION -
A player or team shall participate in no more than three (3) contests per week.
This rule may be interpreted to permit each player or team to participate in
one (1) three-team round robin. The two (2) contests played by each team in the
round robin will count as two (2) of each team's contests, but will count as
one of the events that week. A player or team shall be allowed one week during
the season to play and/or schedule three (3) contests.
65.64.1
Extra Games: Two (2) extra games may be played following the regular contest.
65.64.2
The official contest may be two (2) out of three (3) games or a guaranteed
three (3) out of three (3) games for regular season contests.
65.65.0
SEASON LIMITATION -
Ten (10) regulation contests are allowed per season. Every contest played,
whether in interschool matches, interschool scrimmages, exhibition contests, or
each opponent played in an invitational tournament(s), must count as one (1) of
the ten (10) contests for the team. The one allowable exception is described as
follows: combination of games or matches
may not exceed the equivalent of three (3) matches, which is equal to nine (9)
games.
65.65.2
Each squad and each player is limited to schedule and to participate in only
one (1) tournament as a culminating event.
65.66.0
NFHS RULE MODIFICATION - By league adoption, the net height may be set at seven (7) feet.
66.61.0
MIDDLE LEVEL SCHOOL WRESTLING
|
Total Season Including Practice |
Minimum Practice Days Per Individual |
Regular Season Team Contest Limit |
Individual Contest Limit |
|
12 weeks |
10 |
10 + Jamboree |
22 |
66.62.0
SEASON - The
starting date is determined by each league but no middle level season may start
before the date established for senior high school fall sports.
66.63.0
JAMBOREE – High
school jamboree rules apply (see 66.2.0.) A wrestler in a jamboree may not
wrestle in excess of time permitted in a dual contest.
66.64.0
MATCH LIMITATION - A
school may not schedule more than ten (10) team dates per squad. An individual
may not wrestle more than twenty-two (22) contests per season.
66.64.1
There shall be no more than two (2) contests per week per team and no more than
four (4) contests per week per individual. The only exception is described in A
and B below:
A. A
one (1) day culminating wrestling tournament will count as one (1) team outing.
A wrestler may wrestle no more than four (4) matches in the tournament.
B.
For the purposes of rule 66.64.1, a team is limited to one (1) tournament of
this type per season.
66.64.2
Length of Matches - There shall be a maximum of three 1 1/2-minute rounds (90
seconds).
66.64.3
Extra Contests: Extra contests may be held.
66.64.4
The mat shall not be less than 20 feet by 20 feet. The recommended area is 24
feet by 24 feet or a 28-foot circle. It is recommended, but not required, that
the mat covers be marked as indicated in the NFHS Wrestling Rules Book.
66.65.0
WEIGHT CONTROL PLAN -
Prior to the first contest the family physician and or school physician and/or
medical authority licensed to perform a physical exam shall certify the lowest
weight class in which each participant may wrestle during that season.
66.65.1
A participant may wrestle only one (1) weight division higher than their actual
weight.
66.65.2
The minimum weight for 75 pounders is established at 64, and 82 pounders at 70. In
addition, all wrestlers in the Unlimited weight class
must be within thirty (30) pounds of each other. For example, if one (1)
wrestler weighs 178 pounds, the opponent may not weigh more than 208 pounds.
66.66.0
WEIGH-IN PROCEDURES -
Wrestlers shall have the opportunity to weigh in shoulder-to-shoulder on the
host team's scales a maximum of one (1) hour and a minimum of one-half (1/2)
hour prior to the first contest.
66.66.1
No time should be allowed after this weigh-in to make weight.
66.66.2
Conferences of leagues may allow weigh-ins to occur after practice the day
before the contest or before lunch on the day of the contest at the respective
schools. The weigh-in must be certified in writing by an administrator of the
school. This certification must be placed in a sealed envelope and presented to
the referee and coach of the opposing team prior to the beginning of the
contest.
66.66.3
The host team shall be responsible for providing a certified scale for the
weigh-in.
A.
Schools should make every effort to have scales certified by a professional scale-certifying
expert.
B.
Where it is impossible to get a professional scale certifying expert, the scale should be certified by district, league,
school or officials associations.
C.
Where scales cannot be or are not certified, the home scales (certified or not)
shall be considered official.
66.66.4
Contestants with artificial limb(s) must weigh in with their artificial limb(s)
for all contests.
66.67.0
WEIGHT ALLOWANCE -
Beginning January 1 and continuing until February 1, two (2) additional pounds
will be allowed in each weight class. Beginning February 1, and continuing for
the remainder of the season, one (1) additional pound shall be allowed in each
weight class. This will make a net increase of three (3) pounds beginning
February 1. There shall be no additional weight allowance.
66.67.1
Where leagues have other seasons than January 1 - March 1, leagues are to use
appropriate monthly weight plans.
66.67.2
Weight divisions - There may be up to twenty (20) weight divisions that are to
be determined by the individual leagues. Each league has the authority to
determine by vote of league members fewer weight divisions.
66.68.0
UNIFORM VARIANCE -
Wrestlers shall wear any shoe deemed appropriate by the coach, activities
coordinator, and/or wrestling official.