LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL FOR CHANGE IN NSAA RULES AND REGULATIONS
Title:

Eligibility for Seventh and Eight Grade Students in High School Activities

Author:Rod Peters
School:Bancroft-Rosalie
NSAA District:3
 
Proposal for:Constitution & Bylaws
 
Classes Affected:All
Activities Affected:All
This proposal:WILL NOT increase costs to the school
WILL NOT increase costs to the NSAA
WILL NOT increase travel for participating schools
WILL NOT decrease a student's or coach's instruction time
Implementation date:2027-08-01
Sections affected in Constitution & Bylaws:Page
22
24
25
28
29
Article
2
2
2
2
2
Section
2.1.1
2.2.2
2.2.3
2.6.3
2.6.4
Summary:This proposal would allow 7th- and 8th-grade students in all classifications to participate in NSAA-sponsored school activities.
Rationale:Allowing 7th- and 8th-grade students to participate in high school activities helps ensure the viability of school programs by providing enough participants to field teams and avoid forfeits, schedule reductions, or canceled seasons.

Several states, including South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota, permit 7th- and 8th-grade students to compete in high school activities under specific circumstances, particularly in smaller or rural schools. Providing similar flexibility in Nebraska would not be unusual and would help schools address participation challenges while maintaining opportunities for student involvement.

This proposal expands opportunities for students, supports the sustainability of extracurricular programs, and helps smaller schools remain competitive. At the same time, it does not place larger schools at a disadvantage, as they typically have sufficient roster numbers and participation levels to sustain their programs.
Pros:More Junior Varsity games for all schools.
Reduces forfeits, cancellations, and scheduling difficulties.
Music already allows Junior High students to participate
Cons:Local schools will need to decide if 7th and 8th grade students will play on both high school and middle level activities.
Increased demands on younger students participating at the high school level.