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North Coast Section, CIF

2026-2027 Eligibility Information/Forms

This Eligibility page provides basic eligibility information and documents/presentations for NCS school administrators/athletic administrators and parents. Please read all information very carefully. School personnel and parents may also review all CIF and NCS Eligibility bylaws using the NCS website. CIF and NCS Eligibility bylaws are located in the NCS Constitution and General Bylaws under the 200 series and Bylaw 510. Questions can be directed to either the school principal or athletic director.

Eligibility procedures for transferring students

1. Enrolling student and family meet with the athletic administrator of the enrolling school and complete the "Parent-Student Certification Form", provided by the enrolling school and determine what eligibility electronic form should be completed by the school athletic director. Completion of incorrect electronic eligibility form will delay the eligibility determination of the student and will require the athletic director to submit the correct electronic eligibility form.

2. The following links are provided by the State CIF and only outline the rules concerning transferring.  The documents do not outline the process for completion of electronic eligibility waivers, established by each CIF Section, and only completed by the athletic director or athletic administrator at the enrolling school.

3. NCS uses CIF Home, a web-based system to process electronic eligibility forms.  The enrolling school is responsible for this process and working with the transferring student and family to complete the process properly.  Only students who have withdrawn from School A, have registered, met with School B administration, has selected their classes for 2024-25 school year and paid any deposit (private school) at School B may move forward with the electronic eligibility form process.

4. Electronic eligibility forms may not be completed by either the enrolling or former school between May 15th and July 31st. Any completed transfer paperwork submitted to the NCS Office prior to May 15, 2027 will be processed by the June 1st deadline.  No electronic eligibility forms may be processed during the eligibility dead period of June 1, 2027 through July 31, 2027.

5. During the 2026-2027 school year, but subject to change, the following NCS staff members will process eligibility transfer paperwork accordingly:
Bri Niemi - Commissioner of Athletics - all hardship waiver requests and all other waiver request applications with last names starting with letters A - D.
Sonjha Phillips - Associate Commissioner - all 213 waivers and all other waiver request applications with last names starting with letters E - M.
Henri Sarlatte - Assistant Commissioner - waiver request applications with last names starting with letters N - Z.

Note: NCS staff may alter the above as deemed necessary and with no advance notification.

6. All electronic eligibility transfer waiver applications received August 1, 2026 or later will be processed according to the following timeline.

A. Students planning to participate in a fall sport - August 1st and processed in date order.

B. Students planning to participate in a winter sport but not a fall sport - September 15th and processed in date order.

C. Students planning to participate in a spring sport but not a fall or winter sport - November 1st and processed in date order.

The above schedule will allow students planning to participate in a fall sport to be considered first, at the beginning of the school year. The schedule does not mean that NCS staff may not work ahead of the above schedule, but will prioritize according to the schedule.

Parents:

*Arriving at any school or the NCS Office without an appointment and expecting to meet with personnel to review, discuss or start the eligibility process is likely not possible.  Parents/Guardians/Caregivers must refrain from exerting any pressure on the former school to process transfer waivers.  Parents/Guardians/Caregives should work with the enrolling school only.

Electronic Eligibility Process for the 2026-2027 school year

  • Student and family meet with the enrolling school athletic director or athletic administrator in charge of CIF waiver applications and complete the "Parent-Student Certification Form".
  • Athletic Director will review with the student and family eligibility options, such as eligibility considered under a CIF defined valid change of residence, or a transfer not considered a CIF defined valid change of residence.
  • Under a CIF defined valid change of residence (see CIF Bylaw 206) the student may be approved for unlimited residential eligibility provided the application is true, complete, corrrect and not fraudulent, there was no disciplinary action in place or pending at the former school and there is no violation of CIF Bylaws 206 and 510 concerning undue influence or athletic motivation.
  • In a transfer that does not involve a CIF defined valid change of residence (CIF Bylaw 207) students can be granted eligibility ranging from unlimited, to limited, to the Sit-Out Provision provided the application is true, complete, corrrect and not fraudulent, there was no disciplinary action in place or pending at the former school at the time of the transfer and there is no violation of CIF Bylaws 207 and 510 concerning undue influence or athletic motivation.
  • Once the athletic director or school administator determine which electronic eligibility form is correct he/she will complete the electronic form using CIF Home, only used by the CIF member school.
  • If the student or family claim a CIF defined valid change of residence the enrolling (new) school must make sure that the student has actually made a valid change of residence from their previous school attendance area into the new school's attendance area and are enrolling no later than the beginning of the next school year following that move before submitting the electronic application to the NCS.  Applications approved by the NCS Office when the student has not made a CIF defined valid change of address may result in ineligibility of the involved student and forfeiture of contests by the enrolling school.
  • Documentation confirming that a valid change of residence has taken place needs to be submitted at the time of the application along with the CIF Defined Valid Change of Residence Form. This form must be signed by the Parents/Guardians/Caregivers and School Administrator and uploaded with the documents to the students CIF Home transfer case. The enrolling school is responsible to make sure that a CIF defined valid change of address has occurred and the submitted application is complete, true, accurate and correct.
  • All documents related to a hardship waiver request must be attached and submitted with the electronic hardship waiver application, included in the electronic routing process. The allowed hardships are included in CIF Bylaw 207.B.5.c.viii. Only those stated hardship may be considered.
  • 510 Pre-Enrollment Contact Affidavit - Please note that parents, students, AD's, principals and coaches should read all statements carefully to insure you are accurately signing these statements. All pre-enrollment contact of any nature, must be disclosed so that NCS can determine the nature of the contact within the context of the language of CIF Bylaw 510. All parties are also encouraged to read CIF Bylaw 202 - Accurate Information. Failure to accurately disclose any information may cause a student-athlete to be ineligible for up to two-years and bring sanctions upon the enrolling school.
  • Processing of complete applications may take up to 20 business days from the date of receipt in the CIF/North Coast Section Office, and in accordiance to the timeline above. Athletes are NOT ELIGIBLE to participate in any scrimmages or contests in any sport until a determination by the NCS Office has been made and communicated to the new school. Students are allowed to practice if school and league rules allow.

Other Forms/Information that may be helpful to Parents and NCS member schools