April 13, 2026

News Release – Ohio High School Athletic Association

Executive Director Doug Ute

www.OHSAA.org   |   www.twitter.com/OHSAASports   |   www.Facebook.com/OHSAASports

For Immediate Release – April 13, 2026

Contact – Tim Stried, Director of Media Relations, tstried@ohsaa.org

OHSAA Member Schools to Vote on 12 Referendum Issues

Annual referendum voting period is May 1-15; results announced May 18

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Member schools of the Ohio High School Athletic Association will vote on 12 proposed changes to the OHSAA constitution and bylaws during the annual referendum voting period May 1-15. Results will be announced on Monday, May 18.

There is one constitution item, three 7th-8thGrade school bylaw items and eight high school bylaw items.

A simple majority of the votes cast by the OHSAA membership is the only way to amend the bylaws and constitution. Member schools are required to submit a ballot.

The full text of the referendum details and more information about the process are posted at: https://www.ohsaa.org/School-Resources/referendum-voting

Referendum Update Meetings

The OHSAA staff will conduct meetings with school administrators in each of the OHSAA’s six districts to explain the referendum issues. The meetings will be held April 14 in Logan, April 15 in Clayton, April 20 in Westerville, April 23 in Cambridge, April 27 in Streetsboro and April 28 in Tiffin. Media are invited to attend a meeting and should contact Tim Stried for details.

Member school administrators have received registration information for the meetings.

2026 OHSAA Referendum Issues  

Voting Period May 1-15. Results announced May 18.

Simple majority needed to pass an issue.

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a bylaw or constitutional provision that was previously removed to comply with state law, if that law is later repealed.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 (eg. Annual referendum voting period is May 1-15; results announced May 18., 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 2B – Bylaw 4-3-1, Enrollment & Attendance, Exc. 8, Non-Enrolled Participation (New Exception)

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, provided that:

1. The other school is within 20 miles (by the most direct route), and

2. The superintendents of both schools 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. Participation within a multi–high school district will follow OHSAA business rules for non-enrolled students (see full bylaw language for additional details).

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.

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