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BOE Addresses Regulation Change
RVCSD Board of Education Addresses Regulation Change

The New York State Education Department is considering a change in regulations that deal with Mixed Competition and the Athletic Placement Process in terms of how boys and girls sports are organized.  The changes could come into effect as early as September of 2024. 

As per Rondout’s Athletic Director and the Executive Director Section IX Athletics, the impact of going from the current to the newly proposed regulations are noted in the table below.

Current Regulation

Proposed Change

Females can play on a boy’s team if

a.      Parental approval

b.      School physician approval

c.      Successfully tryout

Females can play on a boy’s team only if there is no equivalent girls team

Males can play a girl’s team if

a.      There is no equivalent boys’ team

b.      Parental approval

c.      Superintendent approval

d.      School Physician approval

e.      Section IX Approval based on a significant adverse effect on the girl’s team or opponents such as strength, athletic ability, does the team cut, playing time etc.

Males can play on a girl’s team if there is no equivalent boys team and

a.      Parental approval

b.      School Physician approval

c.      Tryout successfully

d.      District must post team selection criteria on their website

Baseball and Softball are considered equivalent sports, therefore boys cannot play softball if they have a baseball team

Baseball and Softball are considered different sports, therefore boys can tryout for the softball team based on

a.      Parental approval

b.      School Physician approval

c.      Tryout successfully

d.      District must post team selection criteria on their website

In Section IX, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Gymnastics, and Flag Football are girls only sports. A boy may play if

a.      Parental approval

b.      Superintendent approval

c.      School Physician approval

d.      Section IX approval based on a significant adverse effect on the girls team or their opponents such as strength, athletic ability, does the team cut, playing time etc.

Boys would be allowed to play Girl’s volleyball, Field Hockey, Gymnastics, and Flag Football if:

a.      Parental approval

b.      School Physician approval

c.      Tryout successfully

d.      District must post team selection criteria on their website

Recently the Council of School Superintendents and the New York State School Boards Association sent a letter to the New York Education Department (click here to view letter).  The Rondout Valley School Board is aligned with the position stated in this letter.

Should you have any comments regarding these proposed changes please address them to REGCOMMENTS@nysed.gov.  The window for comments will be closing in July.

The Rondout Valley Board of Education