General CHSL Regulations

Membership

Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit have the privilege of being members of the Detroit Catholic High School League (CHSL). Members may remain in good standing, providing they abide by the rules and regulations set forth by the league's Executive Athletic Board.

Schools outside of the Archdiocese of Detroit may become members upon the application and approval of the Executive Athletic Board. The board will assign member schools to divisional alignments and assess membership fees.

The league director will schedule and administer the rules and regulations.

Expanding of Membership

(Catholic High School League Expanding Membership Policy Adopted January 23, 1996, presented to All CHSL Principals on January 25, 1996)

In addition to the regulations and policies in the CHSL handbook, high schools may apply for membership through the athletic director of the CHSL Director to the Executive Athletic Board under the following conditions and status: It is understood that the decisions of the Executive Athletic Board are final and may involve other factors, including but not limited to, the opinions of member schools. CHSL handbook Rule 16 applies throughout this process: All matters of rules, regulations and policy not covered in the CHSL handbook shall be decided and administered by the league director.

Generally, the term of membership shall be no less than two-years adjustable by the Executive Athletic Board at any time. Commitments in football may require longer planning and notification of schedule.

Full Membership

1. Open to Catholic high schools, which are members of the Michigan High School Athletic Association -- in and outside the Archdiocese of Detroit -- in one or more championship sport.

2. Competition includes regular-season, playoffs and championships in all sports.

3. School must be considered in good standing with the CHSL and the Michigan High School Athletic Association.

Associate Membership

Open to non-public or religious-based high schools that are members of the Michigan High School Athletic Association and in good standing with the Catholic League. The school is granted the right to participate in regular-season divisional or dual meet competition. Divisional medals are awarded to the team(s) that wins its division. It is only at preliminaries and championships of individual sporting events that Catholic League all-time records are made and broken. Associate member schools are considered as a member of the Catholic League in all respects. Participation in the Catholic League Coaches' Association in selection of All-Catholic, All-League, and All- Academic recognition, as well as, the Scholar-Athlete Recognition program shall apply. The regular-season team records and scores of Associate Member teams will count in computing final division standings and tie-breakers based on points such as the 15- point rule in basketball and the 21-point rule in football. Associate Member schools will “opt in” to all or any CHSL Championships/Playoffs that their school calendar will permit, by the March Executive Board meeting date for the next school year. Schools will be provided dates of all CHSL Championships/Playoffs with the exception of baseball on or before March 1. If a date of a Championship/Playoff changes due to unforeseen circumstances, Associate member schools will again have to opt in to that championship. Associate Members should not “opt in” to an event that they are unable to attend or one in which they know in advance they will not attend. When Associate Members do not “opt in” to an event, they will be removed from the bracket sheet for playoffs and the next team in order will move up for playoff seeding. Schools granted Associate Member status for the first time, will not be able to “opt in” for the first year of their membership. To safeguard against possible misunderstandings and unclear expectations, schools granted Associate Member status must annually sign a written understanding of the above membership conditions. The written agreement prepared by the Catholic League, must be returned before the March Executive Board meeting date in order for that school to remain an Associate Member for the following school year. It will include signatures of the principal and athletic director. Representative parents, students, and Board of Education/governing body members shall also sign the understanding indicating community awareness of the team status. A copy of all written publicity, disseminated to the student-body and parents that describes the status of the competition allowed an Associate Member high school shall be on file with the Catholic League by the March Executive Board meeting date of each year. A membership resolution, similar to that used by the MHSAA, and notice indicating that the Associate member school will not be party to any litigation against the Catholic League, its directors or officers, or the Archdiocese of Detroit shall be reviewed by legal counsel of the school and the school leadership, signed and submitted to the Catholic League prior to the March Executive Board meeting date.

Executive Board approved on December 8, 2015. To be evaluated following the 2017- 18 school year.

Affiliated Membership

1. Open to non-public, religious-based high schools, who are members of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, and are in good standing with the CHSL.

2. Affiliated members will be involved in required non-league contests with members of one or more divisions.

3. Affiliate membership teams are not eligible for divisional trophies, preliminaries or championship meets, CHSL playoffs or championships. Results and scores of contests do not count in standings or tie-breaker.

4. Contests with Affiliated Members are scheduled or arranged for by the CHSL and are considered league commitments under Regulation No. 9: Schedules. Affiliated members will compete with full members and associate members in contests, which are required non-league contests, counting towards the MHSAA total allowed for that sport.

5. The CHSL will assign all officials, home and away. All applicable league rules apply. Other benefits such as All-League and scholar-athlete recognition are not included but granted to Affiliate Members by special permission of the Executive Athletic Board in the spring of the previous school year.

Suspension

The Athletic Executive Board has the right to suspend members. Members shall not be permitted to compete, in any sport, with suspended members.

Members may be suspended for:

1. Violation of the rules and regulations of the Michigan High School Athletic Association. Violation of the rules and regulations of the CHSL.

2. Violations by schools, individual coaches and or athletic directors.

3. Non-Payment of fees.

4. Failure to carry out a complete league schedule.

5. Failure to fulfill sanctioned league commitments and responsibilities.

6. When a school drops out of a league competition, through suspension, it may not participate as a League Member, for one (1) year after it files application again as a member of the league.

7. Failure to compete in league competition, in all sports and levels, that are jointly sponsored by the school and the CHSL. The league director may grant waiver for individual sports.

8. Violation of TV-Radio policy of the CHSL.

9. Individual coaches, athletic directors, sports programs or schools found in violation of rules and regulations may be censored, placed on probation or suspended.

Sportsmanship

It is an act of conducting oneself in a true Christian manner regardless of any and all extenuating circumstances. The school will be held responsible for the behavior of its coaches, students, participants, and followers.

The member schools and all of their constituents should be familiar and practice the code of responsibility as outlined in the Michigan High School Athletic Association and CHSL handbooks.

Purpose of the CHSL

To re-affirm and expand our commitment to and involvement in the promotion of quality physical education and athletics for all of our member schools.

To regulate the interscholastic athletic programs conducted by the member schools of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

To provide the opportunities for interscholastic competition based on the education and physical wellbeing of all participants.

Services

Services provided to the members of the CHSL

1. Placement of athletics under the league director, with supervision by the superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

2. To assist schools in planning and developing athletic programs by:

a. Building level of competition.

b. Scheduling of league and assisting with non-league scheduling.

c. Contracting and assigning officials.

d. Assisting in obtaining athletic sites.

e. Promotion and management of playoffs and championship events.

f. Promotion and management of all league commitments.

3. Regulating competition to comply with the high school curriculum.

4. Representing all member schools in the Michigan High School Athletic Association.

5. Assisting schools in the development of physical education and health through consultation, educational services and curriculum planning.

6. To insure a fair and equal opportunity for all member schools to experience positive opportunities for participation in athletics.

7. Promotion of safety, crowd control, sportsmanship and sports education.

Superintendent of Schools

The superintendent of schools is the final authority responsible for the league and shall make decisions on matters not especially covered in policy and will so inform the league director and the Executive Athletic Board (EAB).

Director of Athletics

The CHSL league director of athletics is the Executive Director in control of all interscholastic contests and is appointed by the superintendent of schools. The league director has full authority to enforce and interpret all policies.

The final decisions on all matters not covered in the CHSL handbook is decided by the league director with approval of the superintendent. The league director or associate director (in the absence of the director) serves as chairperson of the Executive Athletic Board and breaks tie in voting.

Executive Athletic Board

The Executive Athletic Board is represented by each athletic division, by two (2) principals and two (2) athletic directors.

1. The athletic director is elected by their divisional athletic directors. The athletic directors shall not be of the same school as the elected principal. The athletic director must meet the following criteria:

a. Be a full-time teaching or administrative employee of the school or have a minimum of four (4) years as athletic director in the CHSL.

b. Be willing and able to attend scheduled Executive Athletic Board meetings.

2. The principals:

a. Shall be elected by their divisional principals.

b. Be willing to attend Executive Athletic Board meetings.

c. Has completed minimum of one (1) year as a principal in the CHSL.

3. The members at large:

a. One (1) shall be elected or appointed by the CHSL Men's Coaches' Association.

b. One (1) shall be elected or appointed by the CHSL Women's Coaches' Association.

The athletic directors and coaches' association elections shall be conducted at the fall meeting (August) to ensure that the elected persons are continuing employment in the CHSL.

The principal elections shall be held each year in the months of May or June.

The newly elected and appointed Executive Athletic Board would begin office at the September meeting. The league director may appoint representation from sections that have not elected members or to fill vacancies that occur during the school year.

Duties of the Executive Athletic Board

1. To regulate the interscholastic programs, so as to safeguard the physical and educational welfare of all participants and member schools.

2. To regulate and institute policy governing all interscholastic athletics.

3. To assist in:

a. Divisional alignments

b. Regulating league fees

c. Hearing appeals of the decisions made by the director.

4. To assist in financial promotion to help finance the league.

5. To provide all member schools with the equality in opportunity to compete in a positive educational environment.

Division Athletic Boards

It is recommended that each division have its athletic director’s meet on a regular basis to discuss mutual concerns in administration, crowd control, program upgrading, promotion and management. The league director or associate director shall serve as ex-officio at these divisional meetings.

Each section is encouraged to make recommendations to the league through its representatives.

Executive Athletic Board Members

Members shall be identified at the completion of elections and appointments.

A quorum for a meeting shall consist of a majority plus one. (i.e. one half the total membership + one = majority, plus one additional = a quorum.)

Principal

The high school principal is the official representative of his/her respective school and is directly responsible for the general attitude of the student-body and the conduct of athletic affairs by the athletic director and coaches.

It is the duty of the principal to derive from the athletic program a full measure of educational value in developing good sportsmanship.

The principal is charged with the responsibility of mutual support of all Michigan High School Athletic Association and CHSL regulations.

High School Athletic Director

The high school athletic director is the official representative of the school in all interscholastic and athletic activities. The athletic director represents the principal, coaching staff and the school; implements and carries out the policy of administrating the school's athletic program.

The athletic director has the responsibility to conduct the school's athletic programs in accordance with MHSAA and CHSL regulations.

State Representative Council

The non-public schools in the State of Michigan have one (1) representative on the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Representative Council, elected at large from statewide non-public schools.

The elected members of the Representative Council shall hold office for two (2) years or until such time as their successors are duly elected.

It is recommended that in the CHSL, the vote be cast by the principal, for the current league director.

NOTE: Nomination ballots are sent usually in the first weeks of September.

Ballots received from schools must be properly signed by the principal, in two locations as principal and superintendent. The superintendent's name can be written in. Ballots must be returned to the Michigan High School Athletic Association within the deadline date.

MHSAA Membership

At its April meeting of the school year, the Executive Athletic Board conducts a vote to renew membership in the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). Majority vote required.

As members of the MHSAA, rules of eligibility and rules governing contests between senior high schools shall apply to members of the CHSL. Additional rules and regulations shall also apply. Schools should refer to MHSAA and CHSL handbooks for regulations.

*EAB affirmed September 10, 2024