The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced that Ohio schools approved 11 of 12 proposed rule changes during this year’s annual referendum vote, meaning several updates to eligibility, transfers, and NIL rules are now set to take effect for the 2026-27 school year.
The only proposal that failed was a rule that would have allowed public school students to play a sport at another nearby public school if their own school does not offer that sport. Under the proposal, the other school would have needed to be within 20 miles and both school superintendents would have had to approve. Schools voted it down by a 416 to 358 margin, so students still generally cannot join another public school team just because their school does not sponsor that sport.
Several other changes were approved:
• Hardship rules became more flexible: Students facing academic, family, or personal hardships may now have an easier time regaining eligibility. Families can submit documentation showing a hardship existed, instead of meeting some of the stricter previous requirements tied to specific school timing rules.
• Transfer rules expanded: Students who transfer schools for physical safety, mental health, or other major circumstances can now more easily regain athletic eligibility if both schools agree the move is necessary. A new formal option also allows eligibility to be restored through a written agreement between school superintendents in certain hardship situations.
• Residency rules clarified: OHSAA added clearer language defining what qualifies as a legitimate family move for transfer eligibility, including requirements like selling a home, ending a lease, or fully giving up responsibility for a previous residence. This is meant to reduce confusion and tighten transfer eligibility rules.
• Out-of-state student exception expanded: Some students whose parents live outside Ohio can remain eligible if they have been continuously enrolled in the same Ohio school district for multiple years, helping provide stability for long-term students.
• NIL rules updated: Student-athletes can now work with licensed athlete agents for marketing and NIL opportunities. However, all agreements must be reported to OHSAA within 14 days for oversight. This rule took effect immediately on May 16.
• School sponsorship clarified: A school is now officially considered to sponsor a sport once its team competes in a regular-season contest, not just preseason games. This helps determine eligibility in cases where schools drop or add sports.
All three proposed middle school rule changes also passed, mostly making eligibility exceptions more flexible for 7th and 8th grade athletes, especially in hardship and participation situations.
Most approved changes take effect August 1, ahead of the fall sports season.
