Athletic Director's Guide to BC School Sports Eligibility 2026-27

Use the Eligibility Application Form (handbook 943.0) to request an exemption, or for athletes who do not fall under the outlined rules. Applications are accepted throughout the school year, with no deadline. The Eligibility Officer reviews each application case by case. Applications are usually processed within 3-5 business days, and BC School Sports invoices the submitting school after a ruling.

Sources: https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/member-services/student-athlete-eligibility, https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/quick-guide and https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/about-us/faq

Students who intend to transfer, or have transferred, from their home school after the first day of their second year of eligibility must submit transfer documentation to establish eligibility at the new school. Forms for 2026-27:

• Grade 8-9 Transfer Form (911.2): a student-athlete registering on the first day of their second year of eligibility (grade 9).
• Change of Residence Form (923.0): the student-athlete moved with parent(s) or guardian(s) and changed principal residence within the previous 12 months.
• Notification of Transfer Form (942.0): transfer from the home school without changing the family's principal residence, after the second year of eligibility (grade 9).

"Principal residence" is the family's main home, where they live most of the time. A person can have only one. Legal guardianship must be in place 12 months before the eligibility period.

Sources: https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/quick-guide, https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/member-services/student-athlete-eligibility and https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/about-us/faq

Only as an exemption. A Grade 7 student may play on a Grade 8 team only when the member school would otherwise be unable to field that team because of insufficient numbers. Submit the Grade 7 Eligibility Application Form (handbook 817.0) to the Eligibility Officer. Grade 7 students cannot play on junior or senior teams.

Sources: https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/member-services/student-athlete-eligibility, https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/quick-guide and https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/about-us/faq

• Online learning or alternate school students: use the Online Learning & Alternate School Students Form (handbook 822.0) for a student registered with an online learning school who wants to take part in a BCSS team activity. The student's school must be a member and the form approved.
• International, exchange and boarding students: use the International/Boarding Student-Athlete Form (823.0). It covers international students (minimum 5 months or 1 semester, with a home stay family), exchange students (federally or provincially recognized program, minimum 5 months or 1 semester), and boarding students from inside or outside Canada (residing in a school dormitory).

Source: https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/quick-guide

• Moving up within a sport: to move player(s) to a higher age group team in the same sport, submit the Moving Up request online through STARS (handbook 818.3). It is not a PDF form.
• Playing up to a more senior school: the student stays registered at their own school. Submit the required paperwork to BC School Sports and staff will move them up manually. Middle/junior school athletes playing up to the feeder school's more senior team use the Middle/Junior School "Playing Up" Form (818.1).
• Joint teams: two or more schools without enough players to field a team can combine using the Joint Team Application Form (840.0). If approved, their students can play together. To add students from the joining school, email info@bcschoolsports.ca.

Sources: https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/quick-guide and https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/about-us/faq

An appeal can be made when the Eligibility Officer denies an eligibility application, a compliance and authorization form, a school declaration, or an international and home study form. The member school may also appeal the ruling on a Change of Residence form (Eligibility Appeals Form, handbook section 944.0).

The Eligibility Appeals Committee hears appeals from member schools. Its decision is final and binding. It meets ten times per school year, each meeting paired with a Tuesday 2 pm submission deadline.

Sources: https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/member-services/student-athlete-eligibility, https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/quick-guide and https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/about-us/faq

The committee meets ten times in the 2026-27 school year. Each submission deadline is a Tuesday at 2 pm and each meeting is on a Saturday.

Source: https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/member-services/student-athlete-eligibility

• Athletes must be listed on the correct roster in the Student-Athlete Registration System (STARS) to compete.
• Student-athletes can play only for the school where they are registered.
• Add new students to STARS as soon as possible, because processing takes 1-2 business days.
• If STARS shows a student is already registered at another school, they may be a transfer. Contact BC School Sports and submit the required paperwork.

Sources: https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/member-services/student-athlete-eligibility and https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/about-us/faq

• A team can be added only before the Team Registration deadline and once a coach is declared, so register all coaches before adding teams.
• If the coach is not yet known, list the Athletic Director as coach until one is named.
• A new Athletic Director needs their administrator to email BC School Sports authorizing them. BC School Sports then creates their STARS login.
• STARS login: https://stars.bcschoolsports.ca/

Source: https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/about-us/faq

The code (section 412) applies to coaches, including community coaches, because the coach-athlete relationship is a privileged one. Coaches must:

• Treat school sport as an extension of the classroom (412.1).
• Follow the bylaws and policies of BCSS and the local athletic association (412.2).
• Follow the sport's rules and their spirit, and encourage athletes to do the same (412.3).
• Fulfil all competition, invitational, playoff and championship obligations (412.4).
• Treat all participants fairly regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, ability, political belief or economic status (412.5).
• Accept officials' rulings without gestures or arguments and require athletes to do the same (412.6).
• Not use foul, profane, harassing or offensive language or gestures (412.7).
• Not use media, social media or online forums to criticize or threaten athletes, coaches, officials, teams, spectators or BCSS (412.8).
• Not use physical force of any kind while coaching (412.9).
• Never endorse, recommend or suggest performance-enhancing drugs or supplements (412.10).
• Not use tobacco or alcohol in the presence of athletes, and discourage athletes from using them (412.11).

Source: https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/member-services/coaching/bc-school-sports-coaching-code-ethics

No. Under the BC School Sports Coaching Code of Ethics, a coach must:

• Never require or imply that an athlete must take part in a summer or club program as part of school team duties (412.12).
• Never require or imply that an athlete cannot or should not play another BCSS-approved sport in the season before or after the coach's season (412.13).
• Never start pre-season tryouts or practices in a way that harms an in-season sport (412.14).

Source: https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/member-services/coaching/bc-school-sports-coaching-code-ethics

BC School Sports offers the "Coaching in BC Schools" module for teacher-coaches and community coaches. It was developed by BC School Sports and the Coaches Association of Canada, covers the five core competencies of the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), and provides professional development points towards staying active in the NCCP system. It includes sections on policies, procedures and safety guidelines and on coach responsibilities.

Source: https://www.bcschoolsports.ca/coaching/coaching-bc-schools