Skip to main content
University of Texas at Austin
University Interscholastic League Logo
University Interscholastic League Logo

Waivers

Waivers Overview

The Waiver Process

The waiver process is designed to give an opportunity to students who encounter hardships due to extenuating life changing circumstances.  With this process in place, students that normally would be ineligible to participate in varsity contests, due to these involuntary or unavoidable circumstances, now are able to seek eligibility through one of the various waivers.  The waivers that are available are: Four-Year, Parent Residence, Foreign Exchange, Retroactive, Middle School Over-Age, and High School Over-Age.

 

Effective for the 2023-2024 school year, there will no longer be a $100 waiver application filing fee.  Appeal fees will remain.

We will begin accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year starting June 1, 2023.   

All Foreign Exchange Waivers must be submitted through the UIL Portal only.

 

AdministratorsDue to the high call volume, please allow us the opportunity to return your call prior to calling back. 

When applying for the Parent Residence or Four-Year Waiver, include all necessary documentation to support your written statements.  If we have to request this information, the process will be delayed. 

Parent Contact Information

 

Types of Waivers

  1. Four-Year Waiver:  The four-year waiver is for participants seeking varsity eligibility during their fifth year of high school.  When a student does not comply with the four-year rule because he/she has not met the requirements for graduation four years after his/her first entry into the ninth grade, and has not been able to participate in a specific activity for a season due to involuntary and unavoidable circumstances, that student may apply for this waiver.

    More Information: Constitution & Contest Rules, Section 405
  2. Parent Residence Waiver:  The parent residence waiver is for a student who is determined not to be in compliance with the parent residence rule, (living with a parent who is separated or married living apart or with a guardian), that student may apply for a wavier for varsity athletic participation.  If a student is attending school outside the attendance zone boundaries, where their parent(s) resides, the student may apply for this waiver for varsity athletic participation.

    More Information: Constitution & Contest Rules, Section 463
  3. Foreign Exchange Waiver (FES waiver):  The foreign exchange waiver is for a student studying in America on a J-1 Visa wishing to participate in varsity athletics, he/she may apply for this waiver.  A waiver to participate in junior varsity athletics, or any academic, drama or music competitions is not needed, but the student must comply with Section 400 of the Constitution and Contest Rules. 

    Note: Foreign Exchange Waiver applications must be submitted through the UIL Portal. Foreign Exchange Students are not eligible to apply for a Retroactive Waiver.  You can learn more about the requirements for an FES waiver at the bottom of the FAQ page

    More Information: Constitution & Contest Rules, Section 442 and Constitution & Contest Rules, Section 465

    CSIET approved J-1 Visa Advisory List

  4. Retroactive Waiver:  The retroactive waiver is for a student who is ineligible to participate in varsity athletics and has participated in a contest(s), a student and/or school may apply for this waiver.  The Superintendent and the coach should notify the chairman of the District Executive Committee of the ineligible participant.  The chairman will provide instructions on the procedures of forfeiture of contests and applying for the retroactive waiver.
                   
    Note: Foreign Exchange Students are not eligible to apply for a Retroactive Waiver.

    More Information: Constitution & Contest Ruels, Section 469
  5. Middle School Over-Age Waiver:  For 7th grade:  If a student is 14 on or before September 1 and has not enrolled in the ninth grade, he/she can apply for this wavier.  For 8th grade: If a student is 15 on or before September 1 and has not enrolled in the ninth grade, he/she can apply for this waiver.  See Section 1400 (a) (3) of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules for additional information on the requirements for this waiver.

    More Information: Constitution & Contest Rules, Section 1405
  6. High School Over-Age Waiver:  Only students that are currently in Special Education or 504 and identified as such prior to the end of his/her second year of high school can apply for this waiver.  All documentation should be sent to the Superintendent.  The Superintendent will forward all documentation to the chairman of the District Executive Committee who will verify the forms have been completed appropriately.   All documentation is then sent to the UIL for verification and information purposes only.  The UIL does not determine eligibility for high school over-age waivers.

    More Information: Constitution & Contest Rules, Section 446

*Note:

  1. All submitted documents must be in English
  2. Read application instructions carefully