6th Grade Participation Guidelines

Sixth grade participation is allowed in Conference 1A and 2A when their participation is vital to field one combined seventh and eighth grade baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball or volleyball team on the first day of the season. The UIL Constitution and Contest Rules provides a prescribed number of participants per sport that schools must fall below for 6th grade participation to be allowed. This pilot program in Conference 1A and 2A allows schools to field as many as two teams as well as allowing sixth graders to continue to participate in all sports, including individual sports, if their school met the requirements to participate in another activity. 

What this means:

Once a school qualifies to have 6^th grade girls participate in a girls’ team sport listed below, 6^th grade girls may participate in all sports following on the calendar.

Volleyball-12

Basketball-10

Soccer-22

Softball-18

Likewise, once a school qualifies to have 6^th grade boys participate in a boys’ team sport listed below, 6^th grade boys may participate in all sports following on the calendar.

Football: 6-man-12

Football: 11-man-22

Basketball-10

Soccer-22

Baseball-18

What this does not mean:

It does not mean that all 6^th graders in conference 1A and 2A are allowed to participate in UIL sports.

What is the intent of the pilot program?

The primary intent of the pilot program was to fully allow 7^th and 8^th graders to participate in team sports by allowing sixth graders to fill out team rosters at 1A & 2A schools that have struggled to have quality participation numbers in team sports. Secondarily, adjustments were made to the pilot program to allow sixth grade student athletes to participate in additional sports once their school qualified to use sixth graders under the rule.

DEC Oversight

Schools must provide evidence of compliance with the rule above to the DEC to utilize sixth graders.

If a school is below the participation numbers listed above, they must provide documentation to the DEC prior to 6^th grade students participating in a contest.

Schools that fail to adhere to these guidelines and appropriately report compliance to the DEC are subject to the range of penalties that could include no longer being allowed to utilize sixth graders.

This is an important pilot program to help 1A and 2A schools who are struggling with participation levels. DECs oversight of this pilot program is critically important in ensuring its equitable application and success.

DEC chairs may be asked to forward supporting documentation and school specific data to the UIL.

FAQs

+ Show All Answers

If a school qualifies to use 6^th graders under this rule, are they limited to fielding one middle school team?

No. Under the pilot program, ISDs are allowed to field as many as two teams under this rule, as well allowing sixth graders to continue to participate in all sports, including individual sports.

If a school qualifies to use 6^th grade girls for volleyball, does that mean that 6^th grade boys can participate in football or other UIL sports?

No. In order for 6^th grade boys to participate in UIL sports, the school would have to show evidence for a need of 6^th grade participation in a boys’ team sport.

If a girl participates in football, does that allow that female athlete or other female athletes to participate in girls UIL sports?

No. In order for 6^th grade girls to participate in other UIL sports, the school would have to show evidence for a need of 6^th grade participation in a girls’ team sports.

If a school believes that they would qualify to use 6th graders in basketball, can 6th graders participate in cross-country prior to the beginning of the basketball season?

No. A school can only qualify to use sixth graders based on low participation numbers on the first day of practice in the team sports involved in the program. If a school qualifies on the first day of basketball practice outside the school day, sixth graders may participate from that point forward in athletic competitions. They may not participate in individual or team sports until a school has qualified and has reported their participation numbers to the DEC. However, using the above as an example, please remember that the cross-country season could actually occur in the winter or spring provided that it meets all UIL rules regarding the length of the season and the number of competitive opportunities for athletes.

If a school questions the need for the use of 6th graders by another school, what steps should they take?

The school administration can request evidence of compliance from the DEC