The TSSAA Legislative Council approved a series of bylaw changes Thursday affecting student eligibility and coaching rules, while electing its 2026 leadership during its December meeting at the Courtyard by Marriott in Mt. Juliet.
The staff updated the Council regarding ongoing discussions with members of the state legislature regarding one-time transfers between school years and its potential impact on any decisions regarding transfer exceptions under consideration.
The council voted to add detail to Article II, Section 2, specifying that students who are ineligible during the first semester can gain eligibility no earlier than the final day of the first semester, provided the final grades have been recognized by the school administration. This proposal from Westview High School takes effect immediately.
In action regarding transfer policy, the council denied a Loretto High School proposal that would have permitted students to transfer without losing varsity eligibility after failing to make a team. However, it approved a new provision granting immediate eligibility to students who transfer due to a school closing.
Other changes include adjusting the high school basketball practice calendar to allow three weeks of practice before Hall of Champions contests, and permitting coaches to work with their own children during restricted periods if no other school students are involved.
Dan Black was elected council president and Keith Turner vice president, both by acclamation.
The council also approved updated financial aid reporting requirements, moved the membership renewal deadline to Oct. 15, and allowed parents to decline physical examinations for student-athletes based on sincerely held beliefs. A proposal to remove coaching education requirements for classified employees was tabled until April.
Legislative Council Summary
December 11, 2025
Approved the minutes from the April 8, 2025 meeting.
Voted to elect Dan Black as President.
Voted to elect Keith Turner as Vice President.
Tabled the proposed change to Article I Section 10 (Coaches Education Requirements) submitted by Arlington High School until April to gather additional information.
Approved the proposed change to Article IV Section 8 (TSSAA Sports Calendar) submitted by Lebanon High School, which would adjust the practice calendar for high school basketball programs to ensure they have at least three weeks of practice before Hall of Champions contests.
Voted to deny the proposed change to Article II, Section 13 (Eligible Transfer Students) submitted by Loretto High School, which would allow students to transfer schools without loss of varsity eligibility after failing to make the team at the school in which they are attending and tried out for.
Voted to deny the proposed change to Article IV, Section 8 (TSSAA Sports Calendar) submitted by Van Buren County High School, which would increase the number of students who can receive individual instruction from their coaches in a given day.
Approved the proposed change to Article II, Section 2 (Academic Rule) submitted by Westview High School with amended language, effective immediately, stating that students can become eligible to participate no earlier than the final day of the first semester for all students, provided the final grades have been recognized by the school administration.
Approved the proposed change to Article IV Section 8 (TSSAA Sports Calendar) submitted by Siegel High School, which would allow coaches to coach their own children during times when the TSSAA Sports Calendar does not permit them to coach students from their own school, provided no other students from the coach's school are involved in the activity.
Approved the proposed change to Article II Section 13 (School Closing), which would add a transfer provision to allow students who transfer due to a school closing to be eligible immediately.
Approved the proposed change to Article I, Section 7 (Cooperative Programs), which would allow DI schools to host DII schools in approved cooperative programs.
Approved the proposed changes to Article I, Section 2 (Membership) which would define a procedure to end a school’s membership if membership dues are not paid by October 15.
Approved the proposed change to Article II, Section 16 (Tuition and Financial Aid), which removes language that is no longer applicable to the way financial aid reports are prepared/evaluated and adds a fine for schools that are not in compliance with the reporting requirements.
Approved the proposed addition to Article II, Section 10 (Physical Examination & Parental Consent), which allows parents or legal guardians to decline physical examinations on grounds of sincerely held beliefs or practices.
Voted to table the change to Article II, Section 12d (Athletic Coaching Link) proposed by Lipscomb Academy.
