Eligibility Requirements

The Mansfield Knights baseball program is for middle school and high school homeschooled male students. Middle school (if offered) includes grades 6 through 8; high school includes grades 9 through 12.

Academic Qualifications

A player must be homeschooled, meaning that a player must be receiving his primary educational direction through the home. For a player to be considered homeschooled, at least 50% of his education must be from the following sources:

• Class taught at home by parent, grandparent, legal guardian, or an older sibling of at least 18 years of age (may include CDs, online courses, video school, etc.)

• Class taught by a hired instructor or tutor (designated by the parent/guardian) at home or another location (does not include community college)

• Class through a homeschool co-op

• Class at a location where homeschoolers gather to receive contracted educational services from volunteers and/or hired teachers, and where each parent manages the transcript and diploma of the particular student (does not include community college)

• Distance learning program, such as Bob Jones, Abeka, Texas Tech High School, K12.com or other non-local high school-level correspondence program, as long as the classes are overseen by a parent at home (does not include homebound or online courses administered by a local ISD or charter school)

• Participation on a homeschool sports team (up to one class per semester)

A player must be living at home with a parent or guardian, within a reasonable driving distance of DFW as determined by the Mansfield Knights board.

A player is ineligible if that player is enrolled in more than 9 hours of dual-credit and/or college courses.

A player is ineligible if that player takes 4 or more courses at a local public, private, charter or university model school as this violates the 50% rule above.

A player is ineligible if that player has gone through a homeschool, public school, or private school high school graduation ceremony prior to that season’s first game.

A player is ineligible if that player is enrolled part-time at a school (TAPPS, SPC, UIL, etc.) and that school deems the student eligible to participate in its sports program(s).

A player must be passing all courses in order to participate in a contest or tournament. In performing the role of administrator for the homeschool, the parent is solely responsible for enforcing this rule.

Athletic Grade Classifications and Designations

An athletic grade designation must be declared when joining the Knights and must conform to the maximum age qualifications.

After or during the first year of high school participation (whether participation took place with the Mansfield Knights or another homeschool, public or private school team), an athletic grade re-classification is not allowed.

A player shall become ineligible after 4 years of high school participation. Note: the Mansfield Knights board president and coaches may approve the participation of an 8th grader in practices, on a high school sub-varsity team or inclusion in tournaments or events where 8th graders are explicitly permitted.

A high school player is ineligible to play on a middle school team, regardless of age.

Seniors that do not qualify for a varsity team may participate on a sub-varsity team upon approval from the coach and board president.

Age Qualifications

A player must be no older than 18 years of age on the date of September 1 preceding the season to play on any team.

A player must be no older than 14 years of age on the date of September 1 preceding the season to play on a middle school team.

A player must be at least 11 years of age on the date of September 1 preceding the season and in at least the 6th grade in order to participate on a middle school team.

Transfers and Expulsions

If a player started the season on another homeschool, public, or private school team, no transfer shall be allowed after January 1st without approval of the Mansfield Knights Board.

If a player was expelled from a public or private school during the academic school year or in the year prior, no transfer shall be allowed without the approval of the Mansfield Knights Board.

A player cannot play on another homeschool, public, or private school baseball team at the same time as playing on a Mansfield Knights team.

Exceptions

Exceptions to any eligibility requirement may be made only by express approval of the Mansfield Knights Board. No exceptions will be permitted to the age limitations. 

Last Revised

May 31, 2023 (Adopted)