The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) have adopted procedures and forms for sanctioning of interstate athletic events.
If your school attends or hosts invitational or tournaments which involve athletes/schools from out of state, please familiarize yourself with the sanctioning procedures.
-Hosting? Your school files application for sanction, based on requirements below.
-Attending? Your school must ensure that the contest is a sanctioned contest by filing a notice of entry with the NYSPHSAA in writing, by phone (518-690-0771 X 16) or email (bsacci@nysphsaa.org).
All sanction forms and financial forms may be obtained from the NYSPHSAA web site at www.nysphsaa.org, the National Federation Website @ www.nfhs.org/sanctioning or by calling the NYSPHSAA office at 518-690-0771.
Interstate Competition occurs when teams, or individuals who represent their schools, travel across state lines to participate in competitive sports events, including but not limited to such events as "shoot-outs", "showcases", "round robin tournaments", etc.
A member school wishing to host a contest involving an out-of-state school must file an application for sanction with the NYSPHSAA office if such contest involves four or more schools, three (3) or more states, or any two school contest co-sponsored by anyone other than a member school.
All requests for sanction must be accompanied by the names and addresses of all invited schools. (The actual list of entries, if different, must be received at least 20 days prior to event).
1. Co-Sponsorship Sanctioning Requirement: (more than 60 days prior) ANY interstate competition involving two (2) or more schools which is co-sponsored by an organization outside the high school community(e.g., a university, a theme park, a shoe company), must be sponsored by a member school, an approved school or a state association, and shall require sanction of the National Federation through the NYSPHSAA Office. (form to use: Application to NFHS for Sanction of Interstate Athletic Event-FEE)
2. Use of NYSPHSAA Sanction Application Form - for interstate contests involving
a. any contest involving less than 8 schools (one from out-of-state) or any number of schools from states bordering NY, or
b. three (3) or more states
NYSPHSAA schools hosting interstate competition must file a NYSPHSAA Application for Sanction
with the NYSPHSAA office at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the event. (no FEE)
NOTE: For sanctioning purposes, Canada is not considered to be a foreign country but is to be included as a bordering state.
NYSPHSAA member schools planning to participate in an interstate contest involving four or more schools,or any interstate contest which is co-sponsored by an organization other than a member high school, must give "NOTICE OF ENTRY" to the NYSPHSAA, Inc. office so that the school may receive verification that the contest has been sanctioned.
3. Use of NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) Application for Sanction of Interstate & International Sanctioning Athletic Events (more than 60 days prior-FEE)
a. any interstate event involving 2 or more schools which is co-sponsored by or titled in the name of an organization outside the high school community
b. non-bordering events if five (5) or more states are involved
c. non-bordering events if more than 8 schools are involved
d. any event involving two (2) or more schools that involves a team from a foreign country (exceptions are Canada and Mexico which are considered "bordering states").
4. Timelines and Fees (applications received by the host state association and the National Federation) more than 60 days prior to the event - $100.00
15-59 days prior to the event - $150.00
less than 15 days prior to the event - $250.00
penalty fee for list of actual entries later than 20 days prior - $50.00