NSYBA HIGH SCHOOL FALL BALL ADHERES TO IHSA REGULATIONS

The NSYBA High School Fall Ball program is allowed by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Players participating in NSYBA High School Fall Ball remain eligible to play with their high school teams in the following spring.

This web page shows you the specifics which allow the NSYBA to operate our High School Fall Ball season. Quotations are taken from the "2003-04 IHSA Handbook (Constitution, By-Laws w/ Illustrations and Policies)" which you can find by clicking here.

The IHSA views teams as either "non-school" or "school" teams. They recognize they have no jurisdiction over non-school teams. However, they have defined "school" teams very broadly. The NSYBA is certain that there is no way for any organizing person or body to form a "non-school" team. Therefore, despite the fact that the NSYBA is totally independent of any school, and many of the teams in the NSYBA High School Fall Ball program are truly independent teams by common-sense definition, the NSYBA and all its high school age teams will be bound by IHSA regulations.

Contrary to popular misconception, the only way in which the IHSA limits "school" teams is in the length and timing of the season. Most high schools (Chicago, suburban and private/parochial) have baseball teams during the IHSA-defined spring season. Many also enter teams in the IHSA-defined summer season. The IHSA prohibits players rostered on high school teams from participating in non-ISBA seasons during the spring and summer seasons. The NSYBA does not run a spring or summer season of high school baseball. We only have a fall season.

The IHSA limits the "Boys Fall Baseball" season for "school" teams as follows:

Section 5.011 Season Limitation

a. No school belonging to this Association shall organize its Boys Fall Baseball teams, practice or participate in interscholastic competion earlier than Monday of Week 7 or later than Saturday of Week 16 in the IHSA Standardized Calendar.

b. A member school may conduct its first interscholastic contest in Boys Fall Baseball no earlier than Monday of Week 8 in the IHSA Standardized Calendar.

[Click here for the source and scroll down to page 71.]

The IHSA defines its Standardized Calendar as:

Section 5.001 Standardized IHSA Calendar

All IHSA-sponsored State Tournament Series and IHSA Sport Seasons [including NSYBA High School Fall Baseball] shall be conducted on dates established in accordance with the standardized calendar developed by the National Federation of State High School Associations. This calendar shall number the weeks of the year, with week one (No. 1) being the first full week of July (Sunday through Saturday).

[Click here for the source and scroll down to page 70.]

In 2003, "Monday of Week 7" (the earliest allowed practice date) was August 18.

In 2003, "Monday of Week 8" (the earliest allowed game date) was August 25. The NSYBA High School Fall Baseball season started on Sunday, September 14.

In 2003, "Saturday of Week 16" (the latest allowed game date) was October 25. The NSYBA High School Fall Baseball season ended on Friday, October 24.