Many questions arise about how many players from one school can participate on a travel team once the player has reached the high school level or 15U and above. Below is the rule from the IHSAA by-laws on participation eligibility. Basically, it comes down to this: Once the summer officially begins (Player is no longer participating on high school team) there are STILL restrictions on the number of players on a team. Starting in the summer of 2027, the five player rule from the school year will continue into the summer. If players are playing on a summer team (travel) there can only be 5 players from one school on that team. Once the next school year begins the restriction is still no more than 5 players from any one high school on a team.
This means that during the school year (but out of season)
- High School coaches can not instruct their players on travel teams
- High School players can only participate in games and/or practice with no more than 5 players from their high school on their travel teams
- Once the High School season begins, all players must cease contact with their travel programs (exception: personal PAID instruction)
This means that during the summer (but out of school)
- Restriction is the same as above
IHSAA By-Law 15-2.2 During School Year Out-of-Season
a. Students may participate in Team Sport Practice and Contests as members of a Non-School Team provided no more than the following number of students, (i) who have participated in a Contest the previous season as a member of One (1) of their School teams in that sport or (ii) who were incoming freshmen in either the current or in the immediate prior School Year (and who seek to participate on a Non-School Team from Monday of Week 5 until
the date of the first authorized Practice in that sport), are rostered on the same Non-School Team, at the same time. Seniors, who have exhausted their eligibility in a particular sport, do not count in the maximum number of students that can participate on a Non-School Team in that sport.
Baseball – 5 Football – 6 Softball – 5
Basketball – 3 Soccer – 7 Volleyball – 3
b. During the School Year Out-of-Season, the following standards also must be met for a student to participate in Team Sports practices and contests as a member of a Non-School Team:
(1.) Participation in Team Sports practices and contests during school time must be approved by the School principal or his/her designee.
(2.) Fees for a Non-School Team, if charged, must be provided solely by the student, parent or Guardian. No school or athletic funds shall be used for such when students of grades 9-12 are involved.
(3.) Participation on a Non-School Team shall be open to all students.
(4.) Merchandise and awards, other than those of symbolic value, may NOT be accepted for athletic proficiency. Student must remain an amateur.
c. During the School Year Out-of-Season, a student who has previously participated in a Contest as a member of a School’s team or any freshman, and who is participating in Team Sports practices or contests as a member of a Non-School Team, may not receive instruction from individuals who are members of the student’s high School coaching staff. (Exception: Coaches may instruct their sons or daughters.)
d. Member Schools may not organize, supervise or operate athletic practices for Non-School Teams.
e. Member Schools may not provide School-owned uniforms (shorts, pants, etc.) worn by the student in Non-School contests.
f. Students may attend Camps/Clinics provided the following standards are met.
(1.) Attendance is limited to non-school time and may begin on or after Monday of Week 7 or the first day of School, whichever comes first, unless camp is a verified Olympic development camp.
(2.) Fees, if charged, must be provided solely by the student, parent or Guardian except for underprivileged students. No School or athletic funds shall be used for such.
(3.) No School-owned uniforms (jerseys, shirts, shorts, pants, etc.) shall be worn by the student.
(4.) No more than Three (3) students in basketball and volleyball, Five (5) students in baseball and softball, Six (6) students in football or Seven (7) students in soccer who have participated in a Contest the previous year as a member of One (1) of their School teams in that sport may participate on the same team or in the same work station or drill at the same time. All work stations or drills must be held independent of each other and may not be integrated to simulate a game.
(5.) Member Schools may not organize, supervise or operate School-sponsored camps; however, Schools may rent or lease their facilities to non-school sponsors.
(6.) Coaches from a Member School Coaching Staff may not instruct students (1) who have participated in a Contest as a member of their School’s team in that sport or (2) any freshman.
(7.) Competition must be limited to intra-camp or intra-clinic practices, Contests and instruction.
(8.) Merchandise and awards, other than those of symbolic value, may NOT be accepted for athletic proficiency. Student must remain an amateur.
(9.) Length of attendance is unlimited.
(10.) Seniors or graduates who plan to attend should check with appropriate college rules and regulations regarding recruiting before participating.
(11.) Coaches may use students, School owned equipment in Schools, camps and/or coaches clinics held in the State of Indiana or in adjacent state, when the coach is presenter. A record of students used as demonstrators must be kept by the School. Coaches may not use a student for demonstration purposes in more than Three (3) such clinics per sport between July 1 and June 30 each year. No more than One (1) such clinic may be in an adjacent state.
