The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) is a voluntary, non-profit organization authorized by the California legislature to govern regional and statewide high school sports. Its membership includes over 1,600 public, private, and charter high schools. The state is divided into 10 geographical Sections (such as the Southern Section, North Coast Section, San Diego Section, etc.) which handle day-to-day eligibility decisions and playoffs.

The core philosophy of the CIF is that students attend school to receive an education first, and athletic participation is secondary. The CIF asserts that high school sports are a "privilege, not a right," and its rules are explicitly designed to serve as a deterrent to students who transfer schools for athletic reasons and to individuals who try to recruit student-athletes.

Transferring high schools is the most common way students lose their athletic eligibility. Under CIF Bylaw 207, any student who transfers high schools after their initial enrollment in the 9th grade is subject to transfer restrictions.

1. Valid Change of Residence (VCOR): If your entire family unit vacates your former home, moves to a new primary residence, and takes all household goods, this is considered a Valid Change of Residence. With proper documentation, the student can be granted immediate varsity eligibility at the new school.
2. Transferring Without a Move (Sit Out Period): If your child transfers without a full family move, they are generally limited to sub-varsity (limited) eligibility for the sports they played in the last 12 months. Alternatively, if it is their first transfer, they may be eligible for a "Sit Out Period" (SOP), meaning they must sit on the bench and miss approximately 50% of the season's calendar days before they can play on the varsity team.
3. Second Transfers: If this is the student’s second transfer without a valid change of residence, they are strictly limited to sub-varsity competition.

Sometimes students are forced to change schools for reasons completely out of their control. In these cases, the new school can apply for a Hardship Waiver on the student's behalf, which grants immediate varsity eligibility.

However, CIF defines "hardships" very narrowly. To qualify, the situation must be an unforeseeable, unavoidable, and uncorrectable event that causes a severe burden. Eligibility may be granted under specific categories, including:

• Court-ordered transfers or foster/homeless youth placements.
• Children of divorced parents (if moving from one parent's domicile to the other pursuant to court documents).
• An Individual Student Safety Incident, which requires administrative records from the former school or police reports proving the student was involved in a specific safety threat.
• Unforeseeable financial or medical considerations.

Important Note: Because hardship waivers rely strictly on verifiable documentation, determinations made by the CIF Section Commissioner regarding hardships are final and cannot be appealed.

CIF Bylaw 510 strictly prohibits recruiting and transfers driven by sports. Even if your family completes a Valid Change of Residence, the CIF can deny your child's eligibility if they find evidence that the move was "athletically motivated".

The CIF considers certain factors to be "prima facie" (sufficient) evidence of athletic motivation:

1. Club Coach Association: If your child transfers to a high school where they participated on a non-school athletic team (like an AAU or travel club team) during the previous 24 months, and a coach from that club is associated with the new high school.
2. Following a Coach: Transferring to a school where your child's former high school coach has relocated.
3. Pre-Enrollment Contact: Any communication between the student/parent and the athletic staff at the new school prior to enrollment. All pre-enrollment contact must be fully disclosed on CIF transfer forms.
4. Multiple Transfers: Evidence that multiple students have transferred to participate in a particular sports program at one school.

"Undue influence" includes any act, gesture, or financial inducement by anyone associated with a high school to get a student to enroll for sports. If a student accepts such an inducement, they can be banned from CIF competition for a full year, and the school will face severe sanctions.

Yes, but with strict limitations. The modern athletic landscape has changed, and California law (as well as CIF Bylaw 212) allows high school athletes to monetize their own Name, Image, and Likeness.

However, the CIF has placed specific boundaries to protect amateurism:

• Students cannot wear a school uniform, use the school mascot, or show any identifying school insignia while appearing in a commercial endorsement.
• Students cannot reference their school affiliation in the endorsement.
• Member schools, boosters, and coaches cannot provide or facilitate NIL deals for their athletes, as this is considered an illegal inducement/undue influence to attend the school.

No. Under CIF Bylaw 215 (Intercollegiate Participation), high school students are strictly prohibited from competing in intercollegiate events.

The CIF defines a collegiate meet as one where "collegiate athletes are competing for or representing their school". If a high school athlete competes in such an event—even if they register as an "unattached" individual—they will instantly lose their high school eligibility in that sport for the remainder of their high school enrollment.

Additionally, athletes who participate in tryouts for professional sports teams during their high school season of sport will become ineligible.

If a member school submits a transfer application, the local CIF Section Commissioner has 20 business days to investigate and issue a written decision.

If the Section Commissioner denies unlimited varsity eligibility (e.g., ruling the transfer was athletically motivated under Bylaw 510), the parent or the school may file a formal appeal.

1. The Deadline: The appeal must be filed with the State CIF Appeals Office in Sacramento within 15 business days of the Section’s decision.
2. The Hearing: An administrative hearing will be convened before an independent Hearing Officer.
3. The Final Decision: The Hearing Officer will review the evidence, hear testimony, and issue a written decision. This decision is final and binding within the CIF administrative structure.