Unified UIL Eligibility Policy for All McKinney Ice Hockey Club Student-Athletes

McKinney Ice Hockey Club (MIHC) student-athletes must be enrolled in, and eligible at, a qualifying school that follows Texas Education Agency (TEA) and University Interscholastic League (UIL) academic standards, and must also satisfy all MIHC, AT&T High School Hockey League, and USA Hockey eligibility requirements. (1)

This Unified UIL Eligibility Policy establishes comprehensive eligibility standards for all MIHC high school student-athletes, aligning club participation with TEA, UIL, AT&T High School Hockey League, and USA Hockey rules. See TEA–UIL Side-by-Side: https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/tea-uil-side-by-side and AT&T MHSHL Rules: https://www.atthighschoolhockeyleague.com/rules and USA Hockey rules: https://www.usahockey.com/rules (2) (3) (4)

The policy applies to all MIHC high school teams (Varsity and Junior Varsity), all student-athletes, and all practices, games, scrimmages, and tournaments conducted under the AT&T High School Hockey League and USA Hockey sanction. See MIHC: https://www.mckinneyicehockey.org and AT&T MHSHL: https://www.atthighschoolhockeyleague.com (5) (6)

MIHC high school teams are open to eligible students in grades 9–12 for Varsity and generally grades 7-10 for Junior Varsity, as academically classified by their qualifying school and consistent with AT&T High School Hockey League rules: https://www.atthighschoolhockeyleague.com/rules (5) (3)

MIHC primarily serves students zoned to McKinney ISD high schools and middle schools, but eligible students from qualifying public, charter, private, approved online programs, and homeschool programs may participate if all requirements in this policy are satisfied. See MIHC: https://www.mckinneyicehockey.org (5) (1)

To be eligible, a student must be enrolled full-time (or the homeschool equivalent described below) in a Qualifying School, defined as:

• a TEA-accredited Texas public school (ISD);
• a TEA-recognized open-enrollment charter school;
• a TEA-accredited private school; or
• a TEA-recognized online/virtual program (for example, iUniversity Prep or Texas Tech TTU K‑12) that participates in Texas accountability and issues course-based grades.

References:

TEA Accreditation Status: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/accountability/accreditation/accreditation-status

iUniversity Prep: https://www.iuniversityprep.org

TTU K‑12: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/k12 (7) (8) (9)

A school or program that classifies a student in a grade level but delivers instruction primarily below the curriculum standards appropriate for that grade level as defined by TEA and UIL guidelines does not meet the definition of a Qualifying School for eligibility purposes.

Programs that do not maintain TEA accreditation/recognition or do not issue periodic, course-based grades that can be evaluated under UIL “No Pass, No Play” rules are not considered Qualifying Schools; students enrolled in such programs are ineligible to play for MIHC. See TEA–UIL Side-by-Side: https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/tea-uil-side-by-side (7) (2)

MIHC will not recognize enrollment in non-accredited schools, diploma mills, unregulated “academies,” or online programs that cannot provide documented, course-level grades aligned with TEA/UIL standards for eligibility purposes. See TEA Accreditation: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/accountability/accreditation/accreditation-status (7) (2)

Students whose primary academic program is a non-Qualifying School are categorically ineligible to participate on MIHC high school teams, regardless of any supplemental or part-time coursework elsewhere. See TEA–UIL Side-by-Side: https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/tea-uil-side-by-side (2)

Homeschool students may participate if:

• they reside in the MIHC service area; and
• their homeschool program maintains written curriculum, attendance, and course-level assessment and grading sufficient to apply a UIL-style “No Pass, No Play” standard.

See TEA–UIL Academic Requirements: https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/tea-uil-side-by-side/academic-requirements  (2) (10)

Homeschool families must provide, on request:

• a semester course list with subjects and materials;
• periodic grade reports (aligned with the MISD UIL Calendar) with letter or numeric grades; and
• a signed attestation that the student is a full-time homeschool student and not concurrently enrolled in a non-Qualifying School for core academics.

See UIL Constitution – Athletics Eligibility: https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/constitution/athletics/eligibility 

(10)

Texas students who need a TEA‑accredited, transcript‑granting online option outside MISD should generally enroll in a full‑time public virtual school either through the Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) Online Schools (OLS) program or an LEA‑run virtual academy authorized by TEA. These programs issue course‑level grades aligned with TEKS/UIL standards and are recognized as public schools for eligibility determinations.

Core point for MIHC eligibility

For MIHC purposes, a “Qualifying School” under your policy will almost always be:

• A Texas public school district campus (including its district‑run virtual/remote academy) that is TEA‑accredited and issues a standard transcript with course‑level grades based on TEKS.
• A TEA‑accredited open‑enrollment charter school (including its virtual campus) with the same characteristics.

TXVSN full‑time online schools and the “Extending Virtual Options” OLS campuses fit this model; diploma‑mill style “homeschool academies” or unaccredited online providers do not.

• Varsity eligibility is limited to students in grades 9–12 who are academically classified as high school students by their Qualifying School and who otherwise satisfy this policy. See UIL eligibility overview: https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/eligibility (11) (5)



• Junior Varsity eligibility is generally limited to students in grades 7-10; 7th-8th grade students may not play Varsity, and 11th-12th grade students may not play Junior Varsity, consistent with current league and club practices, absent a documented MIHC Board‑approved exception. See MIHC program example: https://www.mckinneyicehockey.org/program/fall-2025-2026/25684 (5)

Junior Varsity eligibility is limited to students whose grade level and league status clearly meet all club and league requirements.

• No 6th grader is eligible for MIHC Junior Varsity under any circumstance, including students who are academically or administratively evaluated as 7th grade but remain registered or classified as 6th grade in any school, district, or program record.

• To be eligible for Junior Varsity, a player must simultaneously: (a) meet all AT&T High School Hockey League qualifying criteria, including the league‑designated birth year range, and (b) be officially entering the 7th grade or higher, and be classified at that grade level by a qualifying school in accordance with MIHC’s Unified UIL Eligibility Policy.

MIHC adopts UIL “No Pass, No Play” academic standards for all student-athletes, regardless of school type; the student must be passing all courses at each grading period used by the school for extracurricular eligibility determinations. See TEA–UIL Academic Requirements: https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/tea-uil-side-by-side/academic-requirements  (13) (2)

Any failing grade (below 70, or equivalent failing mark under a UIL-aligned grading policy) at an official grade-check renders the student academically ineligible for the UIL-defined ineligibility period; during this time the student may not participate in games or scrimmages and may be restricted from practices at MIHC’s discretion. See UIL Constitution – Athletics Eligibility: https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/constitution/athletics/eligibility (13) (10)

A student who is suspended, expelled, placed in an alternative education setting for disciplinary reasons, or otherwise removed from regular attendance at a Qualifying School is ineligible to participate with MIHC for the duration of such removal. See UIL Constitution – Athletics Eligibility: https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/constitution/athletics/eligibility (10) (13)

Eligibility may be reinstated only after the student is fully reinstated by the Qualifying School and MIHC receives written confirmation (or, for homeschool, a parent/guardian attestation) that the disciplinary action and any associated conditions have ended. (10)

Any student who has been disciplinarily released from McKinney ISD (MISD) is ineligible to participate in McKinney Ice Hockey Club (MIHC) programs and teams.

• For MIHC eligibility purposes, a “disciplinary release” from MISD includes, but is not limited to, expulsion, mandatory withdrawal in lieu of expulsion, or any district action that removes the student from MISD enrollment due to conduct or behavioral violations.

• A student who has been disciplinarily released from MISD remains ineligible for MIHC participation unless and until the student is formally readmitted and returned to “student in good standing” status by MISD or another qualifying TEA‑accredited district under MIHC’s Unified UIL Eligibility Policy.

3.15 School Suspension

Any player who is placed in alternative education classes, suspended out of school, or placed on in-school suspension is not eligible to compete in any League game(s) until he/she has been back in the regular classroom setting for one (1) complete school day. Should a student elect to withdraw from public school and enroll in either a private school or be home schooled while they are participating in alternative education classes or are under any type of school-imposed suspension, that student will not be eligible t participate. He or she must be a “student in good standing” at his/her public school and have completed all disciplinary requirements or other suspensions or required attendance in alternative education classes assigned by the public school prior to withdrawing from that school.

Should the student physically change addresses and become part of a different public school district while the student is attending alternative education classes at the previous school, the student must become a “student in good standing” at his/her new public school according to the rules of the public school the student is attending. This suspension will be in effect until the player/student is reinstated by the school authorities. Generally, if a student would otherwise be eligible to play a UIL recognized sport for their respective school, then they are eligible to play high school hockey.

MIHC may, at any time, request confirmation of a player’s disciplinary status from the student’s school if there is reason to believe the student may be under suspension, expulsion, placement in an alternative education setting, or any other sanction that would prevent enrollment or participation in McKinney ISD or another qualifying school.

As a condition of participation, parents/guardians agree that, upon MIHC’s request, they will sign all necessary consent and release forms authorizing the student’s current or prior school(s) to disclose disciplinary information reasonably related to athletic eligibility, including but not limited to: out‑of‑school suspension, in‑school suspension, placement in a disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP), expulsion, or other school‑imposed sanctions impacting eligibility.

Consistent with AT&T High School Hockey League rules, any player who is placed in alternative education, suspended out of school, or placed on in‑school suspension is not eligible to compete in any League game(s) until the student has returned to the regular classroom setting for one complete school day.

If a student withdraws from public school and enrolls in a private school or homeschool program while they are serving alternative education or any school‑imposed suspension, that student remains ineligible to participate in MIHC activities until all disciplinary requirements and assigned alternative education or suspension obligations at the prior school have been fully completed and the student is again a student in good standing under that district’s or the new district’s rules.

If a student physically changes address and becomes part of a different public school district while attending alternative education at the previous school, the student must first achieve “student in good standing” status at the new public school, according to that school’s rules and policies, before regaining eligibility for MIHC.

This ineligibility remains in effect until the player is formally reinstated by appropriate school authorities; generally, if a student would not be eligible to participate in UIL‑recognized sports for their school due to disciplinary status, that student is not eligible to play high school hockey for MIHC.

Parents/guardians and players have a continuing obligation to promptly disclose to MIHC any school disciplinary action that could affect eligibility, including assignment to alternative education, suspension, or expulsion.

By registering for MIHC, families consent to MIHC using signed releases to obtain and rely in good faith on disciplinary status information from schools for eligibility decisions and acknowledge that failure to sign required releases or to cooperate with reasonable verification requests will result in the student being treated as ineligible until the matter is resolved.

McKinney Ice Hockey Club (MIHC) reserves the right to verify that all student‑athletes are “students in good standing” and not subject to school disciplinary sanctions that would make them ineligible for participation in high school athletics.

Students must be full-time day students in regular attendance at their Qualifying School, residing with a parent or legal guardian in the recognized attendance area, and must not change schools for athletic purposes, consistent with UIL residency and transfer principles. See UIL eligibility: https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/eligibility (10) (11)

Post‑graduate, and fifth-year students who are ineligible under UIL, AT&T High School Hockey League, or USA Hockey rules are not eligible to play for MIHC, even if they otherwise meet club-level criteria. See AT&T MHSHL Rules: https://www.atthighschoolhockeyleague.com/rules and USA Hockey Rules: https://www.usahockey.com/rules (11) (3) (4)

MIHC may require, at registration and periodically during the season, submission of:

• report cards or progress reports;
• school enrollment or attendance verification;
• confirmation of TEA accreditation or program status; and
• homeschool curriculum and grading documentation.

References: MIHC: https://www.mckinneyicehockey.org and TEA Accreditation:

https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/accountability/accreditation/accreditation-status (1) (13)

MIHC may contact schools or programs directly to verify enrollment, eligibility, disciplinary status, and accreditation; refusal to provide documentation or to allow verification renders the student ineligible. (1) (13)

All players must be properly registered with USA Hockey and comply with all age, amateur status, and SafeSport requirements, as well as all AT&T High School Hockey League eligibility and roster rules. See USA Hockey: https://www.usahockey.com/rules and AT&T MHSHL Rules: https://www.atthighschoolhockeyleague.com/rules (4) (3) (6)

Where USA Hockey or AT&T League rules are more restrictive than this policy, those rules will control; where MIHC’s policy is more restrictive, MIHC may enforce its higher standard. (3) (4)

Any falsification, omission, or misrepresentation of academic records, enrollment status, residence, school type, or disciplinary history may result in immediate ineligibility, removal from the team, and referral to the AT&T High School Hockey League, TAHA, USA Hockey, and/or the relevant school. (3) (4)

Use of an ineligible player may result in forfeiture of games, imposition of league sanctions, and internal discipline of players, parents, and coaches, including suspension or dismissal from MIHC. (3) (6)

The MIHC Board of Directors, or its designated Eligibility Committee, has sole authority to interpret this policy, determine player eligibility, and rule on any requested exceptions, subject to consistency with TEA, UIL, USA Hockey, and AT&T High School Hockey League rules.

• TEA–UIL Side-by-Side: https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/tea-uil-side-by-side
• USA Hockey Rules: https://www.usahockey.com/rules
• AT&T MHSHL Rules: https://www.atthighschoolhockeyleague.com/rules (2) (3) (4)

Families may submit written appeals with supporting documentation within timelines established by MIHC; decisions on appeals are final for purposes of MIHC participation and do not alter determinations made by schools, UIL, TEA, USA Hockey, or the league. (2)

MIHC relies in good faith on information and documentation provided by families, schools, and governing bodies and does not independently audit or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. See MIHC: https://www.mckinneyicehockey.org (1)

By registering for and participating in MIHC programs, the parent/guardian and student:

• acknowledge that eligibility determinations are made based on information available at the time;
• agree to promptly notify MIHC of any change in school, academic status, disciplinary status, or enrollment that may affect eligibility; and
• agree to release and hold harmless MIHC, its officers, directors, volunteers, and coaches from liability for good‑faith eligibility decisions made under this policy that are later affected by corrections, omissions, or errors in third-party information. (1)

This policy is expressly subject to change at any time to remain consistent with current Texas law, TEA regulations, UIL rules, USA Hockey requirements, and AT&T High School Hockey League rules; updated versions will be posted on the MIHC website and will govern prospectively from the date of posting.

MIHC: https://www.mckinneyicehockey.org

TEA Accreditation: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/accountability/accreditation/accreditation-status

TEA–UIL Side-by-Side: https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/tea-uil-side-by-side

USA Hockey Rules: https://www.usahockey.com/rules

AT&T MHSHL Rules: https://www.atthighschoolhockeyleague.com/rules (2) (7) (3) (4) (6)