Duxbury High School is a member of the MIAA (Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association). Our membership in the MIAA allows us to compete with other MIAA member school, and also to participate in MIAA post-season tournaments. As a member, we are required to follow the regulations of the MIAA handbook.

Rule 41 of the MIAA handbook states that “Student participation in out-of season activities may not be funded in any way by booster clubs or organizations.”  This includes all parent groups that are established to fund raise for any individual sport.  For example, the 3- point club could not pay for DHS students to play in a fall basketball league, and the Gridiron Club could never pay for students to take part in a summer passing league. If found in violation of this rule the sport could be ruled ineligible for tournament play and possibly worse, sanctions can be applied toward the athletic department and coaching staff.

However, it is widely known that many sports hold out of season practices where individuals may choose to work on their skills outside of the normal sport season. Many students choose these types of workouts in hopes of becoming better skilled in order to impress their coaches at tryouts. Students vying for positions on Duxbury High School teams are permitted at least three tryout sessions for those sports that hold tryouts before any student can be cut from a team. It would be logical to get in shape before the first day of tryouts.
There appears to be a widely believed myth that students must participate in Captains’ Practices in order to make a team. This is absolutely false. 

Rule 40.4 of the MIAA handbook states that “A coach may not directly or indirectly require an athlete to participate in a sport or a training program outside of the MIAA defined sport season.” If anyone can prove that a coach used attendance or ability shown at Captains’ Practices as a reason for a student to make or be cut from the team, that coach would be in violation of MIAA rules.

There are exceptions to some out of season parameters that are described in detail in the MIAA handbook. The handbook is viewable on the MIAA website: www.miaa.net. Rules such as the 50 percent rule for out of season coaching and rules for individual sports (golf, swimming, etc) are explained in detail. In all cases members of our coaching staff are made aware of these rules at various times throughout the year, and are encouraged to read the MIAA handbook so that they better understand all of the rules and regulations of our high school athletic association.

If anyone has any questions concerning these regulations, feel free to contact the athletic department by phone, 781-934-7668, or via e-mail at tholdgate@duxbury.k12.ma.us.