9) Athletics: 5.0 Eligibility and Sports Participation

Overview: Eligibility and participation in CYM Sports exist to place young people on teams in a manner that is fair, transparent, and consistent with both diocesan standards and the capacity of local affiliated programs. Participation is not based solely on religious affiliation. Parishioners, Catholic school students, children enrolled in parish religious education, and youth who reside within the geographical boundaries of the Diocese of Wilmington are welcome, provided they complete required registration, provide acceptable proof of affiliation, and meet the age, grade, and sport-specific criteria of the program. The central CYM office assigns affiliations after reviewing online registration; local parishes, schools, and athletic associations then apply their own published guidelines regarding team numbers, facilities, budgets, and deadlines. This dual structure protects the integrity of the leagues while giving families a clear pathway into the ministry.

No youth may try out, practice, or compete until affiliation has been authorized and the athlete appears as an enrollment for future assignment onto online roster of a team. Only enrolled participants may take part in team events and activities. Local programs may decline an assigned player when registration has closed, teams are full, or acceptance would compromise eligibility or fairness; in those cases the family is referred back to the CYM office for possible placement elsewhere. Placement on a team is not guaranteed. Requests to change affiliation must be submitted in writing on the designated form and approved before any participation with a new program. False or incomplete registration information, competing on multiple teams in the same season or level contrary to policy, or participating without proper affiliation renders a player ineligible and may result in forfeits, further disciplinary action, or dismissal from the program.

This section sets forth the eligibility standards of CYM Sports, the responsibilities of local affiliated programs, and the participation policies that govern registration, affiliation, rosters, divisions, transfers, and continued standing. By stating these requirements clearly, we serve families, coaches, and administrators with transparency and protect the competitive and fairness of every league. Eligibility, rightly understood, is not a barrier to belonging; it is the framework that allows as many young people as possible to compete with integrity within the boundaries of the diocese, remaining connected to a parish or school community, and grow as disciples through the gift of sports.

5.1 General

• 5.1-1 Participation in any CYM Athletic program is not based solely on a household’s religious affiliation.
  • 5.1-1.1 CYM Sports participants may include parishioners, school students, religious education students and community members, along with administrators, coaches, and families.
  • 5.1-1.2 Affiliated parishes and schools may restrict eligibility of their participants, including CYM affiliations, at the determination of pastoral or school leadership.

5.2 Age-Eligibility and Grade Standards

• 5.2-1 Participation in any CYM Athletic program is not based solely on age-eligibility or grade requirements, but must follow strict guidelines for participation in specific competition(s).
  • 5.2-1.1 The date of grade increase occurs on June 30 for upcoming programming year.

Division	Grade(s)	Competition Level	Age (Birthdate) Limit	Sport Exceptions
Adult	No Grade	Recreational	Must be 19 before July 1st of current program year	High School Graduates younger than the age of 19
High School (Senior)	9th-12th	Recreational	May not have turned 19 before July 1st of current program year	8th graders in the sport(s) of Volleyball (G), Basketball who do not meet age requirement and have team in high school division
High School (Intermediate)	9th-10th	Recreational	May not have turned 17 before July 1st of current program year; must be freshman or sophomore	8th graders in the sport(s) of Volleyball (G), Basketball who do not meet age limit, and have team in high school division
Varsity	6th-8th	Competitive Hybrid-Competitive Instructional	May not have turned 15 before July 1st of current program year	Cross Country, Soccer, Volleyball (G/B), Basketball, Softball, Track
Junior Varsity	4th-6th	Hybrid-Competitive Instructional Mandatory Play	May not have turned 13 before July 1st of current program year	Cross Country, Soccer, Volleyball (G/B), Basketball, Track
Pre-Junior Varsity	3rd-4th	Instructional Mandatory Play	May not have turned 11 before July 1st of current program year	2nd Graders if requested; Volleyball 5th graders (may not turn 12 before July 1)

5.3 Program Eligibility Requirements and Restrictions

• 5.3-1 Representation in any CYM Athletic program may be based on eligibility at the local affiliated level or available program offerings.
  • 5.3-1.1 The CYM Sports Office respects and cooperates with local level eligibility requirements, as directed and communicated over by Pastors and principals.
  • 5.3-1.2 A youth participant not eligible for a particular parish or school will be reassigned to another affiliation, provided they are eligible.
• 5.3-2 Representation in any CYM Athletic program is restricted to the geographical boundaries of the Diocese of Wilmington.
  • 5.3-2.1 CYM Sports is available to all non-affiliated, community youth members regardless of religious or educational background within the boundaries of the diocese.
  • 5.3-2.2 CYM Sports is available only to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland residents with confirmed active participation at a parish or attending school/religious education in the Diocese of Wilmington boundaries.

Current Affiliated Programs Eligibility Requirements:

Affiliated Programs	Parish	School	Religious Education	Community
Christ the Teacher	❌	✅	❌	❌
Immaculate Heart of Mary	✅	✅	✅	✅
Holy Angels	✅	✅	✅	✅
Mount Aviat	❌	✅	N/A	❌
Nativity Preparatory	N/A	✅	N/A	❌
Serviam	N/A	✅	N/A	❌
St. Ann’s	✅	✅	✅	✅
St. Anthony of Padua	✅	✅	✅	✅
St. Edmonds Academy	N/A	✅	N/A	❌
St. Elizabeth	✅	✅	✅	✅
St. John the Beloved	⚠	⚠	⚠	❌
St. Mary of the Assumption	✅	❌	✅	✅
St. Mary Magdalen	✅	✅	✅	✅
St. Margaret of Scotland	✅	N/A	✅	✅
Ursuline	N/A	✅	N/A	❌
	✅=Full Eligibility	⚠=Restrictions (See AAR)	❌=Not Eligible	N/A=Not Applicable Program

5.4 Sports Standards

• 5.4-1 Participation in any CYM Athletic program is not based solely on sports-eligibility requirements, but must follow strict guidelines for participant safety and participant development.
  • 5.4-1.1 CYM Sports follows standard grade levels for sports-eligibility requirements, as available through enrollment process.
  • 5.4-1.2 In the event a program participant would like to play in a particular sport(s) not offered at their level within enrollment, it is the decision of the athletic association representative to communicate the need to the office for restricted grade-levels for additional of participant. The AAR must receive notice from the parent(s) and/or guardian(s) in writing and retain that agreement at the local level. The agreement does not need to be received by the Office for Catholic Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry.
  • 5.4-1.3 Participation in a restricted sport(s) is at the discretion of the parent(s) and/or guardian(s), and is the sole responsibility of the local affiliated program to provide the necessary disclaimers and information for competing at a higher grade level.
  • 5.4-1.4 No special treatment or rule(s) modifications are given to participant(s) playing up a grade level.
  • 5.4-1.5 Prohibited grade levels will not be considered for participants, regardless of a parent(s) or guardian(s) expressed intentions, due to the safety and well-being of the youth participant.
  • 5.4-1.6 Participants are only allowed to participate with one team in each sport. (ie. A JV player may not play and register as a Varsity player as well.)

Current Sports Standard Requirements:

Sport	2nd Grade	3rd Grade	4th Grade	5th Grade	6th Grade	7th Grade	8th Grade
Fall: Football	❌	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Fall: Soccer	❌	⚠	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Fall: Volleyball (G)	❌	⚠	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Fall: Cross Country	⚠	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Winter: Basketball	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Spring: Baseball	❌	❌	❌	❌	⚠	✅	✅
Spring: Softball	❌	❌	❌	⚠	✅	✅	✅
Spring: Flag FB	⚠	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Spring: Volleyball (B)	❌	❌	❌	⚠	✅	✅	✅
Spring: Track & Field	⚠	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
				✅=Standard	⚠=AAP/AD Clearance from Parent	❌=Prohibited	N/A=Not Applicable

5.4 Sports Restrictions

• 5.4-1 No individual may play on a CYM team and a team involved in a league sponsored by a CDOW parish/school simultaneously.
  • 5.4-1.1 Violation will result in the CYM team forfeiting all games in which the individual played and the individual will be removed from the CYM roster.

5.5 Miscellanious Restrictions

• 5.5-1 An individual CYM athlete becomes ineligible for a CYM team when he/she attends a contest with a high school team, and is wearing the high school team uniform.
  • 5.5-1.1 Individual athletes in 8th through 12th grade are prohibited from playing the same sport on a CYM team and a high school team, during the same sports season.
• 5.5-2 CYM Sports Office and the Athletic Advisory Committee can restrict the participation of any individual, volunteer, or household if, in the opinion of Diocesan CYM Sports Leadership, that individual(s) is deemed a risk to the program, themselves or jeopardizes and impact other participants.

5.6 Parish In-House/Intramural Programs

• 5.6-1 An in-house or intramural program participant does not have to register with CYM Sports, including 2nd graders and under.
  • 5.6-2 An in-house or intramural program participant may register with the CYM Sports if they meet the grade-level requirement of 3rd grade and up, or which to be assigned affiliation for future offerings.

5.7 Other Associated Participation Policies

• 5.7-1 Except for safety reasons, eligibility, or sports-restrictions, the local level has discretion in how team rosters are formed, and participants are placed onto teams.