Equal opportunity to participate in interscholastic competition, either on separate teams or in mixed competition on the same team, shall be provided to male and female students, except as enumerated in Commissioner's Regulations and as indicated below. Where separate competition is not provided for male and female students in a specific sport, no student shall be excluded from such competition solely by reason of sex, except in accordance with Commissioner's Regulations.

The Regulations of the Commissioner provide for students involved in mixed competition to be placed on teams at appropriate levels of competition based upon the individual's medical history, maturity,physical data, fitness scores, and skills. These guidelines are to be used for both junior high school and senior high school programs.

1)     If a team is organized primarily for one sex and members of the opposite sex are also members, the team should still  be classified as either a males' or females' team and continue playing in the same type league.

2)     If a team was formed originally for one sex but is composed of a significant number of students of the opposite sex, it is recommended that separate teams be formed for that sport. This would allow for the greatest number of students to participate and not limit opportunities or have a disproportionate effect on any one sex.

3)     When there are separate teams for each sex in a specific sport, a male may not tryout for a females' team. The Superintendent of Schools may permit a female to try out for a male team. However, in the sports of baseball, basketball, boxing, field hockey, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, speedball, team handball, power volleyball where the height of the net is set at less than eight (8) feet, and wrestling, the fitness of a given student to participate in mixed competition is subject to the review and approval of a panel as specified in paragraph 5) of this regulation. Where separate teams are provided, a female who wishes to try out for a male team in these sports must have the approval of the Superintendent and the review panel. This type of crossover should be based upon that female's athletic ability to compete successfully.

4)     The sport of boxing is identified in Commissioner's Regulations because it appears in the Title IX Federal Regulations. It is not an indication that the State Education Department considers boxing a desirable sport for secondary students.

 5)     Mixed competition in a sport identified in paragraph 3) of this regulation is subject to review  and  approval  by  a panel. This panel must include the school physician and a physical education teacher appointed by the Principal and may include a physician chosen by the student's parent(s)/guardian(s). This panel is responsible for determining the readiness of the student in terms of the medical health, maturity, fitness, and skill of the individual in relationship to other members of the team. The intent of the Commissioner's Regulations is to match the student's readiness with an appropriate placement, as well as to provide the student with a successful competitive opportunity. When the physical abilities of the individual are deemed by the panel to be short of or exceed the physical abilities of other team members, thereby creating a hazardous condition or unfair advantage for that student or other members of the team, denial of participation would be appropriate.