FHSAA Approves New Age Limit Rule

February 11, 2013

The Florida High School Athletic Association Representative Assembly has adopted a proposal that will change the age limit for student athletes. The FHSAA voted to change the age restriction from 19 years and 9 months to 19 years.

Previously, the rule stated that a student may participate at the high school level until reaching the age limit of 19 years and 9 months old if the student had not exceeded their four-year limit of eligibility. The new limitation states that a “student who reaches the age of 19 on or after September 1st, and who has not exceeded his/her four-year limit of eligibility, may participate in interscholastic athletics during that school year”.

The amended bylaw will go into effect on July 1, 2014, for the 2014-15 school year, with 2013-14 serving as a notice period. Florida was the only state, before this week, to have an age limit that exceeded 19 years of age. Student athletes will still have the opportunity to appeal if there are extenuating circumstances.

Northview High School linebacker Roderick Woods aged out this past football season, hitting 19 years and 9 months in October. That left him sitting out the last three regular season games, plus the Chief’s entire state championship run. Under the new rule, Woods would not have been eligible for any games last season.

Proponents also said the rule will stop athletes who age out in their home state, such as Alabama, and transfer to Florida where they were eligible to play for another nine months.

Comments

9 Responses to “FHSAA Approves New Age Limit Rule”

  1. Tom McDonough on January 20th, 2023 7:28 pm

    In the physical development of boys, EVERY single year matters.
    This is why there are age categories in little league sports.

    Imo, there is NO WAY that a MAN older than 19 prior to entering his senior year of high school should EVER be allowed to compete against 14-18 year olds on any high school football team.

  2. Joshua on May 22nd, 2018 1:17 am

    I think if your 19 it’s ok to play highschool football

  3. Bill on August 6th, 2017 4:09 pm

    I believe that 20 year olds should NOT be eligible to play. It’s not fair to the students who actually excel in school. Beleive it or not, there is a huge difference between a 16 year old junior and a 20 year old who is playing football

  4. rock on November 24th, 2015 7:57 pm

    I think if your 20 you should be able to play ball BC sum kids Birthday start late & they probably get held back so tht puts them behind in there wrong grade in thts not fair in my opinion

  5. Mary Black on August 20th, 2014 10:58 am

    Okay the way I read this it literally states( And) so that means both age and four years of high school sports must be met. Example Joe is going into his senior year his birthday is Aug 15 he has only played 9, 10, and 11 grade sports then he has not exceeded his 4 years of high school sports. Now if he has repeated a grade in high school and has played all those four years then yes he has met both requirements to be not able to play.

  6. Scott on June 16th, 2014 12:58 am

    I think this is a bad idea and is not fair . I’m 16 years old and I’m playing varsity football next year for Coral Springs high and have someone who turned 19 from last football season who is going to be on my team . I think which is not fair . if you turn 19 the same school year then you should not be able to play another season . It’ makes it much safer for all the 15,16,17 and 18 years olds and is not fair to the ones who are performing well in school .i believe that this rule should be changed to at least 19 and 3 months or being ineligible if you turn 19 before start of the school year.

  7. Kwadarrius smith on February 16th, 2013 10:03 am

    I honestly think that 20 years of age is fine! I mean think about it, these kids grow up playing sandlot football with guys 3 or 4 years older than them. With NO pads!!! That’s insane! And what now all of a sudden they play in school with pads and now it’s dangerous!!! A kid gets to play 3 games instead of the whole season because of his age. But now all of a sudden the 4th game is gonna be more dangerous than the 3rd!! Lets be realistic!!

  8. agree on February 11th, 2013 8:55 pm

    I totally agree with the age change. I think being almost 20 years old is to old to be playing with kids who are 15 and 16 years old years old. Besides if these kids make their studies a priority they want have to worry about being to old to play.

  9. been thinking on February 11th, 2013 2:37 pm

    just maybe the FHSAA should have left the rules the same for FL boys,

    and made rules way more strict about AL boys transferring into FL just to play sports their last year of high school