Official Rules
1. Administration
1.1. The President of the Executive Board may appoint any committee that he deems necessary.
1.2. The Executive Board may recruit and appoint Sports Commissioners for each sport season. Sports Commissioners shall serve for one athletic year. Sports Commissioners may be asked to serve consecutive athletic years at the pleasure of the executive board.
1.3. The Executive Board shall be allotted moneys from the Association’s treasury for expenses incurred from inner-association communications.
1.4. Each Sports Commissioner will be paid a stipend at the end of the season of their sport. The Executive Board shall establish the amount at the beginning of each athletic year.
1.5. All rules voted on and accepted by the Executive Board are to be included in the Standing Rules of the particular sport involved. If any particular situation is not covered in the ACEL Standing Rules, but is covered by the current NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) rules, the ACEL Executive Director/Executive Board may choose to apply NFHS rules.
1.6. Opening dates, closing dates, playoff dates, and championship dates shall be determined by the ACEL Sports Executive Director/Executive Board.
1.7. Sports Commissioners are only appointed if an Executive Director has not been appointed, otherwise the Executive Director assumes the role of the Sports Commissioner for all sports.
2. Qualifications for Member School or Association Participation in the ACEL
2.1. All participating schools or associations must be approved by the ACEL Executive Board.
2.2. All participating schools or associations are admitted to the ACEL with a one-year assessment period dependent on their performance and adherence to the ACEL mission/purpose and standing rules, and may be admitted to the league on a continuing basis thereafter.
2.3. The purpose/mission of the ACEL:
ACEL is established to bring honor and glory to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, through athletic and academic competition, to protect the Christian bond of our member schools, to promote pure, amateur athletic sports, and to foster Christian leadership and fellowship among our students.
2.4. All fines and fees must be paid before your school will be able to participate in the next sports season.
2.5. All participating schools or associations must require each ACEL student-athlete to take one Bible course for credit each academic year. All participating schools or associations must promote a steadfast, Christian worldview that emphasizes knowing truth as determined by God’s word and living a Christian life.
2.6. For the purposes of participation on an ACEL home education athletic association team, a homeschool student-athlete must spend 51% of their class time in the home setting, unless the student-athlete is a graduating senior, in which case he or she may spend up to 66% of their class time outside the home setting. Any student taking classes through a state approved public school, virtual school, charter school, or any blending of such that will result in the student receiving a diploma from such school, does not meet the definition of an ACEL homeschooled student.
2.7. All athletes participating in ACEL contests are required to be covered by accident insurance.
3. League Records
3.1. All member schools/associations are to submit to the Sports Commissioner League Office all necessary fees, team rosters, and a copy of each team member’s birth certificate (state certified or hospital certified) according to the following schedule:
3.1.1. For ALL sports, the fees/rosters/birth certificates/medical evaluations are due on the date specified by the Sports Commissioner on the league schedule.
3.1.2. Rosters are to be submitted on an ACEL roster form and must contain the following information:
3.1.2.1. Student’s name
3.1.2.2. Age as of September 1
3.1.2.3. Birth date
3.1.2.4. Grade
3.1.2.5. Jersey number
3.1.2.6. Any other information on the form is optional.
3.1.3. Medical evaluations must be done within the calendar year and must not be more than a year old at the end of the ACEL in-season sport in which the individual student-athlete is participating. Medical evaluations must be given and signed by a medical doctor and signed by the parent or guardian.
3.2. Any school failing to submit properly filled out rosters, birth certificates, grade reports, or medical evaluations by the scheduled date will forfeit their first league scheduled game and all other games until the proper documentation is submitted.
3.2.1. Medical evaluations do not have to be turned in to the league, but must be kept on file and made readily available upon request.
3.2.2. Athletic Directors and/or Coaches must have medical evaluations on hand at all ACEL sanctioned events for all participating student-athletes.
3.3. Any team member who plays in a league scheduled game without having his/her birth certificate submitted to the Executive Director, will have his/her team forfeit that game.
3.4 Member organizations are required to have a transcript on file and be made readily available upon league request for any student transferring into their organization.
4. State Playoffs and Championship
4.1. No team will be allowed to participate in any playoff or championship game if that team is in violation of any league rule (including reporting of scores and turning in official book) with regard to reporting or in arrears on any league fee, penalty fee, or forfeiture fee.
4.2. Athletes are eligible to participate in the playoffs and championship of any sport per the official ACEL Athletic Calendar for the year.
4.3. Any team choosing to not make a road trip to a league game or a playoff game, regardless of the reason, will be assessed a forfeit fee of no less than $500.00 for league games and $1000.00 for playoff games (the total amount to be determined by the League Director/Executive Board), and assessed a charge to reimburse the playoff home team for expenses and lost revenue (the total amount to be determined by the
League Director/Executive Board).
4.4. Championship trophies shall be awarded by the Association in official sports for all first-place winners where there is participation of four (4) or more teams. Junior Varsity awards and all other Varsity awards will consist of plaques and will be awarded to second place. Third and fourth place teams will be awarded state semi-finalist plaques.
4.5. The Association will present t-shirts to the first place team at the following numbers: football – one shirt for each member, up to 30 shirts for each division; soccer – one shirt for each member, up to 15 shirts for each division; basketball – one shirt for each member, up to 15 shirts for boys and girls in each division; volleyball – one shirt for each member, up to 15 shirts for each division; softball and baseball – one shirt for
each member, up to 18 shirts. The first-place team will also be presented with up to 2 coaches’ shirts.
4.6. In instances where power points shall be used for playoff seedings, points will be awarded on the following basis: A team’s official power points will be the sum of a team’s total number of wins divided by the total number of games played multiplied by 110 and of a team’s opponents wins divided by the total number of opponent’s games multiplied by 100.
4.6.1. In the event of a season ending tie, tie breakers will be decided based on the following factors:
1.) Head-to-head competition
2.) Point differential:
Football - 30-point cap
Soccer - 5-point cap
Basketball - 30-point cap
Baseball - 15-point cap
Softball - 15-point cap
3.) Fewest points given up on opponent's home court/field
4.6.2. In instances where districts are used for a sport the district winner will be decided by the district record.
4.6.3 All forfeits will result in zero (0) power points to the forfeiting team.
5. All-State Player Selection
5.1. Participation
No ACEL member school/association will be allowed to participate in voting for or to place players on First Team and Second Team All-State teams if that member school/association is in violation of any league rule with regard to reporting or in arrears on any league fee, penalty fee, or forfeiture fee.
5.2. First, Second, and Third Team All-State Selections
Coaches from each member school/association participating in each sport shall nominate and select First Team, Second Team, and Third Team players for that sport according to the following guidelines (except for 11-Man and 8-Man football, which shall select only First Team):
5.2.1. 11-Man Tackle Football Selections
Any ACEL football student-athlete may be voted on to the All-State Team in only one position.
Offensive Players
Any ACEL football student-athlete may be voted on to the All-State Team in only one position.
Offensive Players
5.2.3. Soccer shall nominate and select 9 First Team and 9 Second Team All-State players. Each all-state team shall have 2 girls and 1 goalie.
5.2.4. Basketball shall nominate and select 5 First Team, 5 Second Team, and 5 Third Team All-State players from the boy’s varsity division and from the girl’s varsity division. First, Second, and Third Team All-State players for varsity boys and girls will be selected from the All-District teams which will consist of up to 10 players from each district.
5.2.5. Baseball and Softball shall each nominate and select 9 First Team and 9 Second Team All-State players. Each all-state team shall have 1 pitcher and 1 catcher.
5.2.6 All-District Selection ProcessVoting Process
5.2.7. All-State Selection Process (Immediately following all-district voting at the all-district/ all-state selection meeting)
5.2.7 Coaches cannot vote for their own players in All-District voting, but can only vote for 2 of their players in All-State voting. Coaches may vote for their own players in All-District and All-State voting.
5.2.7.1 Coaches must vote for the allotted number of players in in each round of All-District and All-State voting. Failure to vote will result in the disqualification of all players from All-District, All-State, and MVP considerations from that coaches’ organization.
5.2.8 Players selected to the All-State Team, must be selected from the pool of players on the All-District Team
5.2.9 For all sports, the MVP must be selected from the 1st Team All-State Only
5.3. Each First Team All-State player in each sport will receive a 7″ x 9″ engraved walnut plaque and a t-shirt.
5.4. Each Second and Third Team All-State player in each sport will receive a certificate and a t-shirt.
5.5. Selections of First, Second and Third Team All-State players will be based on the votes obtained from a meeting of the coaches of each sport. Said meeting to be arranged by the Sports Commissioner/Executive Director. The league meeting should take place at least one week prior to the state playoffs.
5.6. For any player to be nominated for consideration for an All-State Team, statistics chosen by the Executive Board must be provided.
5.7. The following statistics must be provided on MaxPreps for any player to be considered for All-State recognition:
5.7.1. Football
5.7.1.1. Quarterback – Attempts, Completions, Passing yards, Rushing yards, TD's, Interceptions
5.7.1.2. Running Back – Carries, Rushing Yards, Rushing TDs', Fumbles, Receptions, Receiving yards, Receiving TD's
5.7.1.3. Wide Receiver/Tight End – Carries, Rushing Yards, Rushing TD's, Fumbles, Receptions, Receiving yards, Receiving TD's
5.7.1.4. Offensive Lineman – Coaches choice
5.7.1.5. Defensive Lineman – Tackles, Sacks, Caused fumbles, Recovered fumbles, Interceptions, TD's
5.7.1.6. Defensive Back – Tackles, Sacks, Caused fumbles, Recovered fumbles, Interceptions, TD's, Pass break-ups
5.7.1.7. Punter – Average yards per kick
5.7.1.8. Kicker – FG attempted, FG made, Extra points attempted, Extra points made
5.7.2. Volleyball – Assists, Digs, Blocks, Kills, Aces
5.7.3. Basketball – FGA, FGM, 3FGA, 3FGM, FTA, FTM, Points, Rebounds, Steals, Assists, Blocks
5.7.4. Baseball/Softball –
5.7.4.1. Offense – AB, H, Avg, Runs Scored, RBI, Sacrifices, OBP
5.7.4.2. Defense – Put outs, Assists, Errors
5.7.4.3. Pitchers – Innings pitched, Ks, Base on balls, Runs allowed, W/L record
5.7.5. Soccer - Goals, Assists, Shots on goal, Saves.
5.8. The Coach of the Year for each sport will be voted on at the same meeting. Coaches may not vote for themselves for Coach of the Year.
5.9. The League MVP for each sport will be voted on at the same meeting. Coaches may not vote for one of their own players for League MVP. League MVP must be chosen from the First Team All-State selections.
5.10. For a submitted nomination to be considered for All-State selection a representative from the member organization must be present at the All-State voting meeting.
5.9 One coach from each organization participating in the regular season must attend the All-District/All-State Voting meeting for that sport. Athletes from any organization without representation at the All-State Voting meeting will not be eligible for All-State consideration and a $500 fine will be assessed to the organization.
6. Reporting Scores
6.1. Both home and visiting teams are responsible for reporting scores of each game no later than noon on the following day. Failure to report will result in a penalty to be determined by the Executive Board/Executive Director. First offense – forgiven; Second offense – $250; Third offense – $500; Fourth offense – forfeiture of next regularly scheduled league game, with regular forfeiture fine and charges for loss of revenue applicable to be determined by Executive Director/Executive Board. Name(s) of any player, coach, or fan ejected, and description of the incident, must be communicated to the Executive Director no later than noon on the following day by both coaches involved in the game. Failure to report will result in a penalty of suspension of non-reporting coach. The Executive Director must be informed of all rescheduled, cancelled, or postponed games.
6.2. Both teams are responsible for keeping legible copies of their book (both home and visiting team pages) of each game and be able to turn in to the Executive Director no later than noon of the following day if requested. These copies may be scanned and emailed, mailed or submitted through the league website. Failure to report upon request will result in a penalty to be determined by the Executive Board/Executive Director.
7. Official ACEL League Schedule
7.1. The official ACEL schedule is binding as to date, time, and location of games. Schedule change requests must be submitted through the website by both the home and away team. The opponent may not be changed under any circumstances.
7.2. Any team dropping out after the commitment date will be assessed a $500.00 fine.
7.3. Failure for a team to show up for a league scheduled game without making prior arrangement to reschedule shall result in a forfeit by that team and they shall be assessed a forfeit fee of no less than $500.00 (the total amount to be determined by the Executive Director/ Executive Board).
8. Scheduled Game Times
Game times should not be scheduled any earlier than 5:00 pm during basketball and volleyball season, and 4:00 pm during football, soccer, baseball, and softball season, unless mutually agreed upon by both teams and the Executive Director. The Executive Board/Executive Director will have the final say so in case of a disagreement.
9. Forfeiture of ACEL Sanctioned Contests
All forfeits shall be of the score 15-0, with the team that is forfeiting receiving the lower score and also paying a forfeit fee to the Executive Director within seven (7) days from the scheduled game date.
9.1 All forfeits will result in zero (0) power points to the forfeiting team.
10. Admission Fees for ACEL Sanctioned Contests
10.1. The maximum admission price for football is $6.00 per adult and $2.00 per student.
10.2. The maximum admission price for all other events, excluding state tournaments and homecoming games, will be $5.00 per adult and $2.00 per student.
11. Officials for ACEL Sanctioned Contests
11.1. No official or referee is to be used if that individual is associated (parent, staff, church member) with the schools involved in the contest.
11.2. Home teams are responsible for furnishing two qualified, patched officials. All officials must be members of the LHSAA/AOA (Arkansas Officials Association)/MIAS (Mississippi Association of Independent Schools) and must be assigned by the official LHSAA/AOA/MIAS assignment secretary for the local LHSAA/AOA/MIAS area of the home team. All officials must be current LHSAA/AOA/MIAS members patched in the sport they are calling.
11.3. If a home team is located in an area where there is a recognized shortage of current LHSAA/AOA/MIAS member patched officials in a given sport, the home team may request an exemption from using LHSAA/AOA/MIAS officials in a particular sport. Upon investigation the ACEL board may recognize such shortage and allow the home team requesting the exemption to use another recognized officials’ association in their area approved by the ACEL board. The request for exemption must be made in writing before the start of the season and any exemption given by the ACEL board will be valid for only one season at a time. If such exemption is given, officials from that association must be current members of that association, recognized by that association as competent to call the sport they are assigned to and must be assigned by that association’s assignment secretary.
11.4. It is the home team scorer’s responsibility to have each official sign and print their name on the official book for the game prior to the start of the game. A copy of the official book of the game must be available to the ACEL Executive Director by noon of the following day upon request.
11.5. Failure of officials to show up for a game:
11.5.1. Official’s fault – game rescheduled by the Executive Director at the visiting team’s home.
11.5.2. Home school’s fault – game forfeited, $500.00 assessment, and the essential expenses of the visiting school as determined by the Executive Board.
12. The Official Timer and Scorer
12.1. The official clock and scorebook must be manned by an adult 18 years or older (it may not be a student of host school).
12.2. The official scorer and timer shall conduct their duties in accordance with the current NFHS rules for official scorer and timer in their sport.
13. Security at ACEL Sanctioned Contests
Each school must have an administrator or teacher in attendance at home games to assist with crowd control. The athletic director will suffice in this capacity, providing he/she is not the coach of the sport being played.
An administrator or a designated representative for each team must be in attendance at all ACEL events. The administrator may NOT be the team’s coach nor may they sit on the bench. The purpose of the administrator is to handle issues that may arise with the fans, players, or coaches of their organization. The administrator must locate and introduce themselves to the administrator of the opposing team prior to the beginning of the game. Administrators for each team will work together to handle any issue that arises beyond the scope of the officials’ authority.
14. Eligibility
14.1. The following guidelines for student participation in varsity sports is hereby established:
14.1.1. A student must be enrolled in an ACEL member school and actively involved in a daily class schedule at that school to be eligible to play sports (this excludes home school students). Students may participate with only one-member school or association during a twelve-month period beginning with initial enrollment or transfer into member school or association.
14.1.2. A student has four (4) consecutive calendar years of eligibility upon entering the 9th grade regardless of which school he/she attended upon entering the 9th grade, given they meet the rest of the eligibility requirements listed herein.
14.1.2.1. A student graduating from any one school/organization concludes any eligibility in the league.
14.1.3. A student may not attain the age of 19 years old prior to September 1st of the current school year of competition and remain eligible for athletic competition.
14.1.4. Student’s name must be listed on an official ACEL roster for his/her team along with his/her birth certificate being submitted to the Executive Director for a student to be eligible.
14.1.5. All students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
14.1.5.1. Member schools/associations must provide grade reports to the ACEL for any student participating on an in season ACEL sanctioned team. Along with this report, member schools/organizations must report students whose eligibility/ineligibility has changed.
14.1.5.2. These grade reports shall be provided at 9-week intervals set by the ACEL for each athletic year. These report dates will generally be as follows: 3rd Monday of October, 2nd Monday of January, and 4th Monday of March. The last quarter of the previous school year's grade reports should be turned in the 2nd week of August. Exact deadlines for grade reports will change year to year and will be set by the ACEL prior to the beginning of the athletic year. Such reporting intervals cannot be accelerated or delayed to create eligibility or delay ineligibility for any particular student.
14.1.5.3. To be considered eligible to compete in ACEL events a senior must take at least three (3) courses at a time during their senior year.
14.1.6. Students playing on an official ACEL team may not participate in more than one league per sport at one time.
14.1.7. All student/athletes participating in league competition (boys/girls) are required to take and pass a physical examination. Cheerleaders are considered athletes in the ACEL. These physicals are good for one calendar year. The Executive Board/Executive Director will set the dates by which the physicals must be taken. Physicals must be kept on-hand by athletic directors and coaches at all ACEL events and must be presented immediately upon request.
14.1.8. A homeschool student athlete must live within a 100-mile radius of their team's practice facility/field.
14.2. Use of Ineligible Players
14.2.1. The use of an ineligible player will result in the forfeiture with assessment of forfeiture fees at the Executive Director/ Executive Board’s discretion of any or all games in which that player participates.
15. Participation of ACEL Member Schools and Associations in Other Leagues
15.1. No ACEL member school/association can be a member of another athletic association having regular season games during the school year. Multi-league game participation for sanctioned scheduled sports is not allowed. This does not include scrimmage games and tournaments.
15.2. Member schools/associations may have other teams playing in traveling tournament leagues in the same sport during the same season, but may not mix players from one team to the other at anytime during the ACEL league season, playoffs, or championships.
15.3. Member schools/associations having other teams playing in traveling tournament leagues in the same sport during the same season, must provide rosters from those traveling tournament teams to the ACEL along with their official ACEL rosters, and must immediately notify the ACEL with the names of players who are added or deleted from their non-ACEL teams.
16. Junior Varsity Competition
16.1. ACEL will sanction Junior Varsity competition in all sports where participation allows adequate competition.
16.2. Games shall be played in conjunction with varsity matches whenever possible.
16.3. State championship games will be played during the varsity state tournament.
16.4. Students eligible to compete in Junior Varsity competition shall not have reached his/her 16th birthday before September 1st of the current academic year.
16.5. The Sports Commissioner/Executive Board, upon request from member schools/associations for cause, or at their own discretion, may adjust the eligibility age for Junior Varsity to allow for more students to be able to play sports.
17. Transfers
17.1. A student shall be considered a transfer student if he/she, after establishing eligibility in a school, changes attendance to another school for any reason. A student is considered to have transferred whenever the student changes from that school in which the student was enrolled to any other school regardless of whether the school in which the student transferred or to which the student transfers is public, non-public, or homeschool, member or non-member. A transfer student must have been eligible to represent his/her former school academically as well as eligible under any district, school or athletic policy that was in place when the student transferred to be considered for athletic eligibility.
17.2. Member organizations are required to have a transcript on file and be made readily available upon league request for any student-athlete transferring into their organization.
17.3. If a student-athlete transfers schools, he/she shall be ineligible to participate in athletic competition at any level of play in all sports at the receiving school until he/she has officially withdrawn from the latter school.
17.4. If a transfer takes place during the sport season in which the student has participated in at least one regular season contest at the sending school, the student shall be ineligible in that sport for the remainder of that sport’s season in the receiving school. This rule would not apply to a student who has been deemed to have made a bona-fide move.
17.5. Non-Member School Transfers. A student-athlete transferring from a non-member school to a member school will be eligible when he/she enrolls provided all other eligibility requirements are met.
17.6. Member-Member Transfers. Any student-athlete who transfers from one-member school to another member school shall be ineligible to participate for a period of one (1) calendar year. (Example exceptions upon appeal include: Bona-fide Move of at least fifty (50) miles, custody situations when parents live separate and apart, military transfers, etc.)
18. Rules for all ACEL Sanctioned Sports
The ACEL adopts the National Federation rule book for all sports: football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, and track & field unless specifically addressed in the ACEL Standing Rules.
18.1. Volleyball
18.1.2 Varsity volleyball matches between member schools/associations shall be decided by winning 3 out of 5 possible games. Jr. Varsity matches shall be decided by winning 2 out of 3 possible games.
18.2. Cheerleading
18.2.1. Cheerleaders are considered athletes in the ACEL.
18.2.2. The ACEL shall officially recognize Cheerleading Squads that meet the following qualifications:
18.2.2.1. They must be recognized on and included in the member school/association’s general liability and accidental injury insurances.
18.2.2.2. They must have a recognizable cheerleading uniform.
18.2.2.3. They must have a coach that has been officially recognized and appointed by the member school/association.
18.2.2.4. They must practice on a regular basis under the supervision of the cheerleading coach.
18.2.2.5. They must participate under the same eligibility requirements as any other officially recognized ACEL sanctioned team, including physical, age and grade requirements.
18.3. Cheerleading cheers shall not promote physical violence against the opposing team.
18.4. Visiting Cheerleading squads must coordinate where to stand and gain permission to do half-time routines from and coordinate the length of routines with the home team’s cheerleading coach, or if the home team does not have a cheerleading coach present, from the home team’s AD or Head Coach of the home team.
18.5. Cheerleading routines, both for the home cheerleaders and visiting cheerleaders (if permitted), shall take no more than 50% of the time allotted for half-time. These routines must take place in the first half of the total time allotted for half-time.
18.6. Cheerleading routines shall not be performed directly in front of the opposing team’s bench.
18.7. Cheerleading routines shall not be performed on the playing floor during the State Championships at anytime during any game. This is to facilitate warm-up of teams for the next game as well as for warm-up of teams for the second half.
18.8. Routines shall not involve stacking of more than two levels. The first level shall be considered the level standing on or in contact with the floor or ground.
18.9. Routines that involve flyers shall have adequate base crews and spotters as defined by the AACCA (American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators).
18.3 Track & Field
18.3.1 Track Events: 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles, 300m hurdles, 400m relays, 800m relays, 1600m relays, 100 meters, 200 meter, 400 meters, 800 meters, 1600 meters, 3200 meters.
18.3.2 Field Events: Shot put, Discus, Long Jump, High Jump, Triple Jump, Javelin.
18.4. Basketball
18.4.1 Basketball size for boys’ basketball shall be 29.5”-30” circumference, 20-22 ounces and 28.5”-29” circumference, 18-20 ounces for girls’ basketball.
19. Sportsmanship
19.1. Since we are Christian schools, public group prayer including both teams should be offered before all competitions. The home team is responsible for this prayer, the visiting team should insist that this occur.
19.2. Any player, coach, cheerleader, fan, staff member using profanity, cursing, or using racial slurs during an ACEL athletic competition will be ejected from the game and must leave the facility and grounds immediately. It is the responsibility of both coaches to instruct the officials concerning this rule prior to each contest.
19.3. The Head Coach is responsible for his/her own conduct and behavior, as well as substitutes, disqualified team members, and all other bench personnel, before, during, and after the competition. The NFHS Basketball Rule 10-4 or such NFHS rules for other sports shall be adhered to by the head coach and enforced by the head coach on all bench personnel.
“NFHS Basketball Rule 10-4 Bench Technical
The head coach is responsible for his/her own conduct and behavior, as well as substitutes, disqualified team members and all other bench personnel. Bench personnel, including the head coach, shall not
ART. 1…Commit an unsporting foul. This includes, but is not limited to, acts or conduct such as:
a. Disrespectfully addressing an official.
b. Attempting to influence an official’s decision
c. Using profane or inappropriate language or obscene gestures.
d. Disrespectfully addressing, baiting or taunting an opponent
NOTE: The NFHS disapproves of any form of taunting which is intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule or demean others under any circumstances including on the basis of race, religion, gender or national origin.
e. Objecting to an official’s decision by rising from the bench or using gestures.
f. Inciting undesirable crowd reactions.
g. Being charge with fighting
h. Removing the jersey and/or pants/skirt within the visual confines of the playing area
ART. 2… Enter the court unless by permission of an official to attend to an injured player
ART. 3… Use tobacco or smokeless tobacco
ART. 4…Stand in the team bench area while the clock is running or is stopped, and remain seated except:
a. The head coach as in 10-5-1.
b. When a team member is reporting to the scorer’s table.
c. During a charged time out, as in 5-12-5, or the intermission between quarters and extra periods.
d. To spontaneously react to an outstanding play by a team member or to acknowledge a replaced player(s), but must immediately return to his/her seat.
ART. 5…Leave the confines of the bench during a fight or when a fight may break out.”
19.4. A player may not remove a uniform jersey or pants within the visual confines of the playing area. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in sitting out the remainder of the game in which the infraction occurs and the next regularly scheduled game. This shall be in addition to any game suspension resulting from being ejected from the game.
19.5. A player may not leave the visual confines of the playing area during a contest unless ejected from the game or with the express permission of the coach. Any player leaving the facility may not return. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in sitting out the remainder of the game in which the infraction occurs and the next regularly scheduled game. This shall be in addition to any game suspension resulting from being ejected from the game.
19.6. Ejections
19.6.1. Any player, coach, fan, or staff member ejected from a game by the official will be ineligible to participate in the remainder of that game and his/her team’s next scheduled league game played. If the ejection occurs during a championship event, ineligibility will carry over to the next sport of participation.
19.6.2. In addition, any player, coach, fan, or staff member failing to leave the court/field in a timely manner after being ejected from the game by the official(s) will cause his/her team to forfeit that game.
19.6.3. Should the ejected individual fail to honor the next game’s suspension, his/her team will forfeit that game as well.
19.6.4. All ejections must be reported by both teams to the Sports Commissioner by the next day.
19.7. Running up the Score in a Lopsided Contest
19.7.1. As a organization based on Christian principles, the ACEL believes that running up the score in a lopsided contest is not good for the winner or the loser of such contests. Head coaches are expected to use wisdom to avoid this if at all possible.
19.7.2. Should head coaches not have the will or ability to control their teams in such matters, the ACEL Commissioner/Executive Board will invoke “Mercy Rules” appropriate to rectify the situation with appropriate penalties including technical fouls, ejections, suspensions, forfeits, and removal from the league as necessary.
19.7.3. Running clock
19.7.3.1. Basketball
19.7.3.1.1. “Should the difference in the score of a basketball game reach 35 or more points at any time after the half, the clock shall be run non-stop until the game is over. Exception: The clock shall not be run during time-outs.
19.7.3.1.2. Should the score drop below the 35-point mark during the second half, the decision to run the clock shall not be reversed.”
19.7.3.1.3. The decision to apply the rule will be made by the referee when he/she has been made aware that the 35-point differential is reached in the second half. This notification should be made during a dead ball situation. Under no circumstances should the game be stopped to notify the officials.
19.7.3.1.4. Note: If the two teams agree to keep playing under normal guidelines, the rule will not be applied.
19.7.3.1.5. The referee upon confirming that the differential exists will inform both coaches, and then instruct the clock keeper to run the clock in accordance with the rule.
19.7.3.2. Football
19.7.3.2.1. Running clock will be applied when there is a 30 points differential at start of 3rd Quarter. This will be applied regardless of agreement by the coaches
20. Fees and Penalty
20.1. Forfeit Fee – Minimum of $500, and loss of 1 seed if the forfeiture effects seeding or division of playoff or championship
20.2. League Fees
20.2.1. $175 per varsity team, per sport
20.2.2. $150 per JV team, per sport
20.2.3. $300 Annual membership fee
20.3. Annual Membership Meeting Absence - Every organization must have at least one administrative representative in attendance. If no representative is present the absent organization will be assessed a $500 fine which will be due before the organization can participate in any league games.
21. Executive Director-Job Description
Set up sport season schedule
Collect scores and official book records
Forward scores to webmaster
Collect Birth Certificates, Grade Reports, and Rosters
Monitor adherence to all ACEL rules with regards to player documentation
Collection of forfeiture fees as necessary and enforcement of any resulting league sanctions
22. Social Media
22.1. ACEL has the right to post any image(s) from ACEL sanctioned events to the league website and/or social media accounts.
22.2 Any member organization that has a student-athlete that does not give consent to have their image(s) posted to the ACEL website or social media accounts (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, etc.) must submit a non-consent form which can be found on the Forms and Downloads page of the league website.
23. Appeal Process
23.1. Member organizations can appeal fines and league rulings once they have been handed down if the organization feels the need to so. Formal appeals must be submitted using the appeal form located on the league website within 7 days of official notification from the league.
23.1.1. Once a formal appeal has been submitted to the league the Executive Board will review and conduct an investigation of the fine or ruling in appeal. The league will have 30 days upon completion of the investigation to report its findings to the appealing organization.
24. Concussions
24.1. All coaches are required to take a concussion course and be able to provide evidence/certificate at the request of the Executive Board/Executive Director.
25. Suspension of Game Rules
25.1 No-Fault suspended game
When officials suspend a game in progress because of a reasonable unforeseen circumstance such as a power failure or like occurrence. If less than ½ of the game is complete or the game is tied, the game is to be rescheduled at the home facility. If ½ or mor of the game is completed, the game is ended.
25.2 At-Fault suspended game
At-Fault causes are those actions or in-actions of a team resulting in the suspension of a game. Games suspended due to at-fault causes shall be forfeited by the at-fault team. The at-fault team shall also be assessed a $500 fine and will reimburse the essential expenses of the other team in an amount determined by the executive board.
26. Uniforms
26.1. Spandex is not allowed as outerwear. Uniform shorts must have at least a 4” inseam so that undergarments are completely covered. Please choose shorts that are not form fitting as they can appear to be spandex even with a 4” inseam.
27. Facilities
27.1. Facilities used for ACEL competition must be adequate to high school competition per NFHS rules and guidelines.
28. For 2020-2021 ONLY
28.1. Students that were enrolled in ACEL private schools last year (2019-2020) but have chosen to homeschool this year (2020-2021) due to COVID-19 may continue to participate in ACEL athletics with the ACEL private school in which they were enrolled in 2019-2020. Any such student must be designated on the roster as a homeschool student (HS) and proof of enrollment in 2019-2020 must be provided. Students that are participating in K12 or similar virtual public schools are not eligible.
Updated August 13, 2020
1.1. The President of the Executive Board may appoint any committee that he deems necessary.
1.2. The Executive Board may recruit and appoint Sports Commissioners for each sport season. Sports Commissioners shall serve for one athletic year. Sports Commissioners may be asked to serve consecutive athletic years at the pleasure of the executive board.
1.3. The Executive Board shall be allotted moneys from the Association’s treasury for expenses incurred from inner-association communications.
1.4. Each Sports Commissioner will be paid a stipend at the end of the season of their sport. The Executive Board shall establish the amount at the beginning of each athletic year.
1.5. All rules voted on and accepted by the Executive Board are to be included in the Standing Rules of the particular sport involved. If any particular situation is not covered in the ACEL Standing Rules, but is covered by the current NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) rules, the ACEL Executive Director/Executive Board may choose to apply NFHS rules.
1.6. Opening dates, closing dates, playoff dates, and championship dates shall be determined by the ACEL Sports Executive Director/Executive Board.
1.7. Sports Commissioners are only appointed if an Executive Director has not been appointed, otherwise the Executive Director assumes the role of the Sports Commissioner for all sports.
2. Qualifications for Member School or Association Participation in the ACEL
2.1. All participating schools or associations must be approved by the ACEL Executive Board.
2.2. All participating schools or associations are admitted to the ACEL with a one-year assessment period dependent on their performance and adherence to the ACEL mission/purpose and standing rules, and may be admitted to the league on a continuing basis thereafter.
2.3. The purpose/mission of the ACEL:
ACEL is established to bring honor and glory to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, through athletic and academic competition, to protect the Christian bond of our member schools, to promote pure, amateur athletic sports, and to foster Christian leadership and fellowship among our students.
2.4. All fines and fees must be paid before your school will be able to participate in the next sports season.
2.5. All participating schools or associations must require each ACEL student-athlete to take one Bible course for credit each academic year. All participating schools or associations must promote a steadfast, Christian worldview that emphasizes knowing truth as determined by God’s word and living a Christian life.
2.6. For the purposes of participation on an ACEL home education athletic association team, a homeschool student-athlete must spend 51% of their class time in the home setting, unless the student-athlete is a graduating senior, in which case he or she may spend up to 66% of their class time outside the home setting. Any student taking classes through a state approved public school, virtual school, charter school, or any blending of such that will result in the student receiving a diploma from such school, does not meet the definition of an ACEL homeschooled student.
2.7. All athletes participating in ACEL contests are required to be covered by accident insurance.
3. League Records
3.1. All member schools/associations are to submit to the Sports Commissioner League Office all necessary fees, team rosters, and a copy of each team member’s birth certificate (state certified or hospital certified) according to the following schedule:
3.1.1. For ALL sports, the fees/rosters/birth certificates/medical evaluations are due on the date specified by the Sports Commissioner on the league schedule.
3.1.2. Rosters are to be submitted on an ACEL roster form and must contain the following information:
3.1.2.1. Student’s name
3.1.2.2. Age as of September 1
3.1.2.3. Birth date
3.1.2.4. Grade
3.1.2.5. Jersey number
3.1.2.6. Any other information on the form is optional.
3.1.3. Medical evaluations must be done within the calendar year and must not be more than a year old at the end of the ACEL in-season sport in which the individual student-athlete is participating. Medical evaluations must be given and signed by a medical doctor and signed by the parent or guardian.
3.2. Any school failing to submit properly filled out rosters, birth certificates, grade reports, or medical evaluations by the scheduled date will forfeit their first league scheduled game and all other games until the proper documentation is submitted.
3.2.1. Medical evaluations do not have to be turned in to the league, but must be kept on file and made readily available upon request.
3.2.2. Athletic Directors and/or Coaches must have medical evaluations on hand at all ACEL sanctioned events for all participating student-athletes.
3.3. Any team member who plays in a league scheduled game without having his/her birth certificate submitted to the Executive Director, will have his/her team forfeit that game.
3.4 Member organizations are required to have a transcript on file and be made readily available upon league request for any student transferring into their organization.
4. State Playoffs and Championship
4.1. No team will be allowed to participate in any playoff or championship game if that team is in violation of any league rule (including reporting of scores and turning in official book) with regard to reporting or in arrears on any league fee, penalty fee, or forfeiture fee.
4.2. Athletes are eligible to participate in the playoffs and championship of any sport per the official ACEL Athletic Calendar for the year.
4.3. Any team choosing to not make a road trip to a league game or a playoff game, regardless of the reason, will be assessed a forfeit fee of no less than $500.00 for league games and $1000.00 for playoff games (the total amount to be determined by the League Director/Executive Board), and assessed a charge to reimburse the playoff home team for expenses and lost revenue (the total amount to be determined by the
League Director/Executive Board).
4.4. Championship trophies shall be awarded by the Association in official sports for all first-place winners where there is participation of four (4) or more teams. Junior Varsity awards and all other Varsity awards will consist of plaques and will be awarded to second place. Third and fourth place teams will be awarded state semi-finalist plaques.
4.5. The Association will present t-shirts to the first place team at the following numbers: football – one shirt for each member, up to 30 shirts for each division; soccer – one shirt for each member, up to 15 shirts for each division; basketball – one shirt for each member, up to 15 shirts for boys and girls in each division; volleyball – one shirt for each member, up to 15 shirts for each division; softball and baseball – one shirt for
each member, up to 18 shirts. The first-place team will also be presented with up to 2 coaches’ shirts.
4.6. In instances where power points shall be used for playoff seedings, points will be awarded on the following basis: A team’s official power points will be the sum of a team’s total number of wins divided by the total number of games played multiplied by 110 and of a team’s opponents wins divided by the total number of opponent’s games multiplied by 100.
4.6.1. In the event of a season ending tie, tie breakers will be decided based on the following factors:
1.) Head-to-head competition
2.) Point differential:
Football - 30-point cap
Soccer - 5-point cap
Basketball - 30-point cap
Baseball - 15-point cap
Softball - 15-point cap
3.) Fewest points given up on opponent's home court/field
4.6.2. In instances where districts are used for a sport the district winner will be decided by the district record.
4.6.3 All forfeits will result in zero (0) power points to the forfeiting team.
5. All-State Player Selection
5.1. Participation
No ACEL member school/association will be allowed to participate in voting for or to place players on First Team and Second Team All-State teams if that member school/association is in violation of any league rule with regard to reporting or in arrears on any league fee, penalty fee, or forfeiture fee.
5.2. First, Second, and Third Team All-State Selections
Coaches from each member school/association participating in each sport shall nominate and select First Team, Second Team, and Third Team players for that sport according to the following guidelines (except for 11-Man and 8-Man football, which shall select only First Team):
5.2.1. 11-Man Tackle Football Selections
Any ACEL football student-athlete may be voted on to the All-State Team in only one position.
Offensive Players
- 5 Offensive Linemen
- 2 Quarterbacks
- 3 Running Backs
- 3 Wide Receivers
- 1 Tight End
- 1 Punter/Kicker
- 4 Defensive Linemen
- 4 Linebackers
- 4 Defensive Backs
- 1 Athlete
Any ACEL football student-athlete may be voted on to the All-State Team in only one position.
Offensive Players
- 3 Offensive Linemen
- 1 Quarterbacks
- 2 Running Backs
- 2 Wide Receivers/TE
- 3 Defensive Linemen
- 2 Linebackers
- 2 Defensive Backs
- 1 Athlete
5.2.3. Soccer shall nominate and select 9 First Team and 9 Second Team All-State players. Each all-state team shall have 2 girls and 1 goalie.
5.2.4. Basketball shall nominate and select 5 First Team, 5 Second Team, and 5 Third Team All-State players from the boy’s varsity division and from the girl’s varsity division. First, Second, and Third Team All-State players for varsity boys and girls will be selected from the All-District teams which will consist of up to 10 players from each district.
5.2.5. Baseball and Softball shall each nominate and select 9 First Team and 9 Second Team All-State players. Each all-state team shall have 1 pitcher and 1 catcher.
5.2.6 All-District Selection ProcessVoting Process
- Prior to the All-District Meeting
- Each organization shall rank their players for consideration
- Coaches are allowed to nominate UP TO the following number of nominees based on district winning percentage, but are NOT required to nominate that many players. (All sports except football.). Winning percentage/ # nominees:
- 0 %– 20% One Nominee
- 20.1% – 40% Two Nominees
- 40.1% – 60 % Three Nominees
- 60.1 %– 80% Four Nominees
- 80.1% – 100% Five Nominees
- Coaches are allowed to nominate UP TO the following number of nominees based on district winning percentage, but are NOT required to nominate that many players. (All sports except football.). Winning percentage/ # nominees:
- Each organization shall present student information for consideration
- Statistics via MaxPreps
- Other information
- Each organization shall rank their players for consideration
- All-District Selection Process (In-person voting at all-district/ all-state selection meeting)
- Each School shall have only one vote towards All-district selection and may be represented by only one person at the All-District/All-State selection meeting.
- The top ranked player from each organization shall be placed in consideration for the All-District Team
- District coaches shall vote to determine the number one player in the district.
- The number two player from that school will now be elevated for consideration with the remaining top ranked players from the other organizations.
- The committee shall vote to determine the number two player in the District.
- The next player from that school will be elevated to be considered with the remaining player pool.
- Coaches shall vote to determine the number three player in the District.
- The process shall continue in this manner until the All-District Team is complete.
- Districts should not predetermine player rankings based on the order of team finish in the district. (ie. District champion receives first two places, runner up next two places, etc.)
- When particular positions must be represented on All-District and/or All-State teams, those positions will be voted on first.
5.2.7. All-State Selection Process (Immediately following all-district voting at the all-district/ all-state selection meeting)
- Each school shall have only one vote in All-State voting and may be represented by only one person.
- The top ranked player from each DISTRICT shall be placed in consideration for the All-State Team
- Coaches shall vote to determine the number one player in the STATE.
- The number two player from that DISTRICT will now be elevated for consideration with the remaining top ranked players from the other organizations.
- The committee shall vote to determine the number two player in the STATE.
- The next player from that DISTRICT will be elevated to be considered with the remaining player pool.
- The committee shall vote to determine the number three player in the STATE.
- The process shall continue in this manner until the All-State Teams are complete.
- Coaches should not predetermine player rankings based on the order of team finish in the district.
- When particular positions must be represented on All-State teams, those positions will be voted on first.
- MVP
- If particular positions are NOT required on the All-State team, then the MVP is the first player chosen for 1st team All-State
- If particular positions are required, positions are selected first followed by the selection of the first general player for 1st team All-State. MVP will then be selected between the particular position players and the first general player chosen.
5.2.7 Coaches cannot vote for their own players in All-District voting, but can only vote for 2 of their players in All-State voting. Coaches may vote for their own players in All-District and All-State voting.
5.2.7.1 Coaches must vote for the allotted number of players in in each round of All-District and All-State voting. Failure to vote will result in the disqualification of all players from All-District, All-State, and MVP considerations from that coaches’ organization.
5.2.8 Players selected to the All-State Team, must be selected from the pool of players on the All-District Team
5.2.9 For all sports, the MVP must be selected from the 1st Team All-State Only
5.3. Each First Team All-State player in each sport will receive a 7″ x 9″ engraved walnut plaque and a t-shirt.
5.4. Each Second and Third Team All-State player in each sport will receive a certificate and a t-shirt.
5.5. Selections of First, Second and Third Team All-State players will be based on the votes obtained from a meeting of the coaches of each sport. Said meeting to be arranged by the Sports Commissioner/Executive Director. The league meeting should take place at least one week prior to the state playoffs.
5.6. For any player to be nominated for consideration for an All-State Team, statistics chosen by the Executive Board must be provided.
5.7. The following statistics must be provided on MaxPreps for any player to be considered for All-State recognition:
5.7.1. Football
5.7.1.1. Quarterback – Attempts, Completions, Passing yards, Rushing yards, TD's, Interceptions
5.7.1.2. Running Back – Carries, Rushing Yards, Rushing TDs', Fumbles, Receptions, Receiving yards, Receiving TD's
5.7.1.3. Wide Receiver/Tight End – Carries, Rushing Yards, Rushing TD's, Fumbles, Receptions, Receiving yards, Receiving TD's
5.7.1.4. Offensive Lineman – Coaches choice
5.7.1.5. Defensive Lineman – Tackles, Sacks, Caused fumbles, Recovered fumbles, Interceptions, TD's
5.7.1.6. Defensive Back – Tackles, Sacks, Caused fumbles, Recovered fumbles, Interceptions, TD's, Pass break-ups
5.7.1.7. Punter – Average yards per kick
5.7.1.8. Kicker – FG attempted, FG made, Extra points attempted, Extra points made
5.7.2. Volleyball – Assists, Digs, Blocks, Kills, Aces
5.7.3. Basketball – FGA, FGM, 3FGA, 3FGM, FTA, FTM, Points, Rebounds, Steals, Assists, Blocks
5.7.4. Baseball/Softball –
5.7.4.1. Offense – AB, H, Avg, Runs Scored, RBI, Sacrifices, OBP
5.7.4.2. Defense – Put outs, Assists, Errors
5.7.4.3. Pitchers – Innings pitched, Ks, Base on balls, Runs allowed, W/L record
5.7.5. Soccer - Goals, Assists, Shots on goal, Saves.
5.8. The Coach of the Year for each sport will be voted on at the same meeting. Coaches may not vote for themselves for Coach of the Year.
5.9. The League MVP for each sport will be voted on at the same meeting. Coaches may not vote for one of their own players for League MVP. League MVP must be chosen from the First Team All-State selections.
5.10. For a submitted nomination to be considered for All-State selection a representative from the member organization must be present at the All-State voting meeting.
5.9 One coach from each organization participating in the regular season must attend the All-District/All-State Voting meeting for that sport. Athletes from any organization without representation at the All-State Voting meeting will not be eligible for All-State consideration and a $500 fine will be assessed to the organization.
6. Reporting Scores
6.1. Both home and visiting teams are responsible for reporting scores of each game no later than noon on the following day. Failure to report will result in a penalty to be determined by the Executive Board/Executive Director. First offense – forgiven; Second offense – $250; Third offense – $500; Fourth offense – forfeiture of next regularly scheduled league game, with regular forfeiture fine and charges for loss of revenue applicable to be determined by Executive Director/Executive Board. Name(s) of any player, coach, or fan ejected, and description of the incident, must be communicated to the Executive Director no later than noon on the following day by both coaches involved in the game. Failure to report will result in a penalty of suspension of non-reporting coach. The Executive Director must be informed of all rescheduled, cancelled, or postponed games.
6.2. Both teams are responsible for keeping legible copies of their book (both home and visiting team pages) of each game and be able to turn in to the Executive Director no later than noon of the following day if requested. These copies may be scanned and emailed, mailed or submitted through the league website. Failure to report upon request will result in a penalty to be determined by the Executive Board/Executive Director.
7. Official ACEL League Schedule
7.1. The official ACEL schedule is binding as to date, time, and location of games. Schedule change requests must be submitted through the website by both the home and away team. The opponent may not be changed under any circumstances.
7.2. Any team dropping out after the commitment date will be assessed a $500.00 fine.
7.3. Failure for a team to show up for a league scheduled game without making prior arrangement to reschedule shall result in a forfeit by that team and they shall be assessed a forfeit fee of no less than $500.00 (the total amount to be determined by the Executive Director/ Executive Board).
8. Scheduled Game Times
Game times should not be scheduled any earlier than 5:00 pm during basketball and volleyball season, and 4:00 pm during football, soccer, baseball, and softball season, unless mutually agreed upon by both teams and the Executive Director. The Executive Board/Executive Director will have the final say so in case of a disagreement.
9. Forfeiture of ACEL Sanctioned Contests
All forfeits shall be of the score 15-0, with the team that is forfeiting receiving the lower score and also paying a forfeit fee to the Executive Director within seven (7) days from the scheduled game date.
9.1 All forfeits will result in zero (0) power points to the forfeiting team.
10. Admission Fees for ACEL Sanctioned Contests
10.1. The maximum admission price for football is $6.00 per adult and $2.00 per student.
10.2. The maximum admission price for all other events, excluding state tournaments and homecoming games, will be $5.00 per adult and $2.00 per student.
11. Officials for ACEL Sanctioned Contests
11.1. No official or referee is to be used if that individual is associated (parent, staff, church member) with the schools involved in the contest.
11.2. Home teams are responsible for furnishing two qualified, patched officials. All officials must be members of the LHSAA/AOA (Arkansas Officials Association)/MIAS (Mississippi Association of Independent Schools) and must be assigned by the official LHSAA/AOA/MIAS assignment secretary for the local LHSAA/AOA/MIAS area of the home team. All officials must be current LHSAA/AOA/MIAS members patched in the sport they are calling.
11.3. If a home team is located in an area where there is a recognized shortage of current LHSAA/AOA/MIAS member patched officials in a given sport, the home team may request an exemption from using LHSAA/AOA/MIAS officials in a particular sport. Upon investigation the ACEL board may recognize such shortage and allow the home team requesting the exemption to use another recognized officials’ association in their area approved by the ACEL board. The request for exemption must be made in writing before the start of the season and any exemption given by the ACEL board will be valid for only one season at a time. If such exemption is given, officials from that association must be current members of that association, recognized by that association as competent to call the sport they are assigned to and must be assigned by that association’s assignment secretary.
11.4. It is the home team scorer’s responsibility to have each official sign and print their name on the official book for the game prior to the start of the game. A copy of the official book of the game must be available to the ACEL Executive Director by noon of the following day upon request.
11.5. Failure of officials to show up for a game:
11.5.1. Official’s fault – game rescheduled by the Executive Director at the visiting team’s home.
11.5.2. Home school’s fault – game forfeited, $500.00 assessment, and the essential expenses of the visiting school as determined by the Executive Board.
12. The Official Timer and Scorer
12.1. The official clock and scorebook must be manned by an adult 18 years or older (it may not be a student of host school).
12.2. The official scorer and timer shall conduct their duties in accordance with the current NFHS rules for official scorer and timer in their sport.
13. Security at ACEL Sanctioned Contests
Each school must have an administrator or teacher in attendance at home games to assist with crowd control. The athletic director will suffice in this capacity, providing he/she is not the coach of the sport being played.
An administrator or a designated representative for each team must be in attendance at all ACEL events. The administrator may NOT be the team’s coach nor may they sit on the bench. The purpose of the administrator is to handle issues that may arise with the fans, players, or coaches of their organization. The administrator must locate and introduce themselves to the administrator of the opposing team prior to the beginning of the game. Administrators for each team will work together to handle any issue that arises beyond the scope of the officials’ authority.
14. Eligibility
14.1. The following guidelines for student participation in varsity sports is hereby established:
14.1.1. A student must be enrolled in an ACEL member school and actively involved in a daily class schedule at that school to be eligible to play sports (this excludes home school students). Students may participate with only one-member school or association during a twelve-month period beginning with initial enrollment or transfer into member school or association.
14.1.2. A student has four (4) consecutive calendar years of eligibility upon entering the 9th grade regardless of which school he/she attended upon entering the 9th grade, given they meet the rest of the eligibility requirements listed herein.
14.1.2.1. A student graduating from any one school/organization concludes any eligibility in the league.
14.1.3. A student may not attain the age of 19 years old prior to September 1st of the current school year of competition and remain eligible for athletic competition.
14.1.4. Student’s name must be listed on an official ACEL roster for his/her team along with his/her birth certificate being submitted to the Executive Director for a student to be eligible.
14.1.5. All students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
14.1.5.1. Member schools/associations must provide grade reports to the ACEL for any student participating on an in season ACEL sanctioned team. Along with this report, member schools/organizations must report students whose eligibility/ineligibility has changed.
14.1.5.2. These grade reports shall be provided at 9-week intervals set by the ACEL for each athletic year. These report dates will generally be as follows: 3rd Monday of October, 2nd Monday of January, and 4th Monday of March. The last quarter of the previous school year's grade reports should be turned in the 2nd week of August. Exact deadlines for grade reports will change year to year and will be set by the ACEL prior to the beginning of the athletic year. Such reporting intervals cannot be accelerated or delayed to create eligibility or delay ineligibility for any particular student.
14.1.5.3. To be considered eligible to compete in ACEL events a senior must take at least three (3) courses at a time during their senior year.
14.1.6. Students playing on an official ACEL team may not participate in more than one league per sport at one time.
14.1.7. All student/athletes participating in league competition (boys/girls) are required to take and pass a physical examination. Cheerleaders are considered athletes in the ACEL. These physicals are good for one calendar year. The Executive Board/Executive Director will set the dates by which the physicals must be taken. Physicals must be kept on-hand by athletic directors and coaches at all ACEL events and must be presented immediately upon request.
14.1.8. A homeschool student athlete must live within a 100-mile radius of their team's practice facility/field.
14.2. Use of Ineligible Players
14.2.1. The use of an ineligible player will result in the forfeiture with assessment of forfeiture fees at the Executive Director/ Executive Board’s discretion of any or all games in which that player participates.
15. Participation of ACEL Member Schools and Associations in Other Leagues
15.1. No ACEL member school/association can be a member of another athletic association having regular season games during the school year. Multi-league game participation for sanctioned scheduled sports is not allowed. This does not include scrimmage games and tournaments.
15.2. Member schools/associations may have other teams playing in traveling tournament leagues in the same sport during the same season, but may not mix players from one team to the other at anytime during the ACEL league season, playoffs, or championships.
15.3. Member schools/associations having other teams playing in traveling tournament leagues in the same sport during the same season, must provide rosters from those traveling tournament teams to the ACEL along with their official ACEL rosters, and must immediately notify the ACEL with the names of players who are added or deleted from their non-ACEL teams.
16. Junior Varsity Competition
16.1. ACEL will sanction Junior Varsity competition in all sports where participation allows adequate competition.
16.2. Games shall be played in conjunction with varsity matches whenever possible.
16.3. State championship games will be played during the varsity state tournament.
16.4. Students eligible to compete in Junior Varsity competition shall not have reached his/her 16th birthday before September 1st of the current academic year.
16.5. The Sports Commissioner/Executive Board, upon request from member schools/associations for cause, or at their own discretion, may adjust the eligibility age for Junior Varsity to allow for more students to be able to play sports.
17. Transfers
17.1. A student shall be considered a transfer student if he/she, after establishing eligibility in a school, changes attendance to another school for any reason. A student is considered to have transferred whenever the student changes from that school in which the student was enrolled to any other school regardless of whether the school in which the student transferred or to which the student transfers is public, non-public, or homeschool, member or non-member. A transfer student must have been eligible to represent his/her former school academically as well as eligible under any district, school or athletic policy that was in place when the student transferred to be considered for athletic eligibility.
17.2. Member organizations are required to have a transcript on file and be made readily available upon league request for any student-athlete transferring into their organization.
17.3. If a student-athlete transfers schools, he/she shall be ineligible to participate in athletic competition at any level of play in all sports at the receiving school until he/she has officially withdrawn from the latter school.
17.4. If a transfer takes place during the sport season in which the student has participated in at least one regular season contest at the sending school, the student shall be ineligible in that sport for the remainder of that sport’s season in the receiving school. This rule would not apply to a student who has been deemed to have made a bona-fide move.
17.5. Non-Member School Transfers. A student-athlete transferring from a non-member school to a member school will be eligible when he/she enrolls provided all other eligibility requirements are met.
17.6. Member-Member Transfers. Any student-athlete who transfers from one-member school to another member school shall be ineligible to participate for a period of one (1) calendar year. (Example exceptions upon appeal include: Bona-fide Move of at least fifty (50) miles, custody situations when parents live separate and apart, military transfers, etc.)
18. Rules for all ACEL Sanctioned Sports
The ACEL adopts the National Federation rule book for all sports: football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, and track & field unless specifically addressed in the ACEL Standing Rules.
18.1. Volleyball
18.1.2 Varsity volleyball matches between member schools/associations shall be decided by winning 3 out of 5 possible games. Jr. Varsity matches shall be decided by winning 2 out of 3 possible games.
18.2. Cheerleading
18.2.1. Cheerleaders are considered athletes in the ACEL.
18.2.2. The ACEL shall officially recognize Cheerleading Squads that meet the following qualifications:
18.2.2.1. They must be recognized on and included in the member school/association’s general liability and accidental injury insurances.
18.2.2.2. They must have a recognizable cheerleading uniform.
18.2.2.3. They must have a coach that has been officially recognized and appointed by the member school/association.
18.2.2.4. They must practice on a regular basis under the supervision of the cheerleading coach.
18.2.2.5. They must participate under the same eligibility requirements as any other officially recognized ACEL sanctioned team, including physical, age and grade requirements.
18.3. Cheerleading cheers shall not promote physical violence against the opposing team.
18.4. Visiting Cheerleading squads must coordinate where to stand and gain permission to do half-time routines from and coordinate the length of routines with the home team’s cheerleading coach, or if the home team does not have a cheerleading coach present, from the home team’s AD or Head Coach of the home team.
18.5. Cheerleading routines, both for the home cheerleaders and visiting cheerleaders (if permitted), shall take no more than 50% of the time allotted for half-time. These routines must take place in the first half of the total time allotted for half-time.
18.6. Cheerleading routines shall not be performed directly in front of the opposing team’s bench.
18.7. Cheerleading routines shall not be performed on the playing floor during the State Championships at anytime during any game. This is to facilitate warm-up of teams for the next game as well as for warm-up of teams for the second half.
18.8. Routines shall not involve stacking of more than two levels. The first level shall be considered the level standing on or in contact with the floor or ground.
18.9. Routines that involve flyers shall have adequate base crews and spotters as defined by the AACCA (American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators).
18.3 Track & Field
18.3.1 Track Events: 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles, 300m hurdles, 400m relays, 800m relays, 1600m relays, 100 meters, 200 meter, 400 meters, 800 meters, 1600 meters, 3200 meters.
18.3.2 Field Events: Shot put, Discus, Long Jump, High Jump, Triple Jump, Javelin.
18.4. Basketball
18.4.1 Basketball size for boys’ basketball shall be 29.5”-30” circumference, 20-22 ounces and 28.5”-29” circumference, 18-20 ounces for girls’ basketball.
19. Sportsmanship
19.1. Since we are Christian schools, public group prayer including both teams should be offered before all competitions. The home team is responsible for this prayer, the visiting team should insist that this occur.
19.2. Any player, coach, cheerleader, fan, staff member using profanity, cursing, or using racial slurs during an ACEL athletic competition will be ejected from the game and must leave the facility and grounds immediately. It is the responsibility of both coaches to instruct the officials concerning this rule prior to each contest.
19.3. The Head Coach is responsible for his/her own conduct and behavior, as well as substitutes, disqualified team members, and all other bench personnel, before, during, and after the competition. The NFHS Basketball Rule 10-4 or such NFHS rules for other sports shall be adhered to by the head coach and enforced by the head coach on all bench personnel.
“NFHS Basketball Rule 10-4 Bench Technical
The head coach is responsible for his/her own conduct and behavior, as well as substitutes, disqualified team members and all other bench personnel. Bench personnel, including the head coach, shall not
ART. 1…Commit an unsporting foul. This includes, but is not limited to, acts or conduct such as:
a. Disrespectfully addressing an official.
b. Attempting to influence an official’s decision
c. Using profane or inappropriate language or obscene gestures.
d. Disrespectfully addressing, baiting or taunting an opponent
NOTE: The NFHS disapproves of any form of taunting which is intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule or demean others under any circumstances including on the basis of race, religion, gender or national origin.
e. Objecting to an official’s decision by rising from the bench or using gestures.
f. Inciting undesirable crowd reactions.
g. Being charge with fighting
h. Removing the jersey and/or pants/skirt within the visual confines of the playing area
ART. 2… Enter the court unless by permission of an official to attend to an injured player
ART. 3… Use tobacco or smokeless tobacco
ART. 4…Stand in the team bench area while the clock is running or is stopped, and remain seated except:
a. The head coach as in 10-5-1.
b. When a team member is reporting to the scorer’s table.
c. During a charged time out, as in 5-12-5, or the intermission between quarters and extra periods.
d. To spontaneously react to an outstanding play by a team member or to acknowledge a replaced player(s), but must immediately return to his/her seat.
ART. 5…Leave the confines of the bench during a fight or when a fight may break out.”
19.4. A player may not remove a uniform jersey or pants within the visual confines of the playing area. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in sitting out the remainder of the game in which the infraction occurs and the next regularly scheduled game. This shall be in addition to any game suspension resulting from being ejected from the game.
19.5. A player may not leave the visual confines of the playing area during a contest unless ejected from the game or with the express permission of the coach. Any player leaving the facility may not return. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in sitting out the remainder of the game in which the infraction occurs and the next regularly scheduled game. This shall be in addition to any game suspension resulting from being ejected from the game.
19.6. Ejections
19.6.1. Any player, coach, fan, or staff member ejected from a game by the official will be ineligible to participate in the remainder of that game and his/her team’s next scheduled league game played. If the ejection occurs during a championship event, ineligibility will carry over to the next sport of participation.
19.6.2. In addition, any player, coach, fan, or staff member failing to leave the court/field in a timely manner after being ejected from the game by the official(s) will cause his/her team to forfeit that game.
19.6.3. Should the ejected individual fail to honor the next game’s suspension, his/her team will forfeit that game as well.
19.6.4. All ejections must be reported by both teams to the Sports Commissioner by the next day.
19.7. Running up the Score in a Lopsided Contest
19.7.1. As a organization based on Christian principles, the ACEL believes that running up the score in a lopsided contest is not good for the winner or the loser of such contests. Head coaches are expected to use wisdom to avoid this if at all possible.
19.7.2. Should head coaches not have the will or ability to control their teams in such matters, the ACEL Commissioner/Executive Board will invoke “Mercy Rules” appropriate to rectify the situation with appropriate penalties including technical fouls, ejections, suspensions, forfeits, and removal from the league as necessary.
19.7.3. Running clock
19.7.3.1. Basketball
19.7.3.1.1. “Should the difference in the score of a basketball game reach 35 or more points at any time after the half, the clock shall be run non-stop until the game is over. Exception: The clock shall not be run during time-outs.
19.7.3.1.2. Should the score drop below the 35-point mark during the second half, the decision to run the clock shall not be reversed.”
19.7.3.1.3. The decision to apply the rule will be made by the referee when he/she has been made aware that the 35-point differential is reached in the second half. This notification should be made during a dead ball situation. Under no circumstances should the game be stopped to notify the officials.
19.7.3.1.4. Note: If the two teams agree to keep playing under normal guidelines, the rule will not be applied.
19.7.3.1.5. The referee upon confirming that the differential exists will inform both coaches, and then instruct the clock keeper to run the clock in accordance with the rule.
19.7.3.2. Football
19.7.3.2.1. Running clock will be applied when there is a 30 points differential at start of 3rd Quarter. This will be applied regardless of agreement by the coaches
20. Fees and Penalty
20.1. Forfeit Fee – Minimum of $500, and loss of 1 seed if the forfeiture effects seeding or division of playoff or championship
20.2. League Fees
20.2.1. $175 per varsity team, per sport
20.2.2. $150 per JV team, per sport
20.2.3. $300 Annual membership fee
20.3. Annual Membership Meeting Absence - Every organization must have at least one administrative representative in attendance. If no representative is present the absent organization will be assessed a $500 fine which will be due before the organization can participate in any league games.
21. Executive Director-Job Description
Set up sport season schedule
Collect scores and official book records
Forward scores to webmaster
Collect Birth Certificates, Grade Reports, and Rosters
Monitor adherence to all ACEL rules with regards to player documentation
Collection of forfeiture fees as necessary and enforcement of any resulting league sanctions
22. Social Media
22.1. ACEL has the right to post any image(s) from ACEL sanctioned events to the league website and/or social media accounts.
22.2 Any member organization that has a student-athlete that does not give consent to have their image(s) posted to the ACEL website or social media accounts (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, etc.) must submit a non-consent form which can be found on the Forms and Downloads page of the league website.
23. Appeal Process
23.1. Member organizations can appeal fines and league rulings once they have been handed down if the organization feels the need to so. Formal appeals must be submitted using the appeal form located on the league website within 7 days of official notification from the league.
23.1.1. Once a formal appeal has been submitted to the league the Executive Board will review and conduct an investigation of the fine or ruling in appeal. The league will have 30 days upon completion of the investigation to report its findings to the appealing organization.
24. Concussions
24.1. All coaches are required to take a concussion course and be able to provide evidence/certificate at the request of the Executive Board/Executive Director.
25. Suspension of Game Rules
25.1 No-Fault suspended game
When officials suspend a game in progress because of a reasonable unforeseen circumstance such as a power failure or like occurrence. If less than ½ of the game is complete or the game is tied, the game is to be rescheduled at the home facility. If ½ or mor of the game is completed, the game is ended.
25.2 At-Fault suspended game
At-Fault causes are those actions or in-actions of a team resulting in the suspension of a game. Games suspended due to at-fault causes shall be forfeited by the at-fault team. The at-fault team shall also be assessed a $500 fine and will reimburse the essential expenses of the other team in an amount determined by the executive board.
26. Uniforms
26.1. Spandex is not allowed as outerwear. Uniform shorts must have at least a 4” inseam so that undergarments are completely covered. Please choose shorts that are not form fitting as they can appear to be spandex even with a 4” inseam.
27. Facilities
27.1. Facilities used for ACEL competition must be adequate to high school competition per NFHS rules and guidelines.
28. For 2020-2021 ONLY
28.1. Students that were enrolled in ACEL private schools last year (2019-2020) but have chosen to homeschool this year (2020-2021) due to COVID-19 may continue to participate in ACEL athletics with the ACEL private school in which they were enrolled in 2019-2020. Any such student must be designated on the roster as a homeschool student (HS) and proof of enrollment in 2019-2020 must be provided. Students that are participating in K12 or similar virtual public schools are not eligible.
Updated August 13, 2020