Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0520 - Education
Subtitle 0520-01 - State Board of Education Rules, Regulations, and Minimum Standards for the Operation of the Public School System
Chapter 0520-01-02 - District and School Operations
Section 0520-01-02-.08 - INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS

(1) The State Board of Education recognizes the value of participation in interscholastic athletics and the role of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association in coordinating interscholastic athletic competition. The State Board of Education authorizes the public schools of the state to voluntarily maintain membership in the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association.

(2) The total basketball games allowed per team in a school which serves any combination of grades K through 8 shall not exceed 20 during a school year. Tournaments shall count as two games notwithstanding the number of games in which each team participates in a tournament. Practice can begin no earlier than four weeks prior to the first scheduled game and shall end after the last tournament or regular season game in which the team participates.

(3) All athletic practice within the regular hours of any school day must be approved on an annual basis by the local board of education; such action must be reflected in the minutes of the local board of education. All approved athletic practice during the regular hours of any school day shall conform to the same rules, regulations, and seasons as corresponding athletic practice outside the school day.

(4) A local board of education shall not authorize high school credits in physical education for participation in interscholastic athletic practice during regular school hours.