Eligibility: OC Volleyball-Avery Sim

2022-23 Season

October 13, 2022 

Facts:

On October 6, 2022 ACAC CEO Mark Kosak received a telephone call from the Executive Director of the Alberta Schools Athletic Association (ASAA) to advise him that Avery Sim, a high school student-athlete, had participated on behalf of Olds College in Women’s Volleyball matches on October 1, 2022 vs. UAA (an OC victory) and on October 2, 2022 against CUE (an OC loss). Ms. Sim’s participation in these two matches, which were part of the RDP pre-season tournament, has been confirmed.

As a result of participating in these matches on behalf of OC, Ms. Sim’s final year of ASAA eligibility is in jeopardy, particularly given that she had been assured that she was allowed to participate by OC Athletics representatives.

In its response, OC has explained that their already shorthanded team sustained two injuries leading up to the tournament. After consulting with her Athletics Manager, the OC coach invited Ms. Sim, a student at Red Deer’s Hunting Hills High School, to participate in the above matches in order to avoid possible forfeitures. OC was of the view that playing Ms. Sim would not violate ACAC eligibility rules given that this was a pre-season tournament. OC has also indicated that it was unaware of any possible ASAA eligibility rules and takes full responsibility for its lack of knowledge.

Ruling:

Article I Section 5 Rule 1 of the ACAC Operating Code states as follows:

Principles of Eligibility

The ACAC acknowledges the following principles regarding the rules of student eligibility:

• To be eligible for ACAC Conference and Non-Conference competition, a student-athlete must be enrolled as a full-time student in post-secondary courses, in the semester of participation, at the accredited post-secondary institution for which he/she represents. (Amended January, 2016)

The above rule is clear and unequivocal. It is a rule that all ACAC member institutions should be aware of and it applies to all ACAC competition, including pre-season play.

In this case, it is fortunate that the rule breach by OC took place in pre-season play. This ruling should serve as a reminder to all member institutions that breaches such as this can have potentially serious consequences. Under the circumstances, it is not necessary to issue a forfeit in relation to the UAA match. However, OC is ordered to pay a $500 fine to the ACAC Office forthwith for this breach of a fundamental ACAC Operating Code eligibility rule.

Sincerely,

Bill Hendsbee 
ACAC Commissioner