New Jersey announces new rules for transgender athletes

November 16, 2017 / Athletic AdministrationCoaching
New Jersey’s athletic association on Wednesday announced new rules for transgender high school athletes.

Under the new regulations, a transgender student is defined as a student whose gender identity differs from that student’s birth sex. Transgender students will be eligible to participate in accordance with either their birth sex or in accordance with their gender identity, but not both. Medical consultation is no longer required.

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s executive committee approved the measure, updating a first-of-its-kind policy established in 2009. 

“NJSIAA has a duty to address major issues impacting the student-athletes we represent,” said Steven Timko, NJSIAA executive director. “This policy simply states that we will allow the student-athlete to participate in accordance with their identified gender.”

Under the policy, member schools may appeal the eligibility of a transgender student on the grounds that the student’s participation in interscholastic athletics would adversely affect competition, safety or both. All appeals will be considered by the Eligibility Appeals Committee and will be confidential.

The Eligibility Appeals Committee will not consider whether the school has properly determined the student’s sex-assignment. The new policy helps to enact the recent New Jersey state law permitting a transgender student to participate in gender-segregated school activities in accordance with the student’s gender identity.

Click here to read the complete policy.


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