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Starting with the 2026-27 school year, Ohio is set to broaden where some public high school athletes can play after lawmakers approved the Student Athlete Mobility Act. The change aims to give students access to sports their own schools do not offer, but it also places clear limits and administrative steps on how those opportunities are granted.
What the SAM Act changes
The Student Athlete Mobility (SAM) Act, codified as Ohio Revised Code 3313.5321, lets a public high school student ask to join a team at a neighboring public school when their home school does not field that sport. The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) alerted member districts that the statute takes precedence over a member vote earlier this year and will be in force at the start of the 2026-27 academic year.
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That sounds straightforward, but OHSAA officials emphasize the law is not a blanket open-enrollment policy for athletics. It creates a pathway for access while preserving local control and existing eligibility standards.
Key provisions
- Only public high school students are eligible under the law.
- The student’s school must not sponsor the sport the student seeks to play.
- Requests are limited to neighboring public schools, as defined by state statute.
- Superintendent approval is required from both the student’s district and the receiving district.
- If either superintendent denies the request, the student cannot participate at the neighboring school.
Students enrolled in OHSAA member schools that serve only grades 7-8 are not included in this law.
Combining teams when numbers are low
Districts may choose to combine teams when individual schools lack the roster size to safely and competitively field a squad. The law defines insufficient numbers as having fewer players than needed to fill every position plus half that number for substitutes, rounded up.
For example, a baseball program would be deemed short-handed if it cannot field at least 14 players under that formula.
Rules for districts with multiple high schools
Students in districts that operate more than one high school must first request to play at another school within their own district before seeking permission to join a neighboring district’s team. Only after that internal process is exhausted may they petition an external district, and both superintendents still must approve.
Standards and administration remain unchanged
Participation under the SAM Act does not exempt students from any existing requirements. Those joining a neighboring school must still satisfy the same standards applied to all student-athletes, including:
- Academic eligibility
- Nonacademic standards (conduct, residency where applicable)
- Financial obligations (fees or costs set by the participating school)
- Tryouts and team selection procedures established by the receiving school
In other words, the law modifies where eligible students may play, not the rules governing who qualifies to play.
Reporting and district guidance
Districts that reach superintendent agreements under the new law are not required to file paperwork with the OHSAA. To promote consistent implementation, the association has prepared a superintendent agreement template along with guidance and business rules districts can use when negotiating arrangements.
Other participation pathways still available
The OHSAA’s updated guidance also reminds schools that several other participation options remain in place, including provisions for students who attend non-public schools, community schools, traditionally home-schooled students, and separate rules that continue to govern public school ice hockey.
As districts prepare for the 2026-27 school year, school administrators with questions are encouraged to contact the OHSAA Eligibility Department for clarification and support.
Why this matters: The SAM Act could expand competitive opportunities for students in small or specialized schools, but it also requires careful coordination between districts and adherence to existing eligibility rules — meaning athletic directors and superintendents will have to balance access, fairness and logistics as they implement the law.
