About the OHSAA

OHSAA Mission Statement and Strategic Plan

To serve our member schools and enrich interscholastic opportunities for students.

NFHS Mission Statement

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) serves its members, related professional organizations and students by providing leadership for the administration of education-based interscholastic activities, which support academic achievement, good citizenship and equitable opportunities.

- 51 State Associations - 20,000 High Schools - 500,000 Coaches and Sponsors - 11,000,000 Student Participants - 500,000 Officials and Judges - 9 Canadian Associations - 14 Other Affiliate Members

OHSAA Governance

OHSAA member schools vote annually on changes to the constitution and bylaws. The OHSAA Board of Directors, which is elected by the membership, annually approves sports regulations.

Constitution | Bylaws | General Sports Regulations | Full Handbook

The OHSAA Believes That...

Participation in interscholastic athletics programs is a privilege, not a right.
Participation in interscholastic athletics programs complements a student’s school experience and teaches lifelong lessons of hard work, teamwork and self-discipline.
Participation in interscholastic athletics programs promotes citizenship and sporting behavior, instills a sense of community and promotes a lifetime appreciation for sports and healthy lifestyles.
All students, regardless of ethnicity, race or gender, should have an equal opportunity to participate in interscholastic athletics programs.
Sporting and ethical behavior are expectations in interscholastic athletics by all participants, coaches, administrators, officials and spectators.
Coaches, administrators and contest officials should serve as positive role models who are critical to a student’s development and success.
In order to minimize health and safety risks and maintain ethical standards, it is mandatory that interscholastic athletics participants are free from use of anabolic steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs.
All rules, regulations and facilities for and supervision of interscholastic athletics programs should ensure maximum protection of the health, safety and well-being of each participant.
Limitations should be placed upon the length of sport seasons and the number of interscholastic contests played by participants.
Students should engage in a well-rounded experience that encourages participation in a multitude of extracurricular activities.
All attempts should be made to accommodate students with disabilities in interscholastic athletics programs.
Compliance with all school, OHSAA and state regulations along with contest playing rules is essential for everyone involved in interscholastic athletics programs.
Student academic achievement and success take priority over athletics achievement and success.
The success of a team is more important than individual awards.
Interscholastic athletics programs exist to prepare students for the next level of life, not the next level of sports.
Participation in interscholastic athletics programs can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and create memories that will last forever.

The OHSAA is Committed To...

Establishing and regulating regular season and tournament standards in order for competition to be fair and equitable.
Administering exceptional interscholastic athletics tournaments.
Promoting that interscholastic athletics participation complements a student’s educational experience.
Providing unparalleled leadership and customer service to our various constituents that is objective, responsive and inclusive.
Providing rulings that are swift, fair, consistent and impartial.
Operating with openness and demonstrating fiscal accountability.
Honoring our tradition of excellence, which has served our member schools for the past 100-plus years.
Honoring our ultimate purpose, which is to promote lifetime values, good citizenship, academic success, ethics and fair play in safe and sporting environments.