National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

National Scholastic Athletics Foundation Transgender Participation Policy & Procedure

This policy is periodically updated to ensure consistency with the rules of our national and international governing bodies (USA Track & Field and World Athletics).

This version is up to date as of November 11, 2021

The National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NSAF) is an athlete-centric organization focused on providing national level competitions and developmental programs to American high school-aged track and field athletes. The NSAF supports diversity and inclusion in all aspects of track and field and cross country, and promotes programs that offer unique opportunities to participate and grow in and through the sport. The aim of this policy and procedure is to provide transgender athletes an avenue to participate in a safe and fair manner in NSAF’s programs, including The Indoor and Outdoor Nationals.

• Upon receipt of a qualified entry into an NSAF competition or of a written request from a concerned athlete, or their parent / guardian if they are under 18, the NSAF will evaluate that athlete’s eligibility to participate in the requested event. Requests will be confidentially evaluated on a case-by-case basis in compliance with HIPAA law and will be specific to the athlete’s personal circumstances. Included in the evaluation process will be an Eligibility Committee comprised of at least one medical professional, event director, active age-appropriate coach, and lawyer. The Committee is authorized to request all information they believe relevant to the evaluation including, but not limited to interviews with the athlete and / or the athlete’s parents or guardian and / or the athlete’s coach(es); as well as relevant medical and legal records.
   
• Before it can be reviewed by the Eligibility Committee, the athlete’s application must be submitted to eligibility@nationalscholastic.org and must include the following:
  • From the athlete, or their parent / guardian if they are under 18, a statement affirming their gender identity.
  • From the medical professional treating the athlete, both confirmation of their gender identity and of their treatment regimen over at least the previous consecutive 12 months.
     
• Applicable discrimination laws and non-discrimination policies will be considered, as will any applicable constitutional law.
   
• The integrity and fairness of the competition shall be considered and protected.
   
• Applicants must agree in writing to comply with all aspects of the NSAF’s eligibility determination.
   
• Pre-Pubescent athletes may be granted eligibility to participate in their affirmed gender.
   
• Post-Pubescent athletes, defined as athletes who have begun puberty, may be eligible for participation as follows:
  • Male-to-Female (MTF) athletes who are not and have not been on gender-affirming hormones in a verifiable manner for a sufficient period of time may not compete in NSAF’s female competitions. MTF athletes may be eligible when either a sufficient amount of time has passed after gonadectomy, or hormone therapy has been administered in a verifiable manner and for a sufficient amount of time to minimize sex-related competitive advantages. A “sufficient amount of time” as used within this paragraph and Policy means that the athlete must demonstrate that her testosterone (T) levels have been consistently below 5 nmol/L (144.2 ng/dl) for at least the previous consecutive twelve months, and that those levels have been monitored and attested to by her doctor.
  • Female-to-Male (FTM) athletes may compete in male competitions whether they are or are not on gender-affirming hormones. However, if they are on gender-affirming hormones, they must provide the Committee with evidence that confirms that their therapy is being monitored by a medical doctor and does not in effect (regardless of motivation) enhance performance.

Additional Requirements

• Consistent with the justifications for this Policy, qualifying performance marks or guidelines for female competitions must be obtained after testosterone (T) levels have been consistently below 5 nmol/L (144.2 ng/dl) for at least the previous consecutive twelve months, and that those levels have been monitored and attested to by the athlete’s doctor in order to minimize gender-related competitive advantages.
   
• Athletes may not switch back and forth between male and female competition / competitive gender. Athletes will not be permitted to “change back” to their previous competitive gender once their application has been approved and they have been granted the requested eligibility.
   
• Transgender athletes must otherwise be in compliance with applicable WADA standards which have been adopted by USADA.
   
• Because athletes who go on gender-affirming hormones sometimes vary their treatment regimen, either on their own or with their doctor, to ensure that transgender athletes remain eligible throughout the relevant period, i.e., in the period preceding each NSAF Event, they must re-apply prior to each NSAF event and must continue to demonstrate consistent hormone levels as required under this Policy.
   

Definitions

Gender-related terms are defined in various sources. The NSAF has not formally adopted any specific gender-related definitions, but rather, provides these to offer a general understanding of terminology used within this policy.

• Biological / Anatomical Sex: “Either of the two divisions, designated female and male, by which most organisms are classified on the basis of their reproductive organs and functions. The fact or condition of existing in these two divisions, especially the collection of characteristics that distinguish female and male.” (American Heritage Dictionary).
   
• Female-to-Male (FTM): A transgender person who was born with a female body, but who identifies as a male.
   
• Gender Identity: One’s internal psychological identification as a male or female.
   
• Gender Expression: Ways in which an individual represents or expresses their gender to others, often through behavior, clothing, hairstyle, etc.
   
• Male-to-Female (MTF): A transgender person who was born with a male body, but who identifies as a female.
   
• Puberty: The stage of adolescence during which a child’s body develops into an adult body, becoming physiologically capable of sexual reproduction. This includes hormonal and morphologic changes. On average, girls begin puberty at ages 10–11; boys at ages 11–12. Girls usually complete puberty by ages 15–17, while boys usually complete puberty by ages 16–17.
   
• Transgender: Describes an individual whose gender identity does not match the person’s biological sex. Transgender is not related to sexual preference; a transgender person may be attracted to the same sex or the opposite sex.
   
• Transition: The period during which a person begins to live as a new gender. Transitioning may include changing one’s name, taking hormones, having surgery, or changing legal documents to reflect their new gender.

This Policy was established January 2019 and is updated as of November 11, 2021