The Field Report — HuddleBoard Sports

Issue #3: What changed for ADs on July 1

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Eligibility Rules — Tennessee's one-time transfer rule is now live

On July 1, Tennessee's new law letting high school athletes transfer schools once without losing eligibility took effect. TSSAA's Legislative Council met in April to set the ground rules — stiffer penalties for recruiting violations, clearer rules on periods of ineligibility, and edits to how "rezoning" works. If you're in Tennessee, make sure your front office has the updated bylaw language, not just the headline version.

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Athlete Safety — Florida now requires a heart screening for every incoming freshman athlete

Florida's "Second Chance Act" (SB 1070) took effect July 1, making it the first state to require an EKG for every 9th-through-12th grader before their first competition. Schools there must also keep an AED on campus. It's a Florida law — it doesn't apply to your state — but it's the kind of story parents forward to ADs everywhere.

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Rules Update — New NFHS volleyball rules ban audio and video devices on the court

NFHS approved seven volleyball rule changes for the season that's about to start, including a new ban on players wearing any audio or video device during a match, plus adjusted libero and bench-conduct rules. If your program plays under NFHS rules — most GHSA, TSSAA, and AHSAA schools do — these are already live for 2026-27.

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Technology — The NCAA just wrote the wearables rulebook — high school hasn't caught up

The NCAA published formal recommendations this year on GPS trackers, heart-rate monitors, and other performance tech: write a plan, educate the people using it, control who owns the data, vet new tools before buying them. High school sports has no equivalent, even as the same devices get cheap enough for JV programs to afford.

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Issue #2: Shot clocks, new rules & a breach to watch

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Rules Update — TSSAA Approves a Shot Clock, You've Got Four Years to Get Ready

The TSSAA Board of Control voted 8-4 on June 9 to bring a 35-second shot clock to Tennessee high school basketball, with a phased rollout ending in full implementation for the 2029-30 season. Tennessee is now the 34th state to adopt one. A pair of clocks runs $1,500–$5,000, plus $40–$60 per game for a trained operator — costs that stack up fast across a full JV/varsity slate.

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Compliance — TSSAA Now Requires a Recruiting Course for Every Coach

At the same June meeting, the TSSAA Board of Control voted to require every coach — head or assistant, new or returning — to complete the TSSAA Recruiting Rule course through NFHS Learn upon being named to a staff. The board also expanded the "non-traditional student" eligibility definition to align with recent Tennessee legislation.

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Data Privacy — Canvas Breach: Your District May Owe a Response by July 8

Instructure, the company behind the Canvas learning platform, confirmed a breach affecting close to 9,000 schools and districts nationwide. The group claiming responsibility says it took 275 million records — names, emails, and student ID numbers among them. Instructure is asking every affected institution to designate a security contact by July 8 so it can send scope letters showing exactly which of your records were exposed.

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Eligibility — Iowa Opens Varsity Sports to 8th Graders, 25th State to Do It

The Iowa Board of Education approved a rule letting 8th graders try out for high school teams starting Aug. 1, meant to help smaller schools fill JV and freshman rosters. Districts can opt in or out, Iowa's "no pass, no play" rule won't apply to 8th graders, and athletes will need a physical before competing against players up to four years older.

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Issue #1: New rules, NIL duties & a data warning

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Rules Update — NFHS Tightens Track & Field Safety Rules

The NFHS Track and Field Rules Committee approved 11 rule revisions at its June 16–18 meeting. Javelin construction specs are now in the official rule book, and padding requirements for high jump and pole vault now cover "items above ground level" — meaning raised concrete or platform extensions near landing areas need attention before your first meet.

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Technology — NFHS Softball Bans Player-Worn Devices During Live Play

Starting this season, softball players cannot transmit or record audio or video from the playing surface during live play (Rule 1-8-6). Wearable devices are restricted due to entanglement and injury risk during high-speed plays.

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NIL — Indiana Becomes 46th State to Allow HS NIL

The IHSAA board voted 13-5 to allow "personal branding activities" starting 2026-27. Key requirement: students must notify their AD in writing within 48 hours of signing any deal.

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Data Privacy — $17.25M Settlement Exposes EdTech Vendor Practices

PowerSchool/Naviance agreed to pay $17.25M after allegations that the platform recorded student keystrokes and private counselor messages and shared data with Google, Microsoft, and Hotjar without consent. Claim deadline: July 27, 2026.

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