This year the OHSAA has permitted a one time waiver that student athletes can use once each school year to compete in a non-interscholastic meet as an individual or a member of a non-school team.
What that means is that if Colleges host a HS hammer meet (or Javelin, Heptathlon, Decathlon meet) that Ohio High School athletes that are interested in hammer can still get at least one competition in during the season.
Here is the information that the OHSAA has presented to us:
"2) Non-Interscholastic Participation
2.1) A member of an interscholastic track and field squad (any student who has participated in a regular season or tournament contest) sponsored by the Board of Education shall not participate in a non-interscholastic contest as an individual or a member of a team in the sport of track and field during the school’s season (Sports Regulation 7.2.2).
EXCEPTION: A student who has participated for the school team in the current season may be granted permission to participate in ONE (1) non-interscholastic event as an individual or member of a team NOT representing or associated with an OHSAA member school so long as the following criteria are met:
• The event is not hosted by an OHSAA member school.
• The event follows the playing rules of a recognized governing body (USATF, World Athletics, AAU, US Paralympics, Move United, or NFHS). Evidence of this shall be required as part of the waiver.
• The event has clearly defined start and end date not to exceed three (3) consecutive days.
• The student shall not participate in an interscholastic contest during the same time period covered under the waiver.
• The student will be limited to participation in four events at the meet, or one event if competing in the Heptathlon to Pentathlon.
• The event must fully fall prior to the stated non-interscholastic date. (Non-Interscholastic date is Monday May 4th)
A request for waiver must be submitted to the Executive Director’s office by a school administrator (via the appropriate waiver form) a minimum of 14 days PRIOR
APRIL 12th DEADLINE for Jak Hammer High School Qualifier
to participation in an applicable non-interscholastic event once a student has participated for the school team. Any non-interscholastic event in which a student competed under the waiver shall count as one of the individual’s maximum 16 contests allowed in the regular season."
Link to the waiver form can be found here: Waiver form
The following would be the correct answers to some of the questions on the waiver:
11. Name of meet- Jak Hammer High School Qualifier
12. Location of meet - North Canton, OH.
13. Location of meet - Walsh University
14. Link to meets event page - www.Jakhammerthrows.com
15. Date meet participation starts - 4/26/2026
16. Date meet participation ends - 4/26/2026
18. Governing Body of Event - USATF