Forfeits and No-Contests | Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association

Forfeit vs. No-Contest Determination Process

In the event a contest is unable to be played on the scheduled date, for any reason, every attempt should be made to reschedule the contest on the next available date for both schools.

If the competing schools are unable to find a makeup date, both schools must use the form to request a determination of a "Forfeit" or "No Contest" for an un-played contest. All sections must be completed thoroughly. The link to the form and the password to access the form can be found in the members only area of the website

This information will be reviewed by a Seasonal Seeding Committee consisting of the chair or designee from each in-season sport and Tournament Management Committee representatives. Tournament Directors and Executive Liaisons may be present but are non-voting members. All decisions made by the Seasonal Seeding Committee are final. Once a determination is made, it will be shared with the schools.

Please DO NOT enter a score into Arbiter for the contest in question until a determination has been made by the Seasonal Seeding Committee. Any unverified score can affect the power rankings in that sport.

Schools do not need to use the Forfeit/No-Contest form in the following circumstances:

Canceled season (Rule 18)
Overscheduling (Rule 34.6)
Ineligible player (Rule 86)

Handbook Rule Forfeits

The contests listed below have been self-reported by the principals or athletic directors of the forfeiting schools, based on any of three specific rules from the MIAA Handbook:

18. Canceled Season Policy

18.1 A school which cancels a sport prior to an official contest being conducted and no later than seven (7) days after the first possible competition date, will not forfeit any wins to its anticipated opponents. In this case, opponents who had the game canceled may have up to 72 hours to consider rescheduling a game ONLY against one of the other schools that had a game dropped. In the sports of football and rugby, opponents have up to 72 hours to reschedule a contest against any team who has availability in their committed schedule; availability is defined as an open week with no opponent; this could be an out-of-state opponent. (Approved pilot by the BOD on 9/21/23)

18.2 A school which cancels a sport after completing at least one official contest or later than seven (7) days after the first possible competition date will forfeit wins to its remaining scheduled opponents. In this case, schools will receive a forfeit win and are not permitted to schedule another opponent in place of the dropped game.

34.6 Overscheduling:

Any school overscheduling must forfeit the overscheduled game(s) listed on their originally committed schedule. Examples: Field Hockey is allowed 18 games but a team scheduled 19. That team would forfeit game #19 on their original schedule. Basketball is allowed 20 games but a team scheduled 22. That team would forfeit games 21 & 22. Overscheduling forfeits cannot be appealed.

86. Participation of an Ineligible Student

The principal of a school which plays a student who is later found to be ineligible, whether because of the student's own misstatement or lack of care on the part of the school authorities, shall notify in writing the principal(s) of the opposing school(s) and the Executive Director of the MIAA, forfeiting every competition in which the ineligible student competed.

86.1 Since the principal is personally responsible for attesting to the eligibility of each contestant, and since allowing an ineligible player to participate in a contest is a serious matter, it is strongly advised that the principal give personal attention to this matter.

86.2 If a school uses an ineligible student in any interscholastic contest, such contest shall be forfeited to the opposing school. In individual sports, the use of an ineligible player would result in the contest being forfeited. However, the performances and outcomes of the other individuals would stand.

86.3 An ineligible student who is duly enrolled in the school, may practice with the team if approved by the school administration.

Refer to MIAA Rule 89.4 for the appeal process for schools disqualified from tournament play for violation of MIAA Rule 86.

Fall 2024

School Name	Forfeited to (School)	Sport	Contest Date	Applicable Rule
Medford HS	Everett HS	Boys Soccer	9/5/24	Rule 86
Neighborhood House Charter School	multiple opponents	Girls Soccer	Effective 9/24/24	Rule 18.2

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