Fall Sports Kickoff: VHSL Updates for Students and Parents

Have a student gearing up for fall sports or thinking about joining a team or activity? Your host Katie LaPira welcomes back VHSL Supervisor Eric Baylor to explain what families need to know right now. Eric highlights the upcoming ninth grade live-in-zone eligibility rule (effective July 1, 2026), the new 14-month physical timeline, the heat index safety policy, and the enforcement of long-standing limits on out-of-zone eighth graders playing JV.   Plus, we get a look at what’s happening across RCPS this fall, from packed football stands to early-running golf, spirited theater productions, eSports, and more. Planning to attend? Remember the clear bag policy at outdoor events, follow your school’s posted guidelines, and come on out. If your student is on the fence about participating, give it a shot this season.