The Ultimate Guide to CIF Bylaw 202 (Accurate Information)
CIF Bylaw 202 governs the accuracy of the information you submit. It determines whether CIF believes your application can be trusted at all. If CIF finds your information to be false, incomplete, or misleading, the issue stops being about eligibility and becomes about compliance. At that stage, even a valid move or legitimate hardship can collapse.
This guide walks parents through what Bylaw 202 means, why it matters, and how to avoid the mistakes that quietly derail eligibility cases.
I. THE STANDARD OF ACCURATE INFORMATION
CIF Bylaw 202.A explicitly requires that all information submitted pertaining to any aspect of a student's eligibility must be "true, correct, accurate, complete and/or not false or inaccurate".
This requirement permeates the entire eligibility framework, touching upon multiple critical components, including scholastic eligibility (Bylaw 205), residential eligibility (Bylaw 206), and transfer status (Bylaw 207).
II. PENALTIES FOR MISREPRESENTATION
The consequences for violating the mandate of veracity are defined under Bylaw 202.B, titled "Penalty for Providing Incorrect, Inaccurate, Incomplete or False Information".
A. COMPETITION UNDER ASSUMED NAME
Any student who competes in CIF competition under an assumed name immediately becomes ineligible for CIF competition in that respective sport. This penalty is imposed in addition to any other sanctions or penalties arising from other relevant provisions.
B. IMPLICATIONS IN TRANSFER ELIGIBILITY
The requirement that information be true and not fraudulent is paramount in all complex eligibility determinations, particularly transfers. For instance, an application requesting eligibility based on a valid change of residence (Bylaw 206) must ensure that the application is "true, complete, correct and not fraudulent". When pursuing transfer eligibility (Bylaw 207), all applications, including those claiming a valid change of residence, must be provided by the enrolling school and must be determined to be complete, true, accurate, and correct.
Furthermore, students, parents, guardians, and caregivers, along with the involved schools, must disclose any and all pre-enrollment contact of any kind whatsoever using the CIF Pre-Enrollment Contact Affidavit. This disclosure requirement falls under Bylaws 207 and 510, which forbid undue influence and athletically motivated transfers. If the CIF Section finds evidence that multiple students transferred to participate in a particular sports program, this factor may be considered evidence of athletic motivation.
In cases where a student's transfer is determined to be athletically motivated or a violation of Bylaw 510 (Undue Influence), the CIF Section Office may limit the student’s eligibility. If a prima facie (sufficient evidence) case of undue influence or recruiting exists, the student is ineligible for interscholastic athletic competition at the new school for one calendar year from the enrollment date in all sports they played in the last 12 months, unless the evidence is rebutted.
III. APPELLATE JURISDICTION
While the CIF maintains a defined appeal process for various eligibility decisions, certain rulings related to factual accuracy and documented hardship circumstances are specifically insulated from review. All eligibility determinations made by the CIF Section Office concerning hardship circumstances under Bylaw 207.B.(5)c. are final, provided they are factual in nature and can be documented.
However, students may appeal a determination if their eligibility status was determined due to alleged violations concerning certain criteria, including findings related to Undue Influence, Pre-Enrollment Contact, Failure to Disclose Pre-enrollment Contact, and Athletically Motivated Transfers (Bylaw 510). Appeals related to these non-hardship violations proceed under CIF Bylaw 1100.
Related: Athletic Motivation & CIF Transfers - Ultimate Guide to Bylaw 510
The mandate under Bylaw 202 requires strict adherence to truthfulness. The responsibility for ensuring the submission of accurate information rests firmly with the parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver and the student, as misstatements or fraud will result in severe competitive sanctions.
How Parents Can Protect Their Child’s Eligibility
The most effective strategy is prevention. Accuracy must be intentional and methodical.
Key steps include:
Verifying all dates, addresses, and timelines
Disclosing all athletic-related contact, even if it seems minor
Reviewing every form before submission
Keeping copies of all documents sent to CIF
Avoiding informal explanations without legal review
Precision protects eligibility. Assumptions undermine it.
When Legal Guidance Becomes Necessary
If CIF questions your accuracy or flags inconsistencies, early legal intervention can prevent irreversible damage. A structured review of documentation, messaging, and disclosure strategy often determines whether a case remains viable or collapses.
The earlier the response, the more options remain available.
Unsure if your paperwork puts eligibility at risk?
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Final Takeaway
CIF Bylaw 202 is not a technicality. It is the rule that determines whether CIF trusts your case at all.
For parents, the central question is not simply whether your decision was lawful or reasonable. It is whether every statement and document you submitted can withstand scrutiny.
Because under CIF Bylaw 202, eligibility does not fail because families moved — it fails when the story cannot be proven accurately.
CIF BYLAW 202 GENERAL INFORMATION
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Bylaw 202 requires that every piece of information submitted in connection with a student’s eligibility must be:
True
Accurate
Complete
Not false or misleading
This standard applies to all documents and communications related to eligibility, including:
CIF eligibility forms
Transfer requests
Change of residence documentation
Pre-enrollment contact disclosures
Parent and student declarations
School certifications
CIF does not evaluate intent. The only question is whether the information provided meets the accuracy standard.
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Many parents assume eligibility decisions hinge on the reason for the transfer or the strength of their explanation. In reality, CIF first evaluates credibility.
If CIF identifies an inconsistency or omission, it may conclude the family violated Bylaw 202. When that happens:
Your explanation loses weight
Your supporting evidence becomes suspect
CIF shifts from evaluation to enforcement
In practical terms, accuracy becomes the foundation of your entire case. Without it, no argument survives.
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Most violations are unintentional. They occur because families move quickly, rely on memory, or trust others to complete the forms.
Frequent problem areas include:
Different addresses or dates across documents
Failure to disclose contact with a coach or program
Incomplete explanation of living arrangements
Guessing timelines instead of verifying them
Allowing school staff to submit forms without review
CIF treats these inconsistencies as reliability failures, not simple mistakes.
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The consequences of providing inaccruate information can me significant and immediate:
Ineligibility for competition
Disqualification from games
Forfeiture of contests
Extended sit-out periods
Sanctions against the school or team
If a student competes under an assumed name, CIF imposes automatic ineligibility in that sport, separate from any other violation.
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Bylaw 202 rarely stands alone. It often intersects with Bylaws 207 (Transfer Eligibility) and 510 (Undue Influence).
CIF requires disclosure of all pre-enrollment contact, including:
Conversations with coaches
Emails or text messages
Social media interactions
Club or program referrals
If this contact is not fully disclosed, CIF may interpret the omission as evidence of athletic motivation or improper recruiting. A simple accuracy issue can quickly escalate into a one-year ineligibility determination.
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Generally NO.
These determinations are usually final and non-appealable.
