Skip to main content
Image of white crest following text that reads The University of Texas at Austin
University Interscholastic League Logo spells UIL with a red star and texas shape cutout on the U
University Interscholastic League Logo

2026-2027 Rule Changes

All amendments are effective August 1, 2026, unless otherwise noted.

Constitution

  • Section 403, Eligibility Athletics; Section 465, Decision by a Waiver Officer; Section 468, Review Decision Process; Section 469, Retroactive Waiver – removes the waiver process for foreign exchange students to participate at the varsity level in athletics. This will allow foreign exchange students to compete in UIL athletics at the sub-varsity level, but not at the varsity level. 
  • Heat Stress and Athletic Participation Guidelines – changes the current recommended heat safety procedures to required standards for member schools conducting athletic and marching band practices and activities during periods of elevated heat. 


 Academics

  • Section 1001, Cross-Examination Debate; Section 1002, Lincoln Douglas Debate; Sections 1004-1007, Informative Speaking, Persuasive Speaking, Prose, Poetry – increases the number of entries allowed in all individual speaking and debate events.
  • Section 1401, A+ Program Academic Plan; Section 1408, Invitational/District Meets – reorganizes A+ academic meet timeframes so district meets can be held during three testing windows. 


 Music

  • Jazz Festival Pilot Proposal – creates a state contest pilot for jazz ensembles.


Athletics

  • Section 1202, Employment of Coaches – proposes a two-year pilot program to expand the current exception for student teachers to include student coaches enrolled in a UIL-approved university coaching program.
  • Section 1203, Duties of Athletic District Executive Committee – requires, unless unanimously agreed otherwise, all schools assigned to a competitive district to be included in the district schedule, unless suspended from competition by the State Executive Committee.
  • Section 1208, Athletic Regulations – revises the language regarding concussion incident reporting for 6A schools as well as the location where these incidents should be reported.
  • Section 1209, Non-School Participation – removes the pilot status of the program that allows coaches to coach up to two of their students in a UIL-approved state association all-star game.
  • Section 1209, Non-School Participation – allows students in their second, third or fourth year of high school to voluntarily work up to two camps in each team sport, without counting against the student’s skill time.
  • Section 1270, Soccer Plan – prohibits all interschool scrimmages for boys and girls soccer from occurring after the designated first day for games on the official UIL calendar.
  • Section 1340, Water Polo Plan – proposes a two-year pilot program to allow the addition of an optional spring training period for UIL water polo programs.
  • Section 1478, 7-8th Grade Athletic Plan – removes the pilot status for allowing Conference 1A and 2A to field as many as two teams when 6th grade participation is vital to team sports. Also removes pilot status to allow for 6th grade participation in individual sports in Conference 1A and 2A.
  • Section 1478, 7-8th Grade Athletic Plan – revises the allowable season length for 7th and 8th grade football by increasing the number of consecutive calendar days from 80 to 90.
  • Section 1503, Health and Safety – requires cheerleading and spirit participants to complete the Medical History/Pre-participation Physical Examination Form prior to participation in any cheer practices or tryouts.
  • Basketball Manual – enacts a pilot program for the 2026-27 school year for the optional use of a 35 second shot clock for basketball in all conferences for varsity tournaments and showcases upon mutual agreement between coaches.

  •