Co-oping Schools Policy

1) Schools may apply for a co-op if they meet the following criteria:

  1. Combined populations of the schools involved (grades 9 – 12) must not exceed 425 students.
  2. Co-oping is limited to "A" and "AA" schools only.
  3. Co-oping can occur for a single sport and single gender in a school.
  4. Co-oping must take place for a minimum three-year period for that sport (co-ops cannot switch schools during the three years, without MHSAA approval).
  5. A maximum of four schools only may combine to form a co-op entry.
  6. The team must go under one school name – a new co-op name cannot be created.
  7. The schools must maintain administration of the co-op (i.e. it cannot be managed or controlled by a parent or other group).
  8. The co-op must be beneficial for all schools in the area.
  9. Co-op is limited to the sports of Soccer, Volleyball, Hockey, Basketball, Fast Pitch, Baseball, Rugby, Lacrosse, Ultimate, and Football.
  10. For the sports of Volleyball, Hockey and Basketball, combined co-op populations will determine the category that the new co-op may compete in at the Provincial Championships.


2) Exception to the Co-op Rule: All schools that enroll only a single gender, in any classifications (A, AA, AAA, AAAA), may co-op with one other MHSAA member school, in order to compete in the coed sport of Ultimate only. The combined enrollment would determine the classification.


3) Co-op Application: All completed applications should be emailed to chad@mhsaa.ca and must contain the following:

  1. All co-oping applications must first receive Zone endorsement before being considered for final approval by the MHSAA.
  2. A letter of endorsement from the administrators of all schools involved in the proposed co-op. The letters should identify the lead school and name of the proposed co-op.
  3. The MHSAA will review all co-op applications. They will consider the history of the area, the sport, and how the application will affect the other schools in the area. The MHSAA will also consider historical co-ops.
  4. The decision of the MHSAA is final. The MHSAA has the right to monitor co-ops and if it feels a co-op is being abused, has the right to revoke the co-op or place a school on suspension or probation.

4) Dissolving a Co-op: Teams forming a co-op have agreed to a three-year commitment. There are circumstances where teams may want to dissolve their co-op. Schools may apply to dissolve a copy prior to the end of the three-year commitment provided it meets one of the following reasons for dissolution and takes in the best interests of all students involved.

Acceptable reasons for dissolving a co-op:

  1. A school no longer has athletes to offer to the program
  2. A school has too many athletes and can participate as its own team (assuming a place is found for the remaining schools to play)
  3. Zone recommends a new arrangement of co-ops that makes better sense to allow athletes to compete in the sport. 

Dissolving a Co-op Application: All completed applications should be emailed to chad@mhsaa.ca and must contain the following:

  1. A letter of endorsement from the administrators of all schools involved in the proposed dissolving of a co-op. The letters should identify the reasons for the school hoping to dissolve the co-op and what the plan is for their own athletes to be able to participate in the sport in the coming season.
  2. All co-op dissolving applications must first receive Zone endorsement before being considered for final approval by the MHSAA. The zone must take responsibility for fair treatment of all schools/athletes involved.
  3. The MHSAA will review all co-op dissolving applications. They will consider the history of the area, the sport, and how the application will affect the other schools in the area. The MHSAA will also consider historical co-ops.
  4. The decision of the MHSAA is final.