eligibility for HS while playing TB

From Tennessee's (TSSAA) Rulebook:

"50% Rule – Applies to basketball, baseball, and softball. Participation (includes practice or games) during the
school year on a non-school team prior to the school season by students that will play the following season on the
high school team is limited to 50% of the number of players required to play the game (3 in basketball, 5 in
baseball, 5 in girls softball). Only the specified number of students participating on a non-school team prior to the
school season may be placed on the high school eligibility list the following season. Those students cannot be
interchanged on the school’s team roster."

Note that it includes incoming Freshman, Parents and TB coaches should be aware of their rosters and the rules, and the HS coach is basically responsible for making sure nothing shady happened in the fall.

There are always ways to get around the rules. AZ does not allow teams to practice prior to I believe it is the 2nd week of February, but, coaches are allowed to have "open fields". They just hold a workout, call it an open field, let anyone who wants to show up work out and it satisfies the rule. I also know a school who would get the whole team together a couple of months before school ball started, name one of the parents as a coach, hand out club ball uniforms and play in a few club ball tournaments prior to the school year under a club psuedonim with a supposed "club coach".

My understanding of the rule limiting the number of players on a school team who also play for the coach in club ball was really intended to protect the players from being forced by the school coach to be on their club team if they wanted to play school ball.

These kids can play for whatever travel team they want , no restrictions. But , they also have to understand that if they do CHOOSE to play for a team that has more than 5 players from the same HS (during the school year) , they will be putting their school team at risk. I know that TB coaches in this area are very aware of the TSSAA rules and are careful to not violate them when assembling their TB team (ensuring that they can play all the way through the Fall with no issues)