Albach v. Odle, 531 F.2d 983 (10th Cir. 1976). · Go Syfert
Albach v. Odle, 531 F.2d 983 (10th Cir. 1976). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“participation in interscholastic athletics is not a constitutionally protected civil right.”
120 citation events (34 in the last 25 years) across 50 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Ward v. Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (tnwd, 2022-10-05)
Treatment trajectory · 1976 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1976 2001 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 23 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Ward v. Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association
W.D. Tenn. · 2022 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
participation in interscholastic athletics is not a constitutionally protected civil right
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Kaley White-Ciluffo v. Iowa Department of Education, and Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union, Intervenor-Appellee.
Iowa Ct. App. · 2017 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
participation in interscholastic athletics is not a constitutionally protected civil right.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Byrd v. Independent School District No. 8 of Tulsa County Oklahoma
N.D. Okla. · 2024 · confidence medium
To the extent that L.R.W. has been deprived of the opportunity to play football, “[p]articipation in interscholastic athletics is not a constitutionally protected civil right.” 21 Albach v. Odle, 531 F.2d 983, 984-85 (10th Cir. 1976); see also Seamons, 84 F.3d at 1234 (“With regard to the specific components of education . . . we do not believe that [plaintiff] has a constitutional right to those particular incidents of education.”).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Friends of the Field v. D.C. Board of Zoning Adjustment
D.C. · 2024 · confidence medium
Cir. 1927) (“[A] modern educational institution embraces those things which experience has taught us are essential to the mental, moral, and physical development of the pupils.”); 5 Albach v. Odle, 531 F.2d 983, 985 (10th Cir. 1976) (noting that the educational process “includes innumerable separate components, such as participation in athletic activity and membership in school clubs and social groups, which combine to provide an atmosphere of intellectual and moral advancement”). 4 When a term is undefined, the zoning regulations direct the BZA to use the dictionary definition. 11-B D…
cited Cited as authority (rule) L.C. VS. MIDDLESEX COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE (L-1292-17, MONMOUTH COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) (RECORD IMPOUNDED)
N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. · 2021 · confidence medium
Palmer v. Merluzzi, 868 F.2d 90, 96 (3d Cir. 1989); Albach v. Odle, 531 F.2d 983, 984-85 (10th Cir. 1976); Mitchell v. La.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Walker v. Jemez Mountain School District
D.N.M. · 2020 · confidence medium
The Tenth Circuit has interpreted Goss, albeit in the context of high school sports, as recognizing “a student’s entitlement to a public education as a property interest which is constitutionally protected.” Albach v. Odle, 531 F.2d 983, 985 (10th Cir. 1976).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Taylor v. Enumclaw School District No. 216 (3×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
Wash. Ct. App. · 2006 · confidence medium
Co., 121 Wash.2d 243, 249 , 850 P.2d 1298 (1993)). [5] Id. [6] Id. (citing White v. State, 131 Wash.2d 1, 9 , 929 P.2d 396 (1997)). [7] Bd. of Regents v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564, 577 , 92 S.Ct. 2701 , 33 L.Ed.2d 548 (1972). [8] 42 U.S.C. § 1983 reads: Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and …
cited Cited as authority (rule) Parker v. Arizona Interscholastic Ass'n
Ariz. Ct. App. · 2002 · confidence medium
Id. at 137 , 726 P.2d at 234 (quoting Albach v. Odie, 531 F.2d 983, 985 (10th Cir.1976)); see also Walsh v. Louisiana High Sch.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ryan v. California Interscholastic Federation-San Diego Section
Cal. Ct. App. · 2001 · confidence medium
We do not read Goss to establish a property interest subject to constitutional protection in each of these separate components.” (Albach v. Odle, supra, 531 F.2d at p. 985; Seamons v. Snow, supra, 84 F.3d at p. 1235 .) We likewise decline to interpret Goss as recognizing a property interest in all the integral parts of the educational process, including a constitutionally protected entitlement to participate in interscholastic athletics.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Earls v. Board Of Education Of Tecumseh Public School District
2d Cir. · 2001 · confidence medium
Participation in extracurricular activities is a privilege, not a right, see Albach v. Odle, 531 F.2d 983 , 984-85 (10th Cir. 1976), and consequently schools are allowed to impose additional burdens on their participants, see id. at 985 (holding that the "supervision and regulation of high school athletic programs remain within the discretion of appropriate state boards").
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Earls ex rel. Earls v. Board of Education of Tecumseh Public School District
10th Cir. · 2001 · confidence medium
Participation in extracurricular activities is a privilege, not a right, see Albach v. Odle, 531 F.2d 983 , 984-85 (10th Cir.1976), and consequently schools are allowed to impose additional burdens on them participants, see id. at 985 (holding that the “supervision and regulation of high school athletic programs remain within the discretion of appropriate state boards”).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Seamons v. Snow
10th Cir. · 1996 · confidence medium
Albach, 531 F.2d at 985.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Seamons v. Snow
10th Cir. · 1996 · confidence medium
Albach, 531 F.2d at 985.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Boster v. Philpot
D. Kan. · 1986 · confidence medium
We do not read Goss to establish a property interest subject to constitutional protection in each of these separate components. 531 F.2d at 984-85 (emphasis added).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Tiffany v. Ariz. Interscholastic Ass'n, Inc.
Ariz. Ct. App. · 1986 · confidence medium
Id. at 985.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) National Collegiate Realty Corp. v. Board of County Commissioners (2×)
Kan. · 1984 · confidence medium
It is not limited to classroom attendance but includes innumerable separate components, such as participation in athletic activity and membership in school clubs and social groups, which combine to provide an atmosphere of intellectual and moral advancement." 531 F.2d at 985.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Pegram v. Nelson
M.D.N.C. · 1979 · confidence medium
Albach v. Odle, 531 F.2d at 985.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Kulovitz v. Illinois High School Ass'n (2×) also: Cited "see"
N.D. Ill. · 1978 · confidence medium
Albach v. Odle, 531 F.2d at 985.
discussed Cited "see" Armenta v. Independent School District No 5 of Garvin County
W.D. Okla. · 2024 · signal: see · confidence high
See Albach v. Odle, 531 F.2d 983, 985 (10th Cir. 1976) (“Goss recognizes a student’s entitlement to a public education as a property interest which is constitutionally protected.” (citing Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565 (1975))).
discussed Cited "see" Hadley v. Rush Henrietta Central School District
W.D.N.Y. · 2006 · signal: see · confidence high
See Albach v. Odle, 531 F.2d 983 , 985 (10th Cir.1976) (“The supervision and regulation of high school athletic programs remain within the discretion of appropriate state boards, and are not within federal cognizance under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 unless the regulations deny an athlete a constitutionally protected right or classify him or her on a suspect basis.”) (emphasis added) With respect to plaintiffs’ claims that the waiver Hadley obtained to attend school should also allow him to participate in sports, there are strong arguments that support such an interpretation of the New York State …
cited Cited "see, e.g." J.K. ex rel. Kaplan v. Minneapolis Public Schools
D. Minnesota · 2011 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g., Albach, 531 F.2d at 984-85; Hamilton, 552 F.2d at 682 ; Mitchell, 430 F.2d at 1157-58 ; Dallam Dallam, 391 F.Supp. at 361-62. .
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Taylor v. Enumclaw School District No. 216 (2×)
Wash. Ct. App. · 2006 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See, e.g., Seamons v. Snow, 84 F.3d 1226, 1235 (10th Cir. 1996); see also Albach, 531 F.2d at 985.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Joye v. Hunterdon Central Regional High School Board of Education (2×)
N.J. · 2003 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence low
See, e.g., Albach v. Odle, 531 F. 2d 983 , 984-85 (10th Cir.1976) (stating that "[p]articipation in interscholastic athletics is not a constitutionally protected civil right"); Mitchell v. La.
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
John Albach, as Next Friend and Guardian of John R. Albach, a Minor
v.
James Odle, Individually and as Executive Secretary of the New Mexico Activities Association
75--1137.
Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Mar 25, 1976.
531 F.2d 983

531 F.2d 983

John ALBACH, as next friend and guardian of John R. Albach,
a minor, et al., Appellants,
v.
James ODLE, Individually and as Executive Secretary of the
New Mexico Activities Association, et al., Appellees.

No. 75--1137.

United States Court of Appeals,
Tenth Circuit.

Argued and Submitted Nov. 11, 1975.
Decided March 25, 1976.

John W. Boyd, Albuquerque, N.M. (David A. Freedman and Thomas Horn, Albuquerque, N.M., for American Civil Liberties Union with him on the brief), for appellants.

Byron Caton, Caton & Hynes, Farmington, N.M., for appellees.

Before SETH, HOLLOWAY and DOYLE, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM.

[*~983]1

This appeal seeks to test the application of transfer rules adopted by the New Mexico Activities Association. The rules automatically bar from interscholastic high school athletic competition for one year any student who transfers from his home district to a boarding school or from a boarding school to his home district. Jurisdiction is premised on 28 U.S.C. § 1343 and 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

2

The trial court dismissed the complaint on various grounds, one of which was that it failed to raise a substantial federal question. We affirm.

3

Controlling precedent is found in Oklahoma High School Athletic Ass'n v. Bray, 321 F.2d 269 (10th Cir.), where this court stated:

4

'. . . In the case at bar, once the pleadings were pierced at pre-trial, it became apparent that Bray's grievance with the Athletic Association lay only with the application of its residence rule, the Board's refusal to grant an exception for hardship, and a general attack upon the amount of power delegated by the high schools to the Association. Such complaints are not within federal cognizance, . . ..'

5

The court held that if Bray had not voluntarily dismissed the action, the trial court would have been compelled to dismiss for lack of a substantial federal question. Appellant's allegations are virtually identical with those noted above.

[*983]6

Appellant cites numerous cases in support of the contention that high school athletic regulations must survive constitutional scrutiny. The cases are distinguished by the fact that, in the context of athletic regulations, clearly defined constitutional principles are at issue. See Brenden v. Independent School District 742, 477 F.2d 1292 (8th Cir.), Gilpin v. Kansas State High School Activities Ass'n, Inc., 377 F.Supp. 1233 (D.Kan.), and Reed v. Nebraska School Activities Ass'n, 341 F.Supp. 258 (D.Neb.)--sexual discrimination; Davis v. Meek, 344 F.Supp. 298 (N.D.Ohio)--invasion of marital privacy. See also Howard University v. National Collegiate Athletic Ass'n, 166 U.S.App.D.C. 260, 510 F.2d 213--alienage discrimination; Louisiana High School Athletic Ass'n v. St. Augustine High School, 396 F.2d 224 (5th Cir.)--racial discrimination. That is not the case here. Participation in interscholastic athletics is not a constitutionally protected civil right. Oklahoma High School Athletic Ass'n v. Bray, supra; Mitchell v. Louisiana High School Athletic Ass'n, 430 F.2d 1155 (5th Cir.). The supervision and regulation of high school athletic programs remain within the discretion of appropriate state boards, and are not within federal cognizance under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 unless the regulations deny an athlete a constitutionally protected right or classify him or her on a suspect basis.

7

Appellant also argues that Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565, 95 S.Ct. 729, 42 L.Ed.2d 725, somehow negates our decision in Bray. We disagree. Goss recognizes a student's entitlement to a public education as a property interest which is constitutionally protected. A ten-day suspension from school without a hearing was found to violate a student's right to due process under the Fourteenth Amendment. But it is necessary to note that in framing the property interest the Court in Goss speaks in terms of the 'educational process.' 419 U.S. at 576, 95 S.Ct. at 737, 42 L.Ed.2d at 735. The educational process is a broad and comprehensive concept with a variable and indefinite meaning. It is not limited to classroom attendance but includes innumerable separate components, such as participation in athletic activity and membership in school clubs and social groups, which combine to provide an atmosphere of intellectual and moral advancement. We do not read Goss to establish a property interest subject to constitutional protection in each of these separate components.

[*~984]8

AFFIRMED.