Jones

Defendant and appellant California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) appeals an order granting a preliminary injunction in favor of plaintiff and respondent Demetrius Jones, a minor, by Gregory Jones, his father and guardian (hereinafter Jones).

Because the CIF’s eight-semester limitation on athletic eligibility withstands the rational relationship test, and because the subject rule applies to Jones, the order is reversed.

Factual and Procedural Background

On October 16, 1986, Jones filed an ex parte application and complaint seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunctions against Calabasas High School (Calabasas) and the CIF.

Jones alleged he was a 16-year-old minor attending Calabasas and expecting to graduate in June 1987. Until June 1983, when Jones completed the ninth grade, he lived in Chicago with his mother. Jones then moved to California to join his father. He completed the 10th and 11th grades in 1983-1984 and 1984-1985, respectively, in California.

Due to academic difficulties, Jones elected to repeat the 11th grade during the 1985-1986 school year. In 1986-1987, his senior year, Jones sought to participate, in Calabasas’…