IAAM Application Process

Before beginning the application process, a school must meet the following criteria.

The applying school:

  • Shall be incorporated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.
  • Shall have been operating as a secondary school for at least five (5) years.
  • Shall be able to field a minimum of one varsity team per IAAM season.
  • Shall be in current compliance with the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) Standards of Competition; and
  • Shall be accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools and/or Middle

States and/or Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and/or Association of Classical Christian Schools.

To make this determination, applicants must complete this form:

Request Initial Qualification Form

to verify that the baseline criteria have been met.

If a school meets the baseline criteria, as listed above, the Application for Membership will be sent to the Head of School. By virtue of applying for membership into the IAAM, this is not an assumption of acceptance into the IAAM.

The deadline for submission of Application for Membership is October 31, 2025.

In reviewing an Application for Membership, the league’s Membership Committee will take the following into consideration when reviewing the application.

The Membership Committee’s recommendation to the Board of Governors will be based on the following:

Consideration of Viability

  • A review of enrollment numbers for girls over the past three years in 9th – 12th grade

Consideration of Competitive Readiness

  • A review of sports played at both the junior varsity and varsity level over the last two years (IAAM and non-IAAM contests) for each level of competition.
  • A review of the results from contests played against current IAAM schools over the past two years. Attention given to levels of play, conferences competed against, results, unduplicated roster size and distance traveled.
  • A review of the number of IAAM sports the applicant has competed in and plans to compete in, if accepted into the IAAM.

Consideration of Health, Safety, Facilities and Travel Distance

  • A review of Athletic and Academic Administrators on site for interscholastic competition
  • A review of staffing of Certified Athletic Trainers onsite and available for interscholastic competition
  • Assessment of distance from the center point of the IAAM
  • Assessment of the on-site athletic facilities.
  • Assessment of off-site athletic facilities (if applicable).

Understanding the timeline toward Full Membership in the IAAM.

  1. The application process opens July 1, 2025 and closes October 31, 2025
  2. An applicant must Request initial Qualification Form to verify that the baseline criteria have been met before a Full Membership Application is sent. This is a quick turnaround.
  3. There is a non-refundable $500 Application fee due at the time of the Full Membership Application submission.
  4. Membership Applications must be received by October 31, 2025
  5. From receipt of Application through March 31, 2026, the Membership Committee will complete its due diligence and make a recommendation to the Board of Governors during their April 2026 meeting regarding Provisional Membership.
  6. The Board of Governors will make their recommendation to the General Council (Heads of School) for vote on Provisional Members at their Annual General Meeting in May 2026.
  7. Once a school’s application is approved by the Heads of School, the applicant is now considered a Provisional Member. The school should begin scheduling ‘a la carte’ contests with IAAM schools. Provisional Members may attend pre and post season Coaches Meetings, Athletic Director Meetings and Heads of School meetings, as non-voting members. Schools must remain compliant with all IAAM policies, rules, and regulations.
  8. Fall of 2025, the scheduling committee will provide a non-league schedule for Provisional Schools. These contests will not count in league standings and will be identified as non-league contests. These contests will not count towards the IAAM Game Limitations policy.
  9. Fall 2026 Provisional Members begin with non-league schedule.
  10. Fall 2026 Scheduling committee will insert Provisional teams into IAAM schedules for Fall 2027.
  11. May 2027 Heads of School vote on Full Membership
  12. If a school is not accepted as a Full Member, schedules will be amended.

Fee and Dues Schedule

October 31,2025: $500 Application Fee

July 1, 2026: 50% of Annual Dues

July 1, 2027: 100% Annual Dues

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