New transfer rule worries some coaches

New transfer rule worries some coaches

To a degree some never envisioned, high school free agency now is Florida law.

Starting this school year, your garden variety shortstop conceivably could enroll at Countryside High in August, explode during fall play in October, transfer to Dunedin in December, and suit up for the Falcons in February.

Depending on one perspective, it either a scenario trumpeting the liberties of school choice, or a hypothetical steeped in hemlock; another contaminant to prep athletics.

In any event, it legislation, and it has siphoned some regulatory power from the 92 year old Florida High School NaVorro Bowman Jersey Athletic Association, which governs high school sports statewide.

Its official title: House Bill 1403. It has spawned roughly 1,403 viewpoints.

Countryside volleyball/softball coach Kaylyn Bayly: think it a terrible rule. athletic director Eddie Henderson: going to affect some schools positively and some negatively. County AD Don Bridges: could end up playing somebody in the playoffs that got an all star team. is the fallout from the legislation that its creator, Rep. Kelli Stargel, R Lakeland, calls far the hardest bill I ever had to work on. At its essence, it eases transfer restrictions and clamps down on FHSAA investigators. In most cases of suspected recruiting, it would vindicate the kid and penalize the coach.

The lightning rod segment of the bill is a provision that allows a student athlete to transfer during the school year and be eligible for sports right away, if his or her sport hasn started. FHSAA bylaws previously restricted eligibility to the first school attended each year, with limited exceptions.

The lone stipulation: The transfer remains contingent upon approval from the local school district (or private school).

way the system works now, you basically guilty proven innocent, said Stargel, a 1984 Land O graduate who didn play sports for the Gators. child who moves is basically ineligible unless you file a waiver and prove you eligible. We reversing it. law development virtually coincided with controversial FHSAA probes into the Lakeland and Armwood High football programs, both of which had to forfeit at least a season of victories (and in Armwood case, a state title) for using transfer players later deemed ineligible.

But Stargel said those cases didn inspire her bill, adding neither outcome would have changed because families at both schools were found to have falsified enrollment data to gain eligibility.

That still a no no under Stargel law, as are the receiving of impermissible benefits. But when it formally takes effect Sunday, students cannot be declared ineligible for any other recruiting based infraction by a coach.

Instead, coaches could be suspended or forced to pay any fines a school may incur. The FHSAA also may require the school to move up one classification for the sport in which the recruiting infraction occurred for a two year period.

Translation: Punish the adults, not the child. law was getting to the drug user, said Stargel, a mother of five. I trying to get to the drug dealer. to many, Stargel pursuit of justice has triggered pandemonium. Because local school districts retain the final say in approving a transfer, the new law seems destined to create statewide inequities.

In Polk County, for instance, students who wish to transfer must do so in writing by June or wait until the first day of the second NaVorro Bowman Authentic Jersey semester. In Miami Dade, a student who enrolls anywhere other than the school serving his or her home address forfeits athletic eligibility for a calendar year, with limited exceptions including a family complete change of residence.

Similar restrictions could be forthcoming in Hillsborough County. In the wake of the Armwood scandal, where the families of five football players were found to have falsified enrollment information, the district has created a committee to establish transfer policies and safeguards for determining future eligibility. A committee workshop is slated for July 17.

Elsewhere, transfer policies may not be as stringent.

In an e mail to the Tampa Bay Times, Pinellas County athletic director Nick Grasso said his district will follow state policy regarding transfers, but will be assertive in dealing with Colin Kaepernick Womens Jersey them. Pasco County AD Phil Bell, known in the past for his keen scrutiny of student athlete transfers, indicated he still examining how his district will address the new law.

Then Colin Kaepernick Authentic Jersey there are private schools, not under the jurisdiction of their local public school district.

believe the bill has some negative aspects to it because 67 different school districts can do it 67 different ways and all the private schools can do it different ways, so it can create some confusion, Hillsborough County athletic director Lanness Robinson said.

can be positive because it puts the onus (for approving transfers) on the district. Now the schools aren having to explain their actions kind of like what Armwood is doing. the prep sports purists, the positives are tougher to perceive. By getting involved, they say, the Legislature has removed one more impediment to free agency.

just going to be a free for all where the rich get richer, Bayly said.

it come down to 67 different counties have basic transfer policies, Bridges said. doesn make a very level playing field because all official49ersnflproshop.com/Nike-Steve-Johnson-Jersey.html the counties end up playing each other. of House Bill 1403

Student athletes may transfer during the school year and immediately be eligible if: a) the transfer is approved by their local school district or private school, and b) the season of the sport in which they participate hasn begun.

Coaches found guilty of recruiting infractions may receive a suspension and be forced to pay any fine incurred by his or her school. Student athletes can be punished for the recruiting infractions of a coach unless they falsified enrollment information or received an impermissible benefit.

Schools found guilty of a recruiting infraction may be required to compete at a higher classification for the sport in which the recruited student competes for a minimum two years.

FHSAA member schools may compete against non member Florida schools

What they saying

an old school guy and I a big believer that you should go to your neighborhood school. That what I going to instill in my children. We live in Wharton district and my kids will attend Wharton High official49ersnflproshop.com/Nike-Anquan-Boldin-Jersey.html School. Steinbrenner athletic director Eddie Henderson