FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2007
Orlando Christian Prep School penalized for recruiting violations in girls basketball program
GAINESVILLE – Orlando Christian Prep School has been fined $10,000 and its girls basketball program placed on restrictive probation through the conclusion of the 2009-10 school year for violations of the FHSAA Policy on Recruiting. The restrictive probation includes an immediate ban on participation in the FHSAA State Girls Basketball Series, which begins with district tournament competition next week.
The school was informed of the penalties by letter on Jan. 24, 2007.
The FHSAA Office initiated a preliminary inquiry into alleged violations involving two student-athletes who attended different schools during the 2005-06 school year. The preliminary inquiry requested that the school's principal respond in writing to the allegations.
In his response dated Jan. 3, 2007, Dr. Joseph Zobel, the school's principal wrote: "We enrolled two students from the south Florida area this year with similar but not identical situations. . . . They are both seniors this year. Both girls heard about our school from current OCP students that share their same passion, basketball. Both made a decision independent of each other to apply to OCP. Both girls interviewed and tested this past summer. Both (names omitted) attended summer school at OCP this past summer."
Zobel also wrote: "Both girls' families knew that temporary housing was needed for their daughters. They both stayed with a newly hired OCP teacher through August 2006. At this point, (Student A) moved to a permanent housing arrangement with a friend of the family who has no association with OCP. (Student B), however, moved in with a family from our school (a junior girls and her parents). She stayed with this family through today, Wednesday, January 03, 2007 and is making plans to move in with someone that has no association with OCP. Until this transpires, she will not play."
Based on Zobel's written response to the preliminary inquiry, the FHSAA Office made the following determinations:
1. The communication between the two student-athletes and the current Orlando Christian Prep School students, which resulted in the enrollment of the two student-athletes at Orlando Christian Prep School, was athletically motivated and, therefore, is a violation of FHSAA Bylaw 7.6.1. That bylaw prohibits the use of undue influence by anyone associated with the school in an attempt to encourage a prospective student to attend or remain at that school for the purpose of participating in interscholastic athletics. The bylaw includes students in the list of individuals considered to be associated with a school.
2. The two student-athletes were provided temporary housing with a member of the Orlando Christian Prep School faculty during the summer and at the beginning of the school year. One of the two student-athletes then moved in and lived with a family whose daughter attended Orlando Christian Prep School. The offer or acceptance of a residence with any person associated with a school is a special inducement and violation of the FHSAA Policy on Recruiting.
The FHSAA Office also concluded that Orlando Christian Prep School demonstrated a lack of due diligence by failing to become more aware of FHSAA regulations since its last probationary period. The school was placed on administrative probation for violations of the recruiting policy by its girls basketball program during the 2004-05 school year. That probationary period ended at the conclusion of last school year.
The following penalties were imposed in this case:
1. Reprimand.
2. The school is placed on restrictive probation for four years, beginning immediately and continuing through the conclusion of the 2009-10 school year. During this four-year period he school's girls basketball program is restricted as follows:
• Prohibition on participation in the FHSAA State Girls Basketball Series;
• Prohibition on participation in games against schools out-of-state opponents; and
• Prohibition on participation in preseason classic tournaments.
3. The school is fined $10,000.
4. The two student-athletes are declared permanently ineligible for interscholastic competition at Orlando Christian Prep School, and are declared ineligible at any FHSAA member school for a period of one year from their date of enrollment at Orlando Christian Prep School.
FHSAA bylaws ensure the school's right to appeal the Commissioner's findings, as well as the penalties assessed. The school has 10 business days to notify in writing the FHSAA Office if it intends to file an appeal.
About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition in Florida. It has a membership of more than 750 middle and senior public and private high schools. More information is available at www.fhsaa.org.
Contacts:
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org
