FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Shores Christian Academy penalized for major violations in boys basketball program
GAINESVILLE – Shores Christian Academy of Ocala has been penalized by the FHSAA for major violations in the sport of boys basketball.
The violations center around five ineligible student-athletes, two of whom participated under assumed names. The investigation was initiated due to a complaint filed by a member school.
The FHSAA investigation found the following:
1. Shores Christian Academy's head boys basketball coach willfully and with full knowledge of the regulation allowed an ineligible student-athlete whose four years of eligibility had been exhausted to participate in two invitational tournaments. The same student-athlete participated in both tournaments under an assumed name.
2. The school allowed four other student-athletes who were academically ineligible to participate in basketball tournament games, one of them also under an assumed name.
3. The school participated in a varsity preseason classic, the Ocala Forest Classic, while the junior varsity team participated in the Ocala Meadowbrook Classic against Cornerstone Christian, an FHSAA affiliate member school. A varsity team may participate in one preseason classic or jamboree, while subvarsity preseason classics or jamborees are prohibited.
4. The school failed to file any of its student-athlete's eligibility information with the FHSAA Office, as required in FHSAA Bylaw 11.13.1.
The following penalties were imposed in this case:
1. Reprimand.
2. Shores Christian Academy's boys basketball program is placed on restrictive probation for a period of three years, beginning immediately and ending at the conclusion of the 2009-10 school year. During the 3-year period, the school's boys basketball team is restricted from:
• participation in FHSAA state series competition;
• participation in preseason classic contests;
• participation in postseason contests of any kind, including non-sanctioned contests in conjunction with other athletic associations;
• and participation with out-of-state schools.
3. The school is fined $13,000.
4. The school must reimburse the Association for its expenses incurred during the investigation once they have been compiled.
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.
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click here to download the public report (PDF, 305 K)
About the FHSAAThe 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.
Contact:Robert Hernberger
Assistant Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 190
rhernberger@fhsaa.org
