Board stands firm on Policy 9.2.4, wanting to curb recruiting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 21, 2011

GAINESVILLE– The Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors decided not to endorse a number of proposals that would have been sent to the Representative Assembly to amend or add to Bylaw 9.2.4 (Participation in Non-School Athletic Activities Affiliated with a School), putting an emphasis on curbing recruiting as a result of non-school athletic activities.

"The Board over the last three years has had a series of one and two-day workshops specifically about (Bylaw) 9.2.4 which is a rule that addresses a student-athlete that is involved in a non-school athletic event such as AAU, Little League, club teams, travel ball and so forth, followed by that student-athlete applying to attend a school other than the school they are normally assigned and following that coach that coaches at another school," Executive Director Roger Dearing said. "We don't discourage travel teams and we don't discourage club ball. We don't discourage students having the right to choice for particular academic programs but if you are involved in a non-school athletic event, followed by your application to transfer to the school where that coach who's on your travel team or club team coaches, we call that following the coach which is tantamount to recruiting and they have to sit out."

The Board also addressed the team composition of boarding schools, tweaking Policy 35.5 for the remainder of the 2011-12 school year, effective immediately. Instead of the initial policy which stated, "No more than 50 percent of the athletes on any team, sub-varsity or varsity, can be boarding school students", the Board approved a recommendation to provide a waiver for schools which have more than 50 percent of their school's population comprised of boarding students. These schools would have the aiblity to field a team directly proportional to its student population--as long as they agree not to participate in State Series competition. In the meantime, language is being worked on for a long-term solution for Board consideration in June of 2012.

Additionally, the FHSAA will be adopting policies to be included in the FHSAA Handbook regarding safety issues relating to heat stroke and heat-related injuries. While the Association has already created a Health and Wellness page at http://www.fhsaa.org/departments/health and distributed recommendations and general information to its member schools regarding precautions and emergency preparation, a draft of a bill being submitted to the state legislature in February was reviewed and discussed Monday morning.

In other action, the Board of Directors:

• Agreed to recognize Florida Virtual School with a plaque for their support of student-athletes of Florida
• Co-sponsored bylaw proposals giving further clarity to the terms 'calendar week', 'school week', 'guardianship', 'standard student' and 'non-standard student'
• Added language that will disqualify a relay team if an ineligible student participates on it
• Ratified the appointment of Benny Valdes, Principal of Miami Senior High School to the representative at-large position vacated by Mr. Carlos Artime on the FHSAA Board of Directors, effective immediately through June 30, 2012
• Ratified the appointment of Dr. Pamela Stewart, Chancellor, K-12 Education, to the FHSAA Board of Directors, effective immediately
• Ratified the appointment of Ms. Nicole Wilder to the Public Liaison Advisory Committee, effective immediately
• Ratified the following superintendents appointed by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents to the 2012 Representative Assembly: Mrs. Sherrie Raulerson, Baker County School District (Section I), Mrs. Sandra Himmel, Citrus County School District (Section II), Mr. Wayne Aldrich, Glades County School District (Section III) and Dr. Jesus Jara, Monroe County School District (Section IV)
• Ratified the appointment of Lisa Starks, Athletic Director of Booker T. Washington (Miami) and Ken Fearson, Athletic Director of Godby (Tallahassee) to Athletic Directors Advisory Committee at-large positions expiring on October 31, 2014
• Ratified Florida Athletic Coaches Association appointment of Ed McPadden, Director of Athletics for Marion County Public Schools
• Discussed survey on Policy 24 to learn whether member coaches are giving personal instruction during the school year
• Discussed sanctions for coaches they are involved in recruiting or eligibility issues

About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida. It has a membership of more than 770 middle and senior high schools, and sponsors postseason competitions to determine the official state high school champions in 30 different sports. The 16-member FHSAA Board of Directors is the executive authority of the Association.

Contact for media:

Corey Sobers
Public Relations Specialist, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 x 350
csobers [at] fhsaa [dot] org