Sunday, June 25, 2000
HIGH SCHOOL INSIDER
OHSAA proposal would keep athletes from transferring
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The days of athletes freely transferring from one school to another without penalty may be numbered.
A committee, looking into revising the Ohio High School Athletic Association bylaws, will present proposals to the Board of Control at the July meeting, recommending sweeping changes.
“We receive numerous concerns and complaints every year related to student athlete transfers,” OHSAA commissioner Clair Muscaro said. “It's time to let the member schools decide.”
Under the proposal, athletes who transfer without their family moving into the new school district will not be eligible to participate in sports for one year from the date of registration.
“This is patterned after the NCAA's (college) rule,” Muscaro said. “A good example would be a college basketball player who transfers from Ohio State to Cincinnati. He or she would have to sit out one year.”
If passed by the principals of the member schools in a referendum, the rule would apply not only to public-school athletes but also to those attending private and parochial institutions.
“The school that the athlete enrolls in in the ninth grade will be the school of record,” Muscaro said. “If an athlete transfers from that school, they would be ineligible
for one year.”
A growing concern over the high number of foreign exchange students involved in athletics also was addressed by the committee in the form of a proposal.
“Under the proposal, if the parents don't move to the U.S. and the exchange student isn't legally adopted, they would be eligible for regular-season games but ineligible for the tournaments,” Muscaro said.
“I was given an e-mail this week, sent out by a foreign student basketball player, who was shopping for a school. This is a problem that all state athletic associations are facing throughout the U.S.”
Students who transfer to another school and secure a legal guardian appointed by the courts will remain eligible to participate in sports without sitting out a year. “I sent out a survey to all schools asking for a response only if they had athletes transfer last year,” Muscaro said. “There were 604 schools that responded.”
Another exception would be a district with multiple schools, such as Cincinnati. If the superintendent approved a transfer, the athlete would be exempt from the one-year suspension.
“I feel in my head that there have to be some changes,” Muscaro said. “If all goes well, the principals will have the opportunity to make changes through the referendum process.”
It appears likely that between five and 10 referendums will be voted on in October. Muscaro predicts some drastic changes will be approved.
COACHING CHANGE: Former Sycamore boys basketball coach Wally Vickers, who resigned following the 1996-97 season to take over at Hilliard Darby, is back in town.
Vickers has accepted the head boys basketball position at Indian Hill, replacing Dale Haarman, who stepped down after the 1999-2000 season.
COACHES NEEDED: Walnut Hills is looking for an assistant varsity volleyball coach, a junior varsity girls soccer coach and a junior varsity boys golf coach. Call Tim Mersch at 569-5540.
Anderson needs an assistant football coach. Call Randy Corbitt at 232-2772.
Batavia is looking for an assistant football coach. Call Jamie Correll or Dave Gibson at 732-2341 between 8a.m. and 3p.m. Monday through Friday.
Deer Park has the following openings: girls varsity tennis; junior varsity girls soccer and assistant girls varsity basketball. Call Mike Morgan at 891-0010.
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