Two new legislative bills proposing changes to athletic
eligibility for transfer students have the CCS up in arms
Morgan Hill – Earlier this year two legislative bills regarding a high school student’s athletic eligibility were introduced, one in the Senate and one in the Assembly, inciting the California Interscholastic Federation and the Central Coast Section to rally support against the proposed legislation.
Senate Bill 1411, introduced by Sen. Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento and Assembly Bill 2312, introduced by Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, R-Moorpark, would create an atmosphere of free agency among high school athletes, allowing the students to transfer midseason or just before the playoffs to play on another team.
Although similar in premise, the Senate Bill allows for a one-time free pass transfer with the student retaining their athletic eligibility, while the Assembly Bill would allow an unlimited amount of transfers for a student with the student retaining his or her athletic eligibility.
“The way that the legislation is written would create ample and increased shopping of schools,” said Steve Stearns, the CCS assistant commissioner. “Kids could be jumping back and forth. The CCS and CIF would have no control if this legislation goes through.”
Currently the CIF and CCS have rules that require athletes to sit out one year if they transfer. Unrestricted transfers are allowed when students’ addresses change or they can prove hardships.
The new proposed legislation require the CIF or CCS to allow an athlete to retain his or her athletic eligibility, despite time and reason for transfer, unless the reason is disciplinary, leaving it up to the CIF and CCS to challenge if they think an athlete is transferring for recruiting purposes.
According to Stearns the CCS was told the legislation came about because a young lady in Sacramento transferred schools and was denied athletic eligibility following the transfer. Her father happened to be a lobbyist and a friend of Sen. Ortiz and asked that she carry the transfer bill.
“There are those out there that feel the rich would become richer and the poor would become poorer as far as athletics are concerned,” said Stearns. “Most studies find that high school athletes participate in sports because it’s fun. This definitely may tip the scales of competitive equity.”
The legislation would create a blanket rule for California’s interscholastic athletic associations, in which now each section operates under their own power.
“Basically it’s a situation where the California legislature has given the CCS power to govern athletics, but now wants there to be one standing rule for the entire state,” said Stearns. “It doesn’t work on a state-wide basis, what works here won’t work in L.A. or elsewhere. Each section knows what best for its schools, teams and athletes. The problem is a matter of once you make something state law, it’s virtually impossible to change.”
A hearing on Senate Bill 1411 was originally scheduled for April 5, but has been held over to April 15. The CIF and CCS is urging concerned persons to contact their senators through letters.
“I have no idea why the date was changed, but it does give us more time to rally our troops. It also gives them more time,” said Stearns. “We already have something in place and the state and CIF commissioner are trying to come up with a statewide standard. We don’t know what’s going to happen. We’re administrative, so we do what we’re told.”
Sen. Ortiz and Assemblywoman Strickland both told the Sacramento Bee that the burden the bills would put the burden of proof on the CIF and individual schools to find if a student athlete should not be eligible for athletics due to recruiting. Ortiz also stated that there were other reasons aside from shopping for an athletic advantage to transfer schools.
“There are good rules in place now that keep it in check,” said Mark Cummins, Live Oak athletic director and baseball coach. “There needs to be some type of structure and rule in place. It this (legislation) goes through, it’s open season. I think it sends the wrong message to kids. Athletics aren’t the reason why kids are at school.”
