Is OHSAA trying to pull a fast one?

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When reading the bylaws - it looks as though OSHAA is trying to prevent players from participating in travel ball until JUNE 13th!

Here are the softball bylaws. Read them and let me know what you come up with.

4) Non-Interscholastic Participation

4.1) A member of an interscholastic fast pitch softball squad (any student who has played
in a scrimmage, preview or regular season/tournament game as a substitute or
starter) sponsored by the Board of Education or other governing board shall not participate
in a non-interscholastic program (tryouts, practice or contest) as an individual or as a member
of a team in the sport of fast pitch softball during the school's season (Bylaw 10-3-1).

now futher on down we have this bylaw...

B. SPECIFIC REGULATIONS? Grades 9-12
1) Coaching and instruction may begin? March 9, 2009.
NOTE: Pitching and catching candidates may begin throwing with pitching instruction
two weeks prior to this starting date? February 23, 2009.
2) First game- March 30, 2009.
3) Deadline date for OHSAA Tournament?April 27, 2009.
4) Tournament seed/drawing meeting? May 3, 2009.
5) Coaching and Season ends June 13, 2009.

According to the way the rules read, it appears as though OHSAA can mandate no travel ball until after June 13th.

This would send wreck havoc with the early tournaments if this was the case. Does anyone have any inside information?

 

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I would hope the June 13th date would apply only to those kids still playing in the State tournament. As long as the coach releases his players when they get bounce from the tournament I would think their schools season is considered over. Who knows about OHSAA though

 

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Johnnies,

Is there something in the rulebook about being released from your coach? I would have to agree with Ringer that the coach should be able to release the kid if you have been eliminated from the tournaments and your regular season games are over. OHSAA is just being silly if not.

marie

 

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Johnnies,

I'm sure you read it, but section 4.3 covers it.

4.3) A student may not play in a non-interscholastic fast pitch softball contest, game or
scrimmage, while a member of the school fast pitch softball squad, until the
student?s school team has completed its schedule. This includes tournaments when
applicable.

Can't get any clearer than that.

 

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Its OHSAA things are never clear. My guess is that it is not an either or situatuation but could potentially be adminstered by the coach as they see fit and hopefully the way that supports the student athlete. By that I mean if the team is done the player is good to move on their way.

 

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Only a matter of time before group of people says enough already and coaches come up with their own league with their own awards and recognition. It only takes time. Heck then the schools can keep their own revenues for the championships and regional type games vs sharing with OHSAA.

What do they really bring to the table? Umps? No schools pay that, field use, no schools do that, schedules? no schools do that, letters for Jackets? No Boosters at schools pay for those, Oh a Plaque that's $35.00 or a trophy that is less.....

What do they actually bring???

 

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We have had this effect our local girls , since our high school plays late each year . From what our AD has told us. Our girls are ok to play travel ball when 1. Our high school team's season is over. 2. That the high school coach has told them they will not play varsity ball. Example they are on JV and the high school is going to play in the Regional and they are not pulled up to the varsity. This effects mainly the 14U teams who have freshman and who are playing JV ball. Now with JR high school teams some 14U can't play early at all. We had a few girls last year that could not play or practice early last year, because of 8'th grade softball.

 

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Is there a rule in the OHSAA that says if a player can do or not do 2 sports at the same time i.e. High School Track and High School Softball ?

 

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No, just same sport in season they can't do....

 

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Johnnies was in the Ballpark, but missed one:

4.3) A student may not play in a non-interscholastic fast pitch softball contest, game or scrimmage, while a member of the school fast pitch softball squad, until the
student’s school team has completed its schedule. This includes tournaments when
applicable.

 

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Correct if I'm wrong. Example, regular season ends and team loses in tournament and by all appearances season is at an end, but coach informs players that there will be 2 weeks of practices and a scrimmage. Does this mean then season has not ended til coach says so?

 

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Technically the High School Season is over once the Team has been eliminated and can no longer advance any further in the Tournament.

 

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Technically, I believe, that is correct. The season is not over until the coach dismisses you. You could still have games after you are put out of the tournament. All of this because of the great weather we have here in the spring, you could still have make up games.

 

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The season-ending date has been in the bylaws for as long as I can remember. I have given it a lot of thought over the last several years, along with Bylaw 4.3. I think the two are inconsistent and the OHSAA probably never realized it. A general rule for interpreting two laws that are inconsistent is to yield to the one that is more specific.

In this instance, Bylaw 4.3 is more specific and is self-contained, while 4.1 requires a separate reading of the Specific Regulations to have any meaning. Further, 4.1 says players can't play non-interscholastic during the "school's season", while the Specific Regulations just mention that "coaching and season" end on June 12. The terms "school's season" in 4.1 and "season" in the Specific Regulations have two different meanings. "Season" in the Specific Regulations means only that June 12 is the last possible date for coaching and a team's season. It is a general definition of season. In 4.3, "school's season" means just that, a specific school's season.

No gray area exists in 4.3 where it talks about players being released when their team's season ends. And yes, a coach could always schedule a game on June 12 and hold the players until then. I used to joke with my players about doing that and practicing every day from the time we were knocked out of the tournament all the way until June 12 or whichever date it was that year. Of course I never did it since I wanted them joining their travel teams, but it would give most school teams about an entire month of practice in decent weather.

 

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The season-ending date has been in the bylaws for as long as I can remember. I have given it a lot of thought over the last several years, along with Bylaw 4.3. I think the two are inconsistent and the OHSAA probably never realized it. A general rule for interpreting two laws that are inconsistent is to yield to the one that is more specific.

Joe, that is logical but we are talking about OHSAA. ;& I am inclined to believe that they will choose the way they want to interpret their rules. Conflicting rules allows for two convenient choices

 

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Johnnies:

(1) the practice of playing travel ball after the specific school is done with its specific schedule has been going on for as long as I've known anything about Ohio high school ball and (2) the language in place today is the same language in place during previous years. These two facts should mean that the OHSAA would be barred (by an equitable concept known as laches) from suddenly asserting that a particular player has violated the OHSAA rule when she begins to play travel ball as soon as her school's schedule is completed. And yes, I share your concerns about it being OHSAA, but my bottom line is I have no hesitation about entering our girls in a travel league tournament once their school season is over.