Is this Permitted?

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A high school team that was eliminated from tournament competition is still practicing the underclassmen. This, according to OHSAA rules, is legal, as the team can stay together until June 9th. My questions are, are the girls released for travel if the team is just practicing?
Can this be used for "evaluations" (a way around calling them tryouts) for 2008?
Can middle school players be permitted to practice with the team, since the coach wants them together for "evaluation", high school summer season, etc.?

A random call to OHSAA gave me these answers - Tryouts for 2008 are only permitted during the timeframe stated for 2008 softball season (you cannot stop a coach from forming an opinion, but the coach may not use that against a girl not wanting to be evaluated during that time-right....)
If middle school players are involved, they can lose eligibility for the high school season, they are not permitted to take part in activities - it this is so called extension of 2007 season - sounds like a Pandoras Box?

My problem, a coach making it mandatory to continue these practices after June 9th, and using roster spots for 2008 as reasons to be there - the players are told high school is the priority, travel is secondary. My response: "high school coach needs to learn definition of "tryouts" and "in season"."
I recommend a call to OHSAA, as they are more than willing to interpet the rules in laymens terms for full understanding!!!

 

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Actually surprised they took the call given their phone policy:

OHSAA Phone Policy

Attention Member School Administrators, Parents and Students:
PLEASE NOTE NEW OHSAA POLICY​

As of November 15, 2005, the Ohio High School Athletic Association administrative staff will no longer take telephone calls from parents and students about eligibility and other OHSAA regulations.

REASON FOR THE POLICY: The OHSAA needs your help in addressing a serious problem.
The OHSAA staff receives hundreds of telephone calls and e-mails every week from our member schools. Because the OHSAA exists to serve those schools, responding to their inquiries must be our top priority. The large volume of calls from parents and students is dramatically affecting our ability to serve our member schools.

SOLUTION FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS: School principals or athletic administrators have always been the first and preferred contact resource for parents and students. This OHSAA policy reinforces school personnel as the source to whom parents and students must direct their questions.

As always, if a school administrator needs assistance in answering a question, they will contact an OHSAA administrator for a "final answer" and then pass it along to the parent or student.

The OHSAA understands that parent and student questions are important. We thank you for your understanding and for supporting our commitment to high quality service directly to our member schools and, through the schools, to parents and students. This approach will ultimately be best for everyone involved.

As to the other, as long as the coach wants to make them mandatory practices (up to June 9th), there isn't much that can be done, but then, as you note, he can't include the MS players, and they technically can't be used to determine positions for next year. If he wants to make it an optional open field situation, then he could probably include the MS, but would have to refrain from actually coaching...

 

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if the high school is still practicing, are the players not allowed to play travel softball???
someone should alert the kids to this as this can mess with eligibilty.

 

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I'm confident then that over 80% of the high school coaches could do this for the entire season as they aren't coaching! ;D

Keep travel season for travel, high school season for high school! Travel coaches respect the high school, and groom the players for feathers in the caps of the high school coaches, so lay off during the travel season!

 

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Tell the h.s. coach your DD going over to track next year and watch him change his tune! ;D I know they would say don't let the door hit you on the way out. and threats never work, but if I had the choice for my DD, H.S. ball would be dropped if the coach said no travel play until June 9th

 

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if the high school is still practicing, are the players not allowed to play travel softball???
someone should alert the kids to this as this can mess with eligibilty.

Since the HS is only permitted to practice in season, if the HS is practicing, and not just holding an "open gym/field" then the players are not permitted to participate with their travel teams.

 

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Regardles of the politics some high school coaches (not all) will wave in your face, there is really no benefit for the athlete (which is what sports are for) to practice with the high school team beyond the point that the varsity team is eliminated. This includes freshman, JV and varsity. The season is OVER until next year, regardless of some coach using a technicality for their own benefit. The few practices or scrimmages the teams may get in will be WAY below the quality of play most of the travel players will face with their travel team. IMO, a coach using this tactic is only tryng to prove a point with someone, and doesn't have his athlete's best interest in mind.

DD's high school coach was reasonable - as soon as varsity was done, the season (except for awards, etc.) was finished, and all players were released. DD and coach had a mutual respect, which would have been difficult to achieve with a coach with an axe to grind.

I like the running track option, though. A softball team with a jerk for a coach deserves to lose quality athletes to another sport - one that will benefit them in the long run. Besides, college bound girls may actually benefit more from the conditioning running track provides. Don't drop softball to spite the coach, but do it for your own benefit. As long as there is a good relationship with the coach, though, I strongly recommend sticking with the softball.