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With all the high school age teams that are in need of girls at this late date, how do they add players to their team and not violate the no contact rule set by OHSAA?
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If I am not mistaken, and I could be, the rule only applies to the high school coach and his staff, not the travel ball coach. The travel ball coach is free to contact them at will. However, there may be other issues, depending on the number of girls on that team from the same school, etc.
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Well maybe I have the wrong rule but I didn't think high school players were not allowed to have contact with teams outside high school during the high school season?
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Semp..., you are correct, but the season does not begin until the first organized scrimmage (or something like that, I don't remember the exact verbage).
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They're not officially on a roster until they play in a preview, scrimmage or game. Whichever comes first.
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The rule is, once the season begins, there cannot be "participation" with the non-interscholastic team. "Participation" is defined as follows:
"4. Non-Interscholastic Participation
4.1) A member of an interscholastic 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 governing board shall
not participate in a non-interscholastic program (tryouts, practice of [sic] contest) as an individual or as a member of
a team in the sport of softball during the school’s season (Sports Regulation 4.3)
...
4.24) Non-interscholastic participation includes tryouts, training, practice and competition."
I believe that the rule means that physical participation with the non-interscholastic team in matters requiring physical performance of the sport of softball is prohibited. I do not believe that signing up to be a member of the non-interscholastic team violates the reg. The team that is advertising the position can't put the desired player through a tryout, but as far as other "contacts", the ohsaa code and regs clearly distinguish between "participation" and "contacts". There is no "no-contact" period for tb coaches who haren't hs coaches. Those tb coaches say hi to their players, congratulate them on their hs successes, poll families and players as to summer ball schedules, notify families and players about upcoming opportunites (for instance, the NFCA recruiting camps), and do many other things to get ready for the coming tb season (I would strongly argue, for example, that if a tb team got together during the hs season to try on sizers for tb uniforms and/or to set the best day for practices during the summer, there has been no violation of this rule). We just can't put the player though a physical tryout, training regime, or practice; nor can the non-interscholastic team participate as a team in any game or scrimmage.
If a tb coach advertises an opening during hs and a player responds with interest, I believe that the coach and the player can exchange information that results in a player being a member of the team for the upcoming tb season.
But yes, in light of some past interpretations of ohsaa regulations, you would probably want to run it by the ohsaa people, assuming that they will respond to you. And yes, out of an abundance of caution, Buckeye Heat 95 is holding its sizing party and addressing other administrative matters before pitchers and catchers report to the hs coaches.
"4. Non-Interscholastic Participation
4.1) A member of an interscholastic 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 governing board shall
not participate in a non-interscholastic program (tryouts, practice of [sic] contest) as an individual or as a member of
a team in the sport of softball during the school’s season (Sports Regulation 4.3)
...
4.24) Non-interscholastic participation includes tryouts, training, practice and competition."
I believe that the rule means that physical participation with the non-interscholastic team in matters requiring physical performance of the sport of softball is prohibited. I do not believe that signing up to be a member of the non-interscholastic team violates the reg. The team that is advertising the position can't put the desired player through a tryout, but as far as other "contacts", the ohsaa code and regs clearly distinguish between "participation" and "contacts". There is no "no-contact" period for tb coaches who haren't hs coaches. Those tb coaches say hi to their players, congratulate them on their hs successes, poll families and players as to summer ball schedules, notify families and players about upcoming opportunites (for instance, the NFCA recruiting camps), and do many other things to get ready for the coming tb season (I would strongly argue, for example, that if a tb team got together during the hs season to try on sizers for tb uniforms and/or to set the best day for practices during the summer, there has been no violation of this rule). We just can't put the player though a physical tryout, training regime, or practice; nor can the non-interscholastic team participate as a team in any game or scrimmage.
If a tb coach advertises an opening during hs and a player responds with interest, I believe that the coach and the player can exchange information that results in a player being a member of the team for the upcoming tb season.
But yes, in light of some past interpretations of ohsaa regulations, you would probably want to run it by the ohsaa people, assuming that they will respond to you. And yes, out of an abundance of caution, Buckeye Heat 95 is holding its sizing party and addressing other administrative matters before pitchers and catchers report to the hs coaches.
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From what the rules say you have until maybe around the 2nd week in March, when most scrimmages are scheduled, to get tryouts in. What about this, If after 1st scrimmage or whatever sometime down the road during HS season could you be able to run a defesive skill clinic, and then a offensive skill clinic?;& Anybody got any answers out there in OFC land?
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I have heard these stories so many times I don't think even OHSAA knows their own rules. I want my dd to continue with her hitting program during the season but I am afraid of a rules violation. Supposedly as long as there is no more than two girls from the tb team taking the lessons than it is ok. But again, who knows the real answer and how is OHSAA going to interpret it.
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I thought it was ok as long as there ws less than 4 girls from the same hs on the same tb team?? I'm glad that I don't have to worry about tis yet. Oldest, a freshman, chooses not to play travel.
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A travel coach can talk to their players during the season, they can add players, he can talk to the kids parents...Its not a no contact rule, its a no participation rule. They cant participate in practices or games with their travel team.
Its a non issue regarding contact for Travel coaches.
Its a non issue regarding contact for Travel coaches.
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I suppose whoever you happen to call at OHSAA and exactly how you ask the question, you may get a different answer but my interpretation is that girls are not allowed to practice, tryout or play games with their travel teams once they are scrimmaging or playing in high school games. Most travel organizations, to be safe, cut off all such activities once practices start here at the end of February. Agree with cgs that a travel coach could still talk to prospective players during this time, but could not try them out, and I wouldn't take a chance of such a discussion/meeting causing the player to miss a school activity of any sort. It could be a little trickier re: lessons, I guess. It would certainly be dangerous to be taking lessons with anyone associated with your travel organization or more than one girl at a time, nor would I take the chance of missing a school activity due to an outside lesson.
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That sums it up best. We can contact the parents and update them with our teams events. We can actually keep track on how they are doing with high school ball and watch them, but you can not instruct or coach them in any fashion.
Even if you go to watch one of their games and they ask a question (hitting,fielding,ect...) you can not answer or instruct.
I will catch some of my freshman girls games this spring (if possible) as long as they dont play the same time as my daughters games.
No coaching at all for my 9th graders after Feb.21st.
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Some times travel ball coaches will go to the players high school game and watch them there.
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I disagree. If you answer an individual player's questions about what she is doing or how she could improve, IMHO that player is not "participating" in a non-interscholastic program. What is "programmatic" about those questions?
But as I have stated in other threads on this particular portion of the softball regs for hs, the regs could have been drafted much better.
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No your right, if your a travel coach and happen to be a pitching guru and tell your player after the game why she was struggling the pitcher isn't in violation. You can give advice, how many high school kids do you think through the course of a season go see their pitching or hitting coach? A ton do...that's not what the rule is designed to stop.
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I was told different from a couple others on this matter. I stand corrected then on that one part,thanks!
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So if you need a player, you will need to sign them without having them tryout in front of you!
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Sorry to here that, it is a big mistake because very few high school coaches will get you seen by colleges.
The tryout becomes a high school game or two. As a coach you go to their High School game or two and watch them play. It is best to do it when they do not know you are there to watch them, that is the best kind of tryout you can do as it is a real game play.
