MIAA Rules

I am a parent of a freshman, trying to make sense of the MIAA rules. I looked at the MIAA site and wasn't clear about the potential violations. My kid's AD made it appear that things will be more strict this year than ever before. I know of older students that played a spring or winter sport, while playing on a club soccer team. I understand an athlete cannot miss a high school event or game or practice to go to a non school event. Any hints or advice is appreciated.

Re: MIAA Rules

Sadly the biggest bit of advice is don't say much about your extracurriculars, and when in doubt lie about why junior is missing a practice. Being forthright and open, unfortunately, can only bite your kid.

[offside]

Re: MIAA Rules

Search the website. This has been discussed at length.

Basically, comes down to how stringently the school AD wants to penalize kids. A strict interpretation of the bona fide player rule would knock many dual sport and upper level athletes off HS teams.

Most HS's and coaches don't take the hardest line possible.

Re: MIAA Rules

It really doesn't matter what your coach or AD thinks, it matters what the opponents think.

Re: MIAA Rules

The MIAA orries about this while thinking it is ok to allow a 20 year old to play against 14 year olds. Go figure!!

Re: MIAA Rules

Sadly the biggest bit of advice is don't say much about your extracurriculars, and when in doubt lie about why junior is missing a practice. Being forthright and open, unfortunately, can only bite your kid.

The difficulty with lying is that if you're caught by an opponent and it is reported, the whole team suffers - games are forfeited, etc.

Whatever you do with your own kid - don't forget there are others that will be hurt. If that doesn't matter - then imagine how well your kid will be received by teammates at school.

Re: MIAA Rules

Sadly the biggest bit of advice is don't say much about your extracurriculars, and when in doubt lie about why junior is missing a practice. Being forthright and open, unfortunately, can only bite your kid.

The difficulty with lying is that if you're caught by an opponent and it is reported, the whole team suffers - games are forfeited, etc.

Whatever you do with your own kid - don't forget there are others that will be hurt. If that doesn't matter - then imagine how well your kid will be received by teammates at school.

THATS WHY WE SHOULD LET THE TOWN PLAYERS PLAY HIGH SCHOOL, DON'T GIVE US ALL THE CRAP ABOUT HOW IT AFFECTS EVERYONE ELSE. ITS EARLY BUT I BET YOU CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO THE WATER COOLER.

Re: MIAA Rules

Sadly the biggest bit of advice is don't say much about your extracurriculars, and when in doubt lie about why junior is missing a practice. Being forthright and open, unfortunately, can only bite your kid.

The difficulty with lying is that if you're caught by an opponent and it is reported, the whole team suffers - games are forfeited, etc.

Whatever you do with your own kid - don't forget there are others that will be hurt. If that doesn't matter - then imagine how well your kid will be received by teammates at school.

THATS WHY WE SHOULD LET THE TOWN PLAYERS PLAY HIGH SCHOOL, DON'T GIVE US ALL THE CRAP ABOUT HOW IT AFFECTS EVERYONE ELSE. ITS EARLY BUT I BET YOU CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO THE WATER COOLER.

What is your point? Or were you just happy to find out you could lock in the caps key.

Re: MIAA Rules

My son played HS varsity last season as a freshman while still playing U14 MAPLE. We discussed the "bona fide" rule with both coaches and had no problems. HS had occasional Sunday practices (light workout and blackboard session before Monday games) and they were all scheduled for late afternoon/evening (we have lights on our field) and we had enough time to make it back from our away MAPLE games. Club coach supported him and did not require him to attend every practice; his assistant was a HS coach himself and understood the rule very well, so there was no surprise. Our club practice location is over an hour travel for several kids and they scheduled late (again we have the luxury of lights) to let the traffic abate anyway, he was able to make nearly every club practice, although we were occasionally a little late. It worked out fine - the only problem was avoiding the temptation to "fast food" on the way back home! And it made my kid be VERY good about managing his time and homework (he's that kid in the back of study hall, head down, getting his work done and hurried home every day to study before practice(s). Made honor roll and had 0 days absent. We were even able to make it to 3 or 4 Revs games as well, although he does admit he did miss TV!

I don't mean to brag on him, just to point out that it can work out fine - I suggest that you discuss your situation, first with your kid and then with your coaches. If you have the right kid and a good club, it can work out fine - he never played better soccer (despite the fact that the two teams played very different styles, as you might imagine) and it was great for his fitness (probably averaged 10-12 hrs/week practice). As I said, it was a great time management lesson as well, which stood him in good steed all year. He had no problems with "overuse" injuries, but was sidelined from both teams for about a week (kicked in the thigh in a HS game).

You might want to look at getting one of those "car desks" (they have them in Staples catalog) salesepeople use, if you're going to do homework in the car while traveling or waiting for stuff to start - it makes it easier to keep the stuff organized and clean (he didn't do this much though, discovered that reading in motion made him queasy).

It may not work in your situation - one of his friends (also U14 but a different club) was offered a Varsity spot, but his club coach said that he would be cut from their first team if he played HS and they would keep him as a practice player only - but that was a good life lesson as well! They agonized over it, gave the kid his choice, and he picked Club.

Last bit of advice - read the actual rule in the MIAA bluebook, there are a lot of misunderstandings, as it was changed (as a result of litigation) a couple of years ago and the probhibitation of "two events" in a day was removed, the requirement is that the HS player fully participate in ALL team activities (and in only one HS sport per season). I think the intent (at least as rewritten) is to keep the unscrupulous from bringing in ringers only for "key" games (which, I think, is a legitimate scope of concern for the MIAA); the rule is an improvement over the old version.

Anyway, that's my two cents - good luck with your season!

Re: MIAA Rules

I see the AB forward and the sisters from WH will be away at National Camp next week preparing for the world cup in November. How does MIAA allow these players to miss a week of HS training and games. Seems very unfair, one rule for one and one for another comes to mind.

Re: MIAA Rules

Where did you see this?

Maybe the players applied for and received a waiver from MIAA?

Re: MIAA Rules

I see the AB forward and the sisters from WH will be away at National Camp next week preparing for the world cup in November. How does MIAA allow these players to miss a week of HS training and games. Seems very unfair, one rule for one and one for another comes to mind.

Remember a couple of years ago Caldwell from Braintree had to make a decision between playing in the state final versus Minnechaug or going to the National Team Camp. Just a tough decision for kids to make.

Re: MIAA Rules

Is Susy's daughter now in the U17 National pool?

Re: MIAA Rules

Is *olive*'s daughter now in the U17 National pool?

Yes

Re: MIAA Rules

Congrats to her and her mom!