Florida Is Very Close To Granting Free Agency To High School Athletes
Bob Cook
http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobcook/.../#33276a8b1f2b
For at least four years, Florida legislators have tried to pass a law that essentially let high school athletes become free agents, free to move from school to school to find their most desirable athletic situation. Now they’re a governor’s signature away from succeeding.
As part of a sweeping school-choice bill that includes near-free agency for any Florida student, allowing any child living anywhere in the state to enroll at any school in the state as long as that school has room, high school athletes can transfer schools and play sports without having to sit out a year or otherwise face any penalty. In fact, athletes could transfer schools within the same academic year and still be able to play — so they could play football at one school in the fall, basketball at another in the winter, and run track at a third in the spring.
The bill doesn’t allow total free agency. A student can’t transfer schools to play the same sport during the same school year unless they meet one a few exceptions, such a move because of a parent who is active-duty in the military. Also, schools cannot recruit athletes, and they must set eligibility policies for student-athletes.
The issue of athletic transfers has been around about as long as high school sports, but it’s become more difficult for state high school athletic associations to police in light of growing school-choice movements that tell parents it’s their right to put their kid in the school they want for any reason. The “no recruiting” part of the bill is a sop to athletic directors that their peers aren’t trying to steal athletes away, but parents, guardians and others working on young athlete’s behalf are savvy or egotistical enough to contact schools themselves, without any recruiting necessary.
As you might expect, high school athletic directors are not thrilled with this Florida bill, which Gov. Rick Scott has until April 14 to sign. From the Miami Herald:
Bob Cook
http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobcook/.../#33276a8b1f2b
For at least four years, Florida legislators have tried to pass a law that essentially let high school athletes become free agents, free to move from school to school to find their most desirable athletic situation. Now they’re a governor’s signature away from succeeding.
As part of a sweeping school-choice bill that includes near-free agency for any Florida student, allowing any child living anywhere in the state to enroll at any school in the state as long as that school has room, high school athletes can transfer schools and play sports without having to sit out a year or otherwise face any penalty. In fact, athletes could transfer schools within the same academic year and still be able to play — so they could play football at one school in the fall, basketball at another in the winter, and run track at a third in the spring.
The bill doesn’t allow total free agency. A student can’t transfer schools to play the same sport during the same school year unless they meet one a few exceptions, such a move because of a parent who is active-duty in the military. Also, schools cannot recruit athletes, and they must set eligibility policies for student-athletes.
The issue of athletic transfers has been around about as long as high school sports, but it’s become more difficult for state high school athletic associations to police in light of growing school-choice movements that tell parents it’s their right to put their kid in the school they want for any reason. The “no recruiting” part of the bill is a sop to athletic directors that their peers aren’t trying to steal athletes away, but parents, guardians and others working on young athlete’s behalf are savvy or egotistical enough to contact schools themselves, without any recruiting necessary.
As you might expect, high school athletic directors are not thrilled with this Florida bill, which Gov. Rick Scott has until April 14 to sign. From the Miami Herald:
If Scott signs the bill, the high school athletics provisions would take effect July 1. The open-enrollment aspect — which would allow students to attend schools across district lines — wouldn’t take effect until the 2017-18 school year. [NOTE: Yes, athletes get to move more freely, earlier, than other students.] …
“As long as you can get a transfer, there’s still going to be free agency,” said Cheryl Golden, executive secretary of the Greater Miami Athletic Conference. “The implications are vast.”
For instance, Golden said she fears student-athletes who transfer frequently might lose track of their academic progress and jeopardize their high school graduation, or that average athletes could be squeezed out from playing in their neighborhood schools by star players looking to shine at top-tier programs.
“As long as you can get a transfer, there’s still going to be free agency,” said Cheryl Golden, executive secretary of the Greater Miami Athletic Conference. “The implications are vast.”
For instance, Golden said she fears student-athletes who transfer frequently might lose track of their academic progress and jeopardize their high school graduation, or that average athletes could be squeezed out from playing in their neighborhood schools by star players looking to shine at top-tier programs.
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