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[truefan]

Originally Posted by raiderzrule

When your child brings the form home to fill out (the one that came with the physical form) Check it out. It should say something to the effect that while your child is playing for this particular high school, they are not allowed to play for another team until such high school is eliminated from district play. Some coaches don't enforce this rule. If the player is a sub in high school, most coaches will allow them to play. Pitchers are pretty much strictly prohibited by all coaches. Most starters usually will not be allowed to play either. There is such a thing as too much ball playing. This is not a rule that the coaches came up with. this came down from the VHSL.

There is no such rule from VHSL. As a matter of fact there is a rule to the contrary. From the VHSL Handbook...

28-11-1 INDEPENDENT TEAM RULE-Student responsibility for sports participation.
During the sports season for the relevant sport, a student may, while a member of a school
squad or team engaged in interscholastic sports become a member of or participate with
an organized team in the same sport which is independent of the school's control so long
as such participation does not conflict with the scheduled activities of the school squad or
team. No school or student shall be declared ineligible for participation in interscholastic
sports because of participation by a student as a member of an organized team in the same
sport which is independent of the school's control during the sports season for the relevant
sport.[/u][/b]

A coach cannot "forbid" a kid from playing travel ball. The coach can tell the player that they prefer they don't play but they cannot keep them from playing. If I remember correctly, a couple of years ago a certain baseball coach tried this and when the parents went to the VHSL about it there was a fine imposed by VHSL.

Hope this rule helps.

[Educator2]

There is much more to this rule. Check VHSL rule carefully, because there is a clause that states" travel games, benefit games, etc could be considered as number of games played. Best to get interpretation from VHSL representative, many team and players have been blindsided by misinterpretation of this rule. Recommendation

[jb1edlover]

" travel games, benefit games, etc could be considered as number of games played.

I'm going to assume that "travel games" would be considered games played by the school team... i.e. tournaments where travel is involved.... A team last year played in a pre-season tournament and almost exceeded the # of games allowed for a season. I'm pretty sure playing for the "Pilots" on a Saturday/Sunday wont count against "Bethel, Kecoughtan etc..." as far as games played in high school. This is another example of "copying", PART of a rule and it being taken out of context.

[Peninsula fan]

Originally Posted by Educator2

There is much more to this rule. Check VHSL rule carefully, because there is a clause that states" travel games, benefit games, etc could be considered as number of games played. Best to get interpretation from VHSL representative, many team and players have been blindsided by misinterpretation of this rule. Recommendation

Just a note: the VHSL cannot legally fine a coach for supposedly not allowing a kid to participate in another sport, nor can they fine the school. They can suggest to the school that maybe they should hire another coach. The legal issues this would entail would be large if they tried to apply a monetary fine. I truely think we are missing the point of these issues. High school ball in its season should and does carry more weight than travel ball which in most cases has no single season. This becomes part of the issue when there are not many rules to control the number of games played and the length of the seasons with AAU, ASA, USSA. The only ones who truely complain are the travel ball coaches. I don't blame high school coaches because they only have one time of year to compete and are highly restricted with number of games, days they can play, etc. In addition their games actually mean something during their season relative to competition. They don't have the luxury of playing every weekend in some meaningless tournament. If they lose certain players to injury because of travel ball their season may be over and the season of the other players as well. Very selfish in that sense, and that is also another problem.... The Team Concept! What affects one, affects all.
Whether you want to believe it or not High School teams keep records and those records matter in the long term scheme of things, especially in how you advance. Travel teams should enhance high school ball, not hinder it. AAU was designed originally as something for kids to do after their high school seasons in the first place, and especially for those who were not talented enough for their high school teams. Now its as the kids say "off the chain"!

[swoosh]

Originally Posted by jb1edlover

......I'm pretty sure playing for the "Pilots" on a Saturday/Sunday wont count against "Bethel, Kecoughtan etc....

HAHAHAHAAAAAAA....Pilots huh?