A New Simplified Transfer Rule - "No Playoffs for Transfers"?
Apparently the OHSAA Commissioner has recently heard about the suggestion to limit transfers that was brought up here a few years ago. The new simplified rule would be that transfers would be eligible for all regular season games and would be ineligible for all playoff games for one year. No exceptions, no lawsuits, and no fuss. Everyone treated the same and athletic transfers do not tip the scales for their new teams.
I know that some will call this a "punishment". I strongly disagree with that. Athletic participation is an extension of the academic process. Allowing a kid to play a full regular season would give him/her the academic side of sports that we all agree is a great part of school. But would take away the temptation to transfer schools for athletic reasons only. A punishment would be to stop a kid from playing the sport that he/she loves. A full regular season gives them that chance to compete.
The playoffs are the culmination of a season and finding out which school is best. Unfortunately, kids will play on poor teams and be unable to advance past the first round. That is not a punishment. Kids will sit on the bench and not play because their coach feels there are better players. That is not a punishment. Kids will be in the student section because they couldn't make the team. That is not a punishment. Kids will not have the grades to participate. That is not a punishment.
The playoffs are a reward. We need to stop looking at it like it is an entitlement.
So what do you think?
**Commissioner Ross, if you are reading this, I would like the new rule to be called the "Yappi Rule" to properly attribute it to it's origin**
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