My son won't be wrestling next year

 
That SUCKS

That sucks......it's a shame that the OHSAA isn't identifying that this is a problem. Many areas both rural and urban areas, unfortunately I don't think we have seen the last of this ugly situation.

With this economy they (OHSAA) should re-visit some of these rules that will prevent kids from being able to participate. I am sure that the spirit of these rules isn't being applied in this case. We know that the problem isn't going to go away......how many more kids will be victims before they change the rules. Who can afford to move? Who can sell their house?

In Ohio is there no rule that reads "if your high school eliminates aparticular sport you can compete for another school without moving"? There should be.....If the parent is willing to handle all logistics than they should be able to compete.

To the Super of The Toledo School System......Many college bound kids would not be bound at all if it weren't for atheletic scholorships.

But I guess you know that because you still have Basketball and Football.

Big Picture Big Guy

Good Luck To All The Athletes In The Toledo Area!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
This is BS! There should be exceptions to every rule considering the extreme and unusual circumstances. Keep fighting and questioning litl.
 
The problem for the OHSAA is that when you start creating an exception for one situation, the exception gets abused and you create a hornet's nest.

Certainly sympathy should be felt about the present situation, but the OHSAA is in a bind if they have determined it's in their best interest to police the movement of student-athletes in scholastic athletics (i.e. prevent situations that are in reality "free agency").
 
The problem for the OHSAA is that when you start creating an exception for one situation, the exception gets abused and you create a hornet's nest.

Certainly sympathy should be felt about the present situation, but the OHSAA is in a bind if they have determined it's in their best interest to police the movement of student-athletes in scholastic athletics (i.e. prevent situations that are in reality "free agency").

How does one abuse the my school dropped the sport "excuse"? It should read that you can transfer -- prior to first day of school -- but only participate in the sport that was dropped and you participated in the previous year. Seems clear cut to me.
 
I agree bhiatt. I'm surprised this hasn't been addressed in the past. I believe the current rule is the same as you stated, but only kicks in if the school drops all sports. Is this the first time a school (in this case schools) have dropped only a subset of it's sports to cut costs?

I've seen a single sport fizzle and die at a school due to lack of interest. I've seen all sports dropped. I've seen pay-to-play implemented. This may be unique and maybe should be looked at.
 
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How does one abuse the my school dropped the sport "excuse"? It should read that you can transfer -- prior to first day of school -- but only participate in the sport that was dropped and you participated in the previous year. Seems clear cut to me.

That's exactly my thoughts as well. "Free agency" can't be created if the rule states this particular situation. If your school drops your sport you should be able to transfer. However, the logistics of it would be on the parents/student. But, it is OHSAA, so logical thinking can't be the answer!
 
Correct me if I wrong, but weren't the Southwest City School District (Grove City, Central Crossing, Franklin Heights) student athletes allowed to transfer without penalty when sports were dropped there last year?
 
litlguysdad...Is there an open enrollment school in your area that is an option?

Dad4Sports...I think the SWCS athletes that transfered did so under the current rules. They either moved or switched to open enrollment Districts. They were, however, allowed to come back when the levy passed without penalty.
 
I think what's funny about the system is they forget they work for us (or should) we don't work for them. Hope it works out. I am a believer in making it happen.
 
OHSAA is the governing body for Ohio High School Athletics.....correct?

THIS IS A TIME FOR THEM TO GOVERN!!!!

Bucksman hit the nail on the head when he said these rules are to prevent "free agency". This is the theme for most states and has been a good rule. The abscence of this rule can create unbalanced competitition that leads many weaker schools to lose sports also.

This situation is different in the way that there is no "agency" here at all. No voice......No support.....No ruling......No explanation.......Sorry, No LUCK!!!!!!!

Does anyone know if open enrollment applies if a student/athlete has already entered their freshman year? Would the student/athlete have to sit out for one year anyway under the current rule?

I HOPE IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF EXCEPTIONS TO EVERY RULE WHEN THEY ARE NOT DESERVED.........I.E. LEGAL SYSTEM, POLITICS AND MEDIA, A BETTER SOLUTION THAN TOUGH LUCK IS CREATED. GOOD LUCK!!!!
 
You need to have a friend of wrestling lawyer file an injunction against the ohsaa from stopping you from competing upon a transfer to another school. Base it on the school districts cutting of particular sports does not creat equal oppurtunities and is fostered by the ohsaa rules. If the Viking d tackles can use band substances and get an injunction to allow them to not get suspended you should be a cake walk. Worst case a temporary injunction is passed and wrestling season is over before an appeal gets through.
 
OHSAA is the governing body for Ohio High School Athletics.....correct?

THIS IS A TIME FOR THEM TO GOVERN!!!!

Bucksman hit the nail on the head when he said these rules are to prevent "free agency". This is the theme for most states and has been a good rule. The abscence of this rule can create unbalanced competitition that leads many weaker schools to lose sports also.

Let's be realistic.

These rules and OHSAA have failed miserably in preventing "free agency" so why even have them? OHSAA seems to punish the "have nots" while the "haves" seem to easily skirt around the system and rule anyway. This kid seems to be getting screwed. OHSAA has not even come close to creating balanced competition. As St. Eds has won 13 out of the last 14 and Graham has won 12 straight state team titles.

If OHSAA was serious about a level playing field they would model themselves after the PIAA, which clarily has shown the ability to create a level playing field by STRONG ENFORCEMENT. The following is a list of the PA team champions since 1999:

Year Class Champion
1999......AAA........Bald Eagle Area ...........
1999........AA........Brookville ...................
2000......AAA........Northampton ............
2000........AA........Wyalusing Valley .........
2001......AAA........Easton .....................
2001........AA........Wilson......................
2002......AAA........Easton .....................
2002........AA........Wilson......................
2003......AAA........Easton .....................
2003........AA........Juniata.......................
2004......AAA........Easton .....................
2004........AA........Bloomsburg ................
2005......AAA........Connellsville ...............
2005........AA........Northern Lehigh ........
2006......AAA........Upper Perkiomen.........
2006........AA........Reynolds ..................
2007......AAA........Nazareth ..................
2007........AA........Reynolds ..................
2008......AAA........Central Dauphin ..........
2008........AA........Burrell .......................
2009......AAA........Central Dauphin...........
2009........AA........Shady Side................
2010......AAA........Central Mountain.........
2010........AA........Benton......................

Same national governing body..........draw your own conclusions.......
 
OHSAA is the governing body for Ohio High School Athletics.....correct?

THIS IS A TIME FOR THEM TO GOVERN!!!!

Bucksman hit the nail on the head when he said these rules are to prevent "free agency". This is the theme for most states and has been a good rule. The abscence of this rule can create unbalanced competitition that leads many weaker schools to lose sports also.

Let's be realistic.

These rules and OHSAA have failed miserably in preventing "free agency" so why even have them? OHSAA seems to punish the "have nots" while the "haves" seem to easily skirt around the system and rule anyway. This kid seems to be getting screwed. OHSAA has not even come close to creating balanced competition. As St. Eds has won 13 out of the last 14 and Graham has won 12 straight state team titles.

If OHSAA was serious about a level playing field they would model themselves after the PIAA, which clarily has shown the ability to create a level playing field by STRONG ENFORCEMENT. The following is a list of the PA team champions since 1999:

Year Class Champion
1999......AAA........Bald Eagle Area ...........
1999........AA........Brookville ...................
2000......AAA........Northampton ............
2000........AA........Wyalusing Valley .........
2001......AAA........Easton .....................
2001........AA........Wilson......................
2002......AAA........Easton .....................
2002........AA........Wilson......................
2003......AAA........Easton .....................
2003........AA........Juniata.......................
2004......AAA........Easton .....................
2004........AA........Bloomsburg ................
2005......AAA........Connellsville ...............
2005........AA........Northern Lehigh ........
2006......AAA........Upper Perkiomen.........
2006........AA........Reynolds ..................
2007......AAA........Nazareth ..................
2007........AA........Reynolds ..................
2008......AAA........Central Dauphin ..........
2008........AA........Burrell .......................
2009......AAA........Central Dauphin...........
2009........AA........Shady Side................
2010......AAA........Central Mountain.........
2010........AA........Benton......................

Same national governing body..........short of a great 4 year run by Easton, very "balanced" competition........draw your own conclusions.......
 
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litlguysdad...Is there an open enrollment school in your area that is an option?

Dad4Sports...I think the SWCS athletes that transfered did so under the current rules. They either moved or switched to open enrollment Districts. They were, however, allowed to come back when the levy passed without penalty.

OHSAA is not allowing us any options at this point.
 
Let's be realistic.

These rules and OHSAA have failed miserably in preventing "free agency" so why even have them? OHSAA seems to punish the "have nots" while the "haves" seem to easily skirt around the system and rule anyway. This kid seems to be getting screwed. OHSAA has not even come close to creating balanced competition. As St. Eds has won 13 out of the last 14 and Graham has won 12 straight state team titles.

If OHSAA was serious about a level playing field they would model themselves after the PIAA, which clarily has shown the ability to create a level playing field by STRONG ENFORCEMENT. The following is a list of the PA team champions since 1999:

Year Class Champion
1999......AAA........Bald Eagle Area ...........
1999........AA........Brookville ...................
2000......AAA........Northampton ............
2000........AA........Wyalusing Valley .........
2001......AAA........Easton .....................
2001........AA........Wilson......................
2002......AAA........Easton .....................
2002........AA........Wilson......................
2003......AAA........Easton .....................
2003........AA........Juniata.......................
2004......AAA........Easton .....................
2004........AA........Bloomsburg ................
2005......AAA........Connellsville ...............
2005........AA........Northern Lehigh ........
2006......AAA........Upper Perkiomen.........
2006........AA........Reynolds ..................
2007......AAA........Nazareth ..................
2007........AA........Reynolds ..................
2008......AAA........Central Dauphin ..........
2008........AA........Burrell .......................
2009......AAA........Central Dauphin...........
2009........AA........Shady Side................
2010......AAA........Central Mountain.........
2010........AA........Benton......................

Same national governing body..........draw your own conclusions.......
I just stated that I think the rule is a quality rule.......Obviously PA has done a good job in enforcing this rule. But, I think you stopped my statement a little to soon, the next line clearly stated that "free agency" is not an issue in this case.

Bottom line is why on earth would you stop a high school student athlete from competing if they are willing and able!
 
How does one abuse the my school dropped the sport "excuse"? It should read that you can transfer -- prior to first day of school -- but only participate in the sport that was dropped and you participated in the previous year. Seems clear cut to me.

stupid logic again......
 
When SWCS (Grove City and Southwestern Franklin County) cancelled all sports, students were allowed to open enroll at any district that would accept them or transfer to a private school without having to sit a year. OHSAA then allowed all students to transfer back to SWCS when sports were returned in time for wrestling season (however, the rules for transferring back were not made clear by OHSAA before practices started, so no one that I know of transferred back before the season started for winter sports).

You can always move as long as you move before the season starts, not before the beginning of the school year. You are probably too late to move for fall sports because practices have already started. You can also move your child (in with a relative or friend -- some districts require that you have an official legal guardian, some don't), but you generally need "reasons" for doing this beyond school attendance. This is what we did. I am also aware of families who had their children emancipated temporarily to allow them to live in other school districts. As long as they had "sponsors" (a person to pay "rent" to) and a job (to be "self supporting"), the courts didn't fight it. However, these students who "moved" out of the district were NOT eligible to move back until their one year agreement was fulfilled. Now that our year is up, I will not allow my son to move back to SWCS, so we'll put up with having the family kind of divided for one more year.

Talk to your high school's Athletic Directors as to what the specific rules are since they only cancelled some sports. If they don't know exactly what the rules are, then complain to the board of education. Don't be afraid to be a pain about this, because your school's AD is the only contact you as a parent are supposed to have with OHSAA.

I don't believe that OHSAA intends to hurt children because of the financial decisions of school administrators. However, their rules are difficult to interpret and they do a lousy job of communicating exceptions and changes. Make your ADs crazy! I'm sure the AD pay wasn't cut when half the job went away. Get answers that are clear and easy for you to understand and apply to your situation.

Also realize that wrestling is a 12 month a year sport and OHSAA only owns 1/4 of it. Granted, it is the most important three months, but there are always ways to get the attention of college coaches during off season competition. Its just expensive.

I feel for the students and families of the Toledo schools. This is not a good way to run a school district. When the economy tanks, we need to add activities for our students, not limit them even further.
 
Kbeck91,
I understand that free agency isn't in play here. My point was that if OHSAA is not going to enforce the rule (like PIAA), then let's not even have it because it is hurting innocent kids like the one described and failing at leveling the playing field anyway.
 
Ohio Blast,
I agree 100%..........it is obvious that Ohio is not doing a good job on the "free agaency" issue. So if the rules are only in place to protect these violations it is dissapointing that there are no safety nets for these kids.

If a school system knows and OHSAA knows that these particular sports are being terminated why are there NO options for the families. The students/athletes options should have been presented when they recieved the notice that their sports were being terminated. Most of us are not as fluent on OHSAA rules (or their interpretation anyway) as others.

Oh wait a minute, perhaps its all about "MONEY".........lose students lose funding from the state. Lose residents from your school district lose tax revenue. A great statement was posted on this thread earlier "who works for who".

:wallbang: :wallbang:
 
Hizzmother:

In response to your quote:


You can always move as long as you move before the season starts, not before the beginning of the school year. You are probably too late to move for fall sports because practices have already started. You can also move your child (in with a relative or friend -- some districts require that you have an official legal guardian, some don't), but you generally need "reasons" for doing this beyond school attendance. This is what we did. I am also aware of families who had their children emancipated temporarily to allow them to live in other school districts. As long as they had "sponsors" (a person to pay "rent" to) and a job (to be "self supporting"), the courts didn't fight it. However, these students who "moved" out of the district were NOT eligible to move back until their one year agreement was fulfilled. Now that our year is up, I will not allow my son to move back to SWCS, so we'll put up with having the family kind of divided for one more year.

I think you can move (ohsaa calls it bona fide change of address) and play a sport as long as you haven't participated in a game or scrimmage in the same sport at the school you are moving from. In the case of football, the practices officially start Aug 2, so a student could still move and play football at another school until the first game or scrimmage after Aug. 2. The way I read the rules, if the move is more than 50 miles, you can play even in the middle of the season.

I know I'm being picky, but after years of hearing people talk about the different age and eligibility rules, I started studying them so that I would know for myself. You have obviously been through this and done some studying also, so correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Thems the rules, but coaches have other plans.... By the time we got our court order, officially moved him, and got him enrolled, conditioning and two a days for football were over and the coaches told him he was too late for that year. I also know that some kids who were waiting on open enrollment spots who were concerned about being "too late" for football.
 
Does Ohio NOT allow an athlete in an individual sport to compete without the sponsorship of the school? I belived Carlton Haselrig of the 6 NCAA wrestling championships wrestled in HS varsity tournaments, paying his own way, and would go to sectionals, granted that was also Pennsylvania

Swiped this from Widipedia
Haselrig won back-to-back PIAA Pennsylvania state high school championships in 1984 and 1985 despite not wrestling during the regular season due Johnstown High's lack of a wrestling team
 
NCAAOHref-

The rules for the Sect/Dist/State tournament require that a wrestler be accompanied by a school board approved coach or authorized person. I don't know if there is a more direct statement somewhere or not.

There is also a rule to cease non-interscholastic athletic participation 6 weeks before the state tournament (2010-2011 Wrestling Rules).

To me, this implies that you could wrestle on your own during the season, but must be sponsored by the school for the state tournament.
 
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