Club Sports & Interscholastic Programs

Can they Co-Exist? TOM WELTER, OSAA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

JULY 2, 2015 – NEW ORLEANS

Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA)

291 Full Member Public (240) and Private (51) High Schools

Home School Students (1994)

108 Associate Member Schools

Oregon State Law – ORS 659.865

“Discrimination for Participation in ‘Olympic’ Sports is

prohibited.”

OSAA Concerns (1995)

Pressure from High School coaches to participate in year-round programs

Committee of Superintendents, Principals, AD’s & Coaches

Monthly meetings during 1996-97 school year

School district won large school volleyball championship for 11 consecutive years (1986-1996)

OSAA “Practice Limitation Rule” (1997)

Philosophy

Preface

Team Sport Limitation (“Rule of Two”)

Individual Sport Limitation

Open Facility / Conditioning

Impact of “Rule of Two”

1997 – Large schools in favor, small schools opposed

Removed HS coach from the scene and turned our athletes over to club coaches Created a cottage industry of club coaches who exploit HS athletes (and parents!)

2015 – Large schools opposed, small schools in favor

Survey at 2015 AD Conference: Eliminate “Rule of 2”? 118 – 87 (58% - 42%)

Where Do We Go From Here?

Discuss with Executive Board at summer workshop

Amend or delete current policy

Treat team/individual sports the same

Simple policy – “Dead” periods vs. Open Contact periods

Articles

“The Cult of Elite Competitive Sports” – Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star

“Why Kids Quit Sports” – Positive Coaching Alliance

“Don’t Turn Your Child Into a Sports Specialist” – Rick Wolff

Thank You!

Club Sports & Interscholastic Programs

Can they Co-Exist? MARK BYERS, PIAA CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

JULY 2, 2015 – NEW ORLEANS

Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA)

Public Schools (579); Private (140) & Charter (38) High Schools;

Charter/Cyber Charter School Students (2005-2006);

Home School Students (2006-2007).

In Order to Co-Exist – We Must Continue to Exist

Source: Athletic Business 2014

Identify Our Differences

Identify Our Differences

Identify Our Differences After the players had been introduced to the crowd and the last medal and trophy awarded, the Hillers’ players, standing shoulder to shoulder along the first-base line, faced the Trinity fans in the stands – most of them had waited out a 96-minute rain delay in the sixth inning and remained for the medals ceremony – and gave them something memorable. The players, holding hands raised high, sang the Trinity alma mater.

“We pledge our loyalty. Three cheers blue and white …”

Source: Observer Report - Washington, PA

Loyalty Clause

Prohibited Outside Participation During the Season;

School Principal Could Waive Provision;

Repealed following the 2004-2005 School Year following NFHS Legal Summit;

Most Pervasive Repealed Rule in PIAA.

Loyalty Clause – 10 Years Removed

Overall, only one percent of all players currently playing high school soccer are involved with the Development Academy.

We are only talking about a small percentage of elite players who have the goal of playing soccer at the highest levels. High School soccer will continue to make an important contribution to the soccer landscape in this country.”

Source: USSoccer.com 10-Month Season FAQ

Youth Participation Numbers

Source: Aspen Institute – Feb. 2015

NFHS Participation Numbers

Source: NFHS Participation Statistics

2008 1,002,385 730,106 996,341 478,029 1,108,286 371,293

2013 971,796 782,514 1,053,611 474,791 1,086,627 362,488

-3.05%

7.18% 5.75%

-0.67% -1.95%

-2.37%

Out-of-Season Rules

School can sponsor training programs, open gyms, clinics or camps;

Participation is Voluntary for both the students-athletes and coaches;

Coaches can have contact with their school students on non-affiliated teams;

In Order to Co-Exist – We Must Continue to Exist

High school is “book-ended” between youth and club sports on one end and college and professional athletics on the other end, all putting pressure on coaches and athletes to win at any cost.

Jody Redman Associate Director

Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL)

Thank You!