Each athlete at private schools should simply have to show copies of their paid checks that were deposited into the schools accounts. Show the trail of money where you paid the tuition and that ends the controversy. That would prove theres minimal chance of wrongdoing. If theres accounting by both the schools and the students for all tuition, there wouldn't be any financial eligibility issues. I just feel the khsaa is fearful to really look that deeply into the financials of the athletes for fear of what they'd find.

 

For example school tuition is $10,000. Show my checks totaling $7800, the abc family scholarship for $1200, $500 entry score prize money, and my $500 for scrubbing the johns 3x in July.

 

Show to who?

Show to who?

 

The Khsaa. They should have a file at each school on each athlete that's open to the Khsaa for review. It would end speculation of secrecy. Just my opinion.

The Khsaa. They should have a file at each school on each athlete that's open to the Khsaa for review. It would end speculation of secrecy. Just my opinion.

 

So how would the process work? KHSAA would have someone sign off on every private-school athlete each season? Or would they only do a check if a school like Crittenden County complained?

I don't 100% disagree with him. Schools like NewCath really have no business playing in the All A.

I guess I'm in the minority here because I can understand both sides.

 

I understand the side of the schools who give scholarships even if it is just academically or needs based etc. I also understand the side of the coach who is frustrated because he probably sees some good athletes he thought he was getting go elsewhere for whatever reason.

 

There will never be a fair playing field as long as there will

be differing rules by every school district as well

as different rules separating private and public and even independent schools. It is what it is.

 

There will never be a level playing field in KY any way you slice it.

I emailed Coach Hodge. Simply said I think he was making a mistake in not participating, sending out false information regarding private schools, and hurting his team with his beliefs. It was not confrontational. Simply asked him to reconsider.

 

He was very kind in his response even though I still disagree with his stance. I applaud him for taking the time to reply to some blowhard he does not know. He said he submitted the following to the All A tourney regarding the issue. Since he shared it with a stranger in an email I assume it's not a problem to list it here.

 

 

 

 

Crittenden County would like to propose a restriction on teams participating in the All A Classic.

Teams using athletes who receive financial assistance (scholarships) to attend their academic institution will not be allowed to participate in the All A Classic.

Attached on page two are the reasons that support our decision to make this recommendation.

Concerns leading to Proposal:

1. After meeting with all parties involved it is our feeling that with the present structure of the All A Classic it is not in the best interest of our boys basketball athletes to compete in the 2016 tournament. The players themselves expressed to me that they feel that they can no longer compete with the recruiting and scholarship power of teams participating in this classic. Therefore I will be looking to have our players compete in a tournament that is more equitable to all participating schools.

2. It is my feeling that the All A should be a tournament that allows the athletes of small schools a fair chance to compete for advancement to and in the state tournament. Under the present system student athletes of county schools are being discriminated against. County schools may only compete with athletes within their defined school districts. In many cases private or independent schools can take athletes form a larger county or athletes from anywhere in the state of Kentucky. While this makes for a great high school basketball state tournament and creates the majority of the KHSAA revenue for the year. It is my feeling that it is not in the spirit of how class A basketball should be defined. In no way do I or any parties want to harm the Kentucky High School Basketball Tournament. We are all very proud of our basketball and our basketball heritage. In no way do I or any parties want to harm any private or independent school or their athletic programs. The only intent is to have as level of playing field as possible for the All A basketball tournament.

3. We all understand the times we are in with basketball. There are many factors that play a part none of which call for what is best for kids. Recruiting, high school scholarships, college scholarships, high profile coaches, large budgets, AAU basketball are just a few of the factors that we must deal with while doing what is right for kids in our present non classed system. If we are to keep our present system we must do more for the equality of basketball for all members of the organization. A quick review of past state and regional winners of the All A basketball tournament will show great dominance by schools who have the freedom to attract athletes from a much larger area than is defined as class A. All options are on the table but I am compelled to no longer be and accomplice to a system that discriminates against the kids I have been chosen to represent.

I emailed Coach Hodge. Simply said I think he was making a mistake in not participating, sending out false information regarding private schools, and hurting his team with his beliefs. It was not confrontational. Simply asked him to reconsider.

 

He was very kind in his response even though I still disagree with his stance. I applaud him for taking the time to reply to some blowhard he does not know. He said he submitted the following to the All A tourney regarding the issue. Since he shared it with a stranger in an email I assume it's not a problem to list it here.

 

 

 

 

Crittenden County would like to propose a restriction on teams participating in the All A Classic.

Teams using athletes who receive financial assistance (scholarships) to attend their academic institution will not be allowed to participate in the All A Classic.

Attached on page two are the reasons that support our decision to make this recommendation.

Concerns leading to Proposal:

1. After meeting with all parties involved it is our feeling that with the present structure of the All A Classic it is not in the best interest of our boys basketball athletes to compete in the 2016 tournament. The players themselves expressed to me that they feel that they can no longer compete with the recruiting and scholarship power of teams participating in this classic. Therefore I will be looking to have our players compete in a tournament that is more equitable to all participating schools.

2. It is my feeling that the All A should be a tournament that allows the athletes of small schools a fair chance to compete for advancement to and in the state tournament. Under the present system student athletes of county schools are being discriminated against. County schools may only compete with athletes within their defined school districts. In many cases private or independent schools can take athletes form a larger county or athletes from anywhere in the state of Kentucky. While this makes for a great high school basketball state tournament and creates the majority of the KHSAA revenue for the year. It is my feeling that it is not in the spirit of how class A basketball should be defined. In no way do I or any parties want to harm the Kentucky High School Basketball Tournament. We are all very proud of our basketball and our basketball heritage. In no way do I or any parties want to harm any private or independent school or their athletic programs. The only intent is to have as level of playing field as possible for the All A basketball tournament.

3. We all understand the times we are in with basketball. There are many factors that play a part none of which call for what is best for kids. Recruiting, high school scholarships, college scholarships, high profile coaches, large budgets, AAU basketball are just a few of the factors that we must deal with while doing what is right for kids in our present non classed system. If we are to keep our present system we must do more for the equality of basketball for all members of the organization. A quick review of past state and regional winners of the All A basketball tournament will show great dominance by schools who have the freedom to attract athletes from a much larger area than is defined as class A. All options are on the table but I am compelled to no longer be and accomplice to a system that discriminates against the kids I have been chosen to represent.

 

He sent this to every coach in the state.

I don't blame them for not wanting to participate given. That's their choice and the way it sets up with the entirety of the situation, both scheduling and the other parts, makes it seem as though it's just disadvantageous to them all around.

 

I'm not really sure that UHA is the type of program that the "All A" was designed for (especially if they aren't going to allow Cordia).

 

Put enough UHA's in regions throughout the state and watch the All A quickly dissipate.

 

Whether everyone wants to admit it or not, the All A was designed for the schools like those in the 2nd that are leaving it and some of the smaller privates in urban areas that will have no chance of competing with the city schools. Taking the intent that the tournament was designed with and stretching every rule to the limit to dominate teams that are playing it straight isn't very endearing.

I don't blame them for not wanting to participate given. That's their choice and the way it sets up with the entirety of the situation, both scheduling and the other parts, makes it seem as though it's just disadvantageous to them all around.

 

I'm not really sure that UHA is the type of program that the "All A" was designed for (especially if they aren't going to allow Cordia).

 

Put enough UHA's in regions throughout the state and watch the All A quickly dissipate.

 

Whether everyone wants to admit it or not, the All A was designed for the schools like those in the 2nd that are leaving it and some of the smaller privates in urban areas that will have no chance of competing with the city schools. Taking the intent that the tournament was designed with and stretching every rule to the limit to dominate teams that are playing it straight isn't very endearing.

This is why I never thought much about the All A tourney myself. The intent was great when it was first created but it has since turned into something totally different.

I emailed Coach Hodge. Simply said I think he was making a mistake in not participating, sending out false information regarding private schools, and hurting his team with his beliefs. It was not confrontational. Simply asked him to reconsider.

 

He was very kind in his response even though I still disagree with his stance. I applaud him for taking the time to reply to some blowhard he does not know. He said he submitted the following to the All A tourney regarding the issue. Since he shared it with a stranger in an email I assume it's not a problem to list it here.

 

 

 

 

Crittenden County would like to propose a restriction on teams participating in the All A Classic.

Teams using athletes who receive financial assistance (scholarships) to attend their academic institution will not be allowed to participate in the All A Classic.

Attached on page two are the reasons that support our decision to make this recommendation.

Concerns leading to Proposal:

1. After meeting with all parties involved it is our feeling that with the present structure of the All A Classic it is not in the best interest of our boys basketball athletes to compete in the 2016 tournament. The players themselves expressed to me that they feel that they can no longer compete with the recruiting and scholarship power of teams participating in this classic. Therefore I will be looking to have our players compete in a tournament that is more equitable to all participating schools.

2. It is my feeling that the All A should be a tournament that allows the athletes of small schools a fair chance to compete for advancement to and in the state tournament. Under the present system student athletes of county schools are being discriminated against. County schools may only compete with athletes within their defined school districts. In many cases private or independent schools can take athletes form a larger county or athletes from anywhere in the state of Kentucky. While this makes for a great high school basketball state tournament and creates the majority of the KHSAA revenue for the year. It is my feeling that it is not in the spirit of how class A basketball should be defined. In no way do I or any parties want to harm the Kentucky High School Basketball Tournament. We are all very proud of our basketball and our basketball heritage. In no way do I or any parties want to harm any private or independent school or their athletic programs. The only intent is to have as level of playing field as possible for the All A basketball tournament.

3. We all understand the times we are in with basketball. There are many factors that play a part none of which call for what is best for kids. Recruiting, high school scholarships, college scholarships, high profile coaches, large budgets, AAU basketball are just a few of the factors that we must deal with while doing what is right for kids in our present non classed system. If we are to keep our present system we must do more for the equality of basketball for all members of the organization. A quick review of past state and regional winners of the All A basketball tournament will show great dominance by schools who have the freedom to attract athletes from a much larger area than is defined as class A. All options are on the table but I am compelled to no longer be and accomplice to a system that discriminates against the kids I have been chosen to represent.

 

What facts does he have that back up any of his concerns?

 

Namely:

 

What school has scholarship athletes playing?

 

What school has players from outside its geographic area?

I'd like to make something clear that I think would help people understand what's going on at some places:

 

No, there aren't "scholarships", at least like people are thinking. What is in place, however, are "work-study" programs that can really help offset the amounts owed. I'm sure that the vast majority of these kinds of plans are completely on the up and up and an athlete is "paid" the same amount in tuition as a good student who does the same job.

 

I would also guess that if a program wanted to use these as a means of really helping a talented athlete get in (which is great for the kids), then it's probably a vehicle for doing so.

 

At the same time, that isn't really the most level playing field and work study programs could basically be used in much of the same manner as many are thinking "scholarships" might be being used now.

 

I have no idea of the situation at University Heights, and am not speaking to it specifically, but do know that there are schools in the state that employ work-study programs and that those have opportunities available for athletes and students alike.

What facts does he have that back up any of his concerns?

 

Namely:

 

What school has scholarship athletes playing?

 

What school has players from outside its geographic area?

 

To your first question: As far as I know, every private school has at least a few kids there on financial assistance. This is not some big secret.

 

To your second one, you're asking the wrong question. Private schools don't operate with the same boundaries that public school systems have imposed upon themselves. Whether anybody wants to be honest and admit that is up to them.

 

It's a two-way street, though. Public schools don't want to admit that they self-impose boundaries for their districts. Private schools don't want to admit that their boundaries are oftentimes significantly larger than the public schools in their area that they compete with.

 

Just be honest, people. Stop obfuscating.

I'd like to make something clear that I think would help people understand what's going on at some places:

 

No, there aren't "scholarships", at least like people are thinking. What is in place, however, are "work-study" programs that can really help offset the amounts owed. I'm sure that the vast majority of these kinds of plans are completely on the up and up and an athlete is "paid" the same amount in tuition as a good student who does the same job.

 

I would also guess that if a program wanted to use these as a means of really helping a talented athlete get in (which is great for the kids), then it's probably a vehicle for doing so.

 

At the same time, that isn't really the most level playing field and work study programs could basically be used in much of the same manner as many are thinking "scholarships" might be being used now.

 

I have no idea of the situation at University Heights, and am not speaking to it specifically, but do know that there are schools in the state that employ work-study programs and that those have opportunities available for athletes and students alike.

 

The better question is even if kids were rewarded scholarships for athletics how is it an advantage if they can go to a public school for free anyway?

 

I do know not a single Catholic school in KY awards financial assistance based on athletic ability. Public school supporters who preach this can continue to spread lies but it doesn't make it true.

I understand his point, and I admire his efforts to try to do something he believes is in the best interest of his team and players. Personally, I wish he would not have described his players as being "discriminated" against. He may not think there is a level playing field currently, but I would not equate what is being done with the All A Classic with an act of discrimination.

Translation:

 

You aren't doing things the way I want so I'm going to take my ball and go home.

 

To this coach and other who feel like he does put your money where your mouth is and pull yourself out of the REAL state tournament.

 

I've often thought that there was WAY to much emphasis placed on the All A. In my mind it's just a larger version of the LIT.

 

He uses words like discriminate just to add to the shock value. He complains about scholarships while every kid on his team is on a scholarship funded by tax payers. Just another whiner in my book.