So a 7th grade kid can go to a middle school and make the varsity team. She plays for 2 years, takes playing time away from high school kids, then attends a different high school. She played for a high school 2 years that she never attended, and kids that did attend the school, who wanted to play, sat the bench. Given that the basketball team is an extracurricular activity of the high school, haven't the high school kids been cheated? Agreeing that the best players should play, shouldn't those players actually attend the school?

I though if you were a middle school player and played up with a varsity team at the High School level and decided not to go to that school when you go to High School, they would have to sit out 1 year? Is that correct?

So a 7th grade kid can go to a middle school and make the varsity team. She plays for 2 years, takes playing time away from high school kids, then attends a different high school. She played for a high school 2 years that she never attended, and kids that did attend the school, who wanted to play, sat the bench. Given that the basketball team is an extracurricular activity of the high school, haven't the high school kids been cheated? Agreeing that the best players should play, shouldn't those players actually attend the school?

 

 

"I can tell you that St Henry District High School will not allow students from their "feeder" schools to try out or participate in any Varsity, JV, or Freshman athletic teams unless they need help in filling a roster. Once accepted on a team, most coaches will play based on ability, not grade. So in answer to your question, they will NOT allow a non-tuition paying grade school student to take a spot away from the high school student. In St. Henry's case, I would say it makes sense, seeing that so many of the most athletic students from their feeder schools end up at Cov Cath & Notre Dame...."

 

sounds as though you agree with the policy at St. Henry District High School.

What about public schools, where no tuition is involved? Kids seem to transfer among districts without relocating.

I though if you were a middle school player and played up with a varsity team at the High School level and decided not to go to that school when you go to High School, they would have to sit out 1 year? Is that correct?

 

No, that is not correct. KHSAA has no governing power over middle school kids. Middle school kids can play varsity basketball for one high school and then decide to go to another high school their freshman year and not lose any eligibility.

Some schools and coaches get burned when they offer hs playing time to middle school players. Some players agree to move up, take advantage of the high school playing time and then move on to another school leaving the program who gave them opportunity with a deficiency of numbers and talent for the future. Shouldn't there be an ounce of loyalty somewhere when you take that opportunity?

If you're a middle school kid and you are good enough to compete at the high school level then you should be allowed. Can you imagine Kendall Noble from Breathit County not being allowed to play? She was regional player of the year....as a 7th grader! She led her team to the state tournament and made the all-tournament team as an 8th grader. Breathit most certainly would not have had the success they have had over the last few years if it weren't for her. To deprive her of playing would not only be unfair to her, but to the other kids on the team and the community that supports the program. The best should play, period.

 

I agree. The best should play.

So theoretically, if the girl decided to attend a different high school, the school would have been lead by a player that never attended the high school. Is that fair to those schools defeated by a team with a player that never attended the school they represent? Is it fair to those communities that support teams that use only players that are actual students?

Though I agree with Malachicrunch, with every problem he is stating, there is another problem that comes into play. If the kid is good enough to play during MS, and you dont allow them the opportunity, they will go somewhere else. There are no rules in place to stop it, and I have seen it happen more times than I can count.

 

This is either a KHSAA problem or a parent problem, depending on how you look at it. Coaches are cutting their throats if they dont play a player ready to help, and they should.

 

I believe the issue is should the Khsaa step in, and the answer is yes. This issue definitely comes into play with girls basketball much more than boys, and this is also where the problems of different levels of maturity come into play.