CIF Bans Elite-School Games
Last week, the CIF Federated Council unanimously approved a new rule prohibiting California teams from playing against schools that do not participate in state championship playoffs, starting in the next school year.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Terry Barnum, a member of the Council, said the schools that are prohibited--including Findlay Prep in Nevada, IMG Academy in Florida and Oak Hill Academy in Virginia--are at an unfair advantage due to being allowed to recruit.
"Their balance between academics and athletics and the way they attract kids is not consistent with what you see in traditional high schools," Barnum said. "Playing these kids doesn't fit with our mission as an organization."
Roger Blake, Executive Director of the CIF, agreed, saying he had no desire to support "this new business model" by playing such schools.
Barnum said that the rule would eliminate marquee matchups, and acknowledged it as a drawback.
"That is the downside," he said. "Some of the marquee matchups we enjoy, we won't have them in about a year."
Some parents of California student-athletes oppose the decision out of fear that it will adversely affect their children's chances of getting scholarships. Mike Herrington, football coach at Newhall Hart High School, said other things were more important, and scholarships would go to the athletes who deserved them the most.
"The main goal is to develop the young man's work ethic and skills to be a productive adult," said Herrington. "You're trying to build a team where people work together and get along like they will have to do when they get into the job market. Scholarships come with athletes who can qualify. If there's an athlete out there who has skills, size, demeanor and academic performance, they'll get an athletic scholarship. It has nothing to do with opponents they play."
As a coach, you probably want your athletes to work their hardest every day. But many times, purely making this expectation known isn't enough to create a fire and drive in athletes. Coaches need to not only explain their expectations, but also take steps to create a high-performing culture.
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