Don't Transfer Recruiting Issue To The Legislature In Florida

I applaud the Florida High School Athletic Association's attempt clean-up the dirty business that is recruiting in high school sports and specifically football. That being said, I'm not happy that State Representative Rafael Arza, Chairman of the House Pre-kindergarten-12 Education Committee, is suggesting that if several private and religious high schools can't resolve their problems with the FHSAA's new transfer ruling, then the state legislature may have to step-in.

Arza was asked Tuesday to help reverse the new transfer rule for athletes. The schools say the new rule is discriminatory and will discourage students from enrolling in their schools.

The rule requires students who transfer after beginning the ninth grade to sit out of varsity competition at their new school for a year unless they have moved with their parents to a new address. The rule was adopted in January by the FHSAA Representative Assembly by a vote of 44-8, and that included a 10-5 vote from the private school representatives.

Now with that background, I have to ask the question, why would Arza even entertain this? Now yes, his first suggestion was for the two sides to get together and work this out. However, if they can't Arza and the legislature needs to keep its nose out of this.

The FHSAA is a governing body that doesn't play favorites. It's trying to do the right things for the kids and that is to try its best to keep competive balance. Yes there are instances when athletes transfer for religious reason, but let's be honest, they are few and far between.

Let's face it, when it comes to sports, we all play favorites, because we have our favorites. I graduated nearly 30-year ago, and still have a fondness for my Wilson Warriors. My guess is Arza and his fellow representatives have that same "home team' mentality.

I'm not saying that these elected officials couldn't make the decision, I'm just saying they shouldn't.

As far as these private schools, take a close look and the mirror and try to determine why you're not agreeing with your FHSAA voting members who agreed with the new rule by a 10-5 vote