NFT: HS Football program sues NYSPHSSA to get into playoffs

That is bizarre. I am sure there are definitely teams guilty of this all over the state. Especially here on Long Island. I know of a few who bring up JV players for the post season and throw a couple of them on special teams. Not sure if participating in JV contests allows eligibility toward varsity games or not.

So basically, you have a star player who got hurt during the first few games, comes back for the playoffs and because he didn't play in three contests the team has to forfeit the win? That rule needs to be revised/changed ASAP.

I wonder if someone from Rush-Henrietta was the anonymous source...

.

is that its not like high school coaches have to sign off on inactive lists or even keep weekly rosters of eligible players.

the school during the semester and were on the team's roster but injured. Makes no sense in this case.

for a team in section V and I recall we had kid that was hurt the first week of the season and came back during the playoffs not mention all the JV kids you pull up for the playoffs to help with practice and some playing time. Strange rule

That's even better point. I am assuming since this kid is obviously the stud QB, everyone knew when he was hurt. It make it easier to know when he came back for the post season.

What if you are the starting guard who gets hurt? Obviously, the other team only has a certain amount of game film on the opposing team. How would they know if that kid didn't play all year?

can anyone answer me why NY names a state champion every year yet they do not invite teams from NYC and Long Island to participate.

Best team in the state this year is most likely Archbishop Stepinac. Yet if they win the CHSFL, that's it for them. No chance to play in the state playoffs.

...to stand in the endzone during an extra point?

It has to do with the amount of games on the schedule. That is always brought up down here on LI. I believe the max amount of games that can be played is 12.

They play 8 regular season games, 3 county playoff games (2 if you have a first round bye), then the Long Island Championship. Unless they cut the regular season or limit the amount of playoff teams, it will never work to have a true state champion.

Similar situation in NYC with the public championships. CHSFL is a different animial all together.

Was it the team that lost?

Either them or the team that they are to play the next week. If you have your stud QB back, I am going with the latter.

That would be a chicken shit way to win if you just played a game and lost, then try to win on a technicality.

but judging by the way some of these ADs, parents, coaches and fans act I wouldn't be surprised.

If it was indeed that team, I would hope they got steam rolled in the next round (if the forfeit stands).

After reading the article, it looks like this kid in question is a junior. If it the team that they had just beat, I would pray that they are on the schedule next year and run up the score like no tomorrow.

has been in the book for quite a while. JV kids are okay to move up to varsity because they've been on the team all along.

I don't remember when or why they put the rule in, but it's legit. HCs and ADs should know it and there's no real excuse for getting caught with your pants down. I think they'll have to eat the loss.

I don't know the current Pittsford coaches so I have no idea if they would/could have been the anonymous source. I'd guess that if they wanted to be more competitive and they knew the rule, they'd have brought it up before the game and not after.

You would probably know better than I, but is that a rule only for Section V? Or is this something that is in effect for all Sections?

couldn't tell you that for sure. I just don't remember.

The only reason I know the rule is legit is we had a similar situation. We learned about the rule and sat the player.

Wouldn't have mattered much if he played. We won that game but lost in the finals to a better team.

I'll find out in the next few days if it's statewide or section V only. It'll be a hot topic of conversation the next few days.

That would definitely be much appreciated.

Down here on LI, this Saturday is the end of the regular season. With the playoffs starting next week, I would be curious to see if this story gains some steam and makes its way down here to Section 8 and Section 11. You know there will be coach's, AD's and certainly parents all over this if it is a statewide rule.

It will be reviewed by State Supreme Court on Friday morning

Not much time there as I assume the game is to be played on Saturday?

Guess both teams just practice/prepare as if they are playing...

in response to a specific event from the past. I bet someone brought in a ringer to a playoff one year and this rule was in reponse to that.

Purely my speculation.

interested, the rule is in the state rule book and the national federation rule book as well.

It's been in the book since the 80s after a few kids transferred at the end of the year to get on a better team.

I know Dick Cerone well. Dick is the head of section V football. He's an ethical man whose integrity is without question. He's also an ex AD for Aquinas, so the suggestions made by some of the local Aquinas supporters that he has some personal issue with the school is complete horseshit.

Thank you for the update.

Good to know that this is a statewide rule, however, I believe it should be reviwed/updated by the NYSPHSSA. I completely understand the intent of the rule and how it came about, but a kid who get's hurt early in the year should not be "ineligible" to play in a playoff game if he did not suit up for 3 total games.

Makes no sense and after this fiasco, hopefully they will put some ammendments to the rule in place.

agree. I've never understood why private schools play in the public school championships either, but that's another issue that I'd like to see a revision on.

Just read the Catholic champs from Buffalo will play the CHSFL champs this year for the first ever Catholic State Campionship.

Football was anything but important. Really has come a long way and the true intention of this rule is to eliminate ringers, not an injured player who comes back

In comment 11946893 Ben in Tampa said:

Quote:

is that its not like high school coaches have to sign off on inactive lists or even keep weekly rosters of eligible players.

Yeah that is the part i don't get. The player was not "inactive" since they don't have such a thing, and there is no way they mean that a player would have to actually be in on a play over 3 games in order for the team to be in the playoffs. There are players on every HS team that may not play but are there for back-up in case the depth at their position is gone

In comment 11946986 dorgan said:

Quote:

has been in the book for quite a while. JV kids are okay to move up to varsity because they've been on the team all along. I don't remember when or why they put the rule in, but it's legit. HCs and ADs should know it and there's no real excuse for getting caught with your pants down. I think they'll have to eat the loss. I don't know the current Pittsford coaches so I have no idea if they would/could have been the anonymous source. I'd guess that if they wanted to be more competitive and they knew the rule, they'd have brought it up before the game and not after.

But couldnt the argument be made that he is not "Off the team", he is just not playing? I'm sure he was at practices all year long so what determines him on the team or not?

"The representation rule applicable to the case is spelled out in the NYSPHSAA handbook:

   A contestant, or athletic team shall not represent a school except in conformance with all rules and regulations. Is shall be the duty of trustees and boards of education to require that athletic activities be limited to competition between secondary school students.

   To be eligible for sectional, intersectional or state competition, at team must have completed in six (6) school schedules contests which occurred on six (6) different dates during the season.

    For the sports of baseball, basketball , field hockey, football, ice hockey lacrosse, soccer, softball and volleyball an individual is eligible for the team if he/she has been an eligible participant on a team in that sport in that school for a minimum of six (6) scheduled contests during the regular season. For football, a stude nt must be an eligible participant for a minimum of three (3) contests.

    For the sports of archery, badminton, bowling, cross country, fencing, golf, gymnastics, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, outdoor track, winter track and wrestling an individual must also have represented their school in six (6) scheduled contests during the season to be eligible. These required contests must occur on six (6) different dates and must be conducted prior to the conclusion of the team 's regular schedule.

   Section Athletic Councils may request in writing approval of the State Executive Committee to adjust the number of school schedules contests required on an annual basis. The request is to be submitted prior to the governing board me eting. School districts may submit a written request to the Section for adjustment of contests for individual participant based on medical documentation that confirms the individual was not able to particiapte in the required number of contests. NOTE: For the sports of golf and girls gymnastics, a waiver of the Representation Standard may be granted by the NYSPHSAA Executive Director when a student has qualified for participation in the current school year's NYSPHSAA Championship event and has subsequently transferred to a NYSPHSAA member school. The athlete must meet all other eligibility standards, including transfer, to receive the waiver."

To me the issue of "an anonymous source" makes this bullshit. If an individual doesn't want to put their name on a complaint then the league shouldn't consider it a legitimate complaint, IMHO.

Eligibility ruling knocks Aquinas out of playoffs - ( New Window )

In comment 11952775 Mike in Philly said:

Quote:

"The representation rule applicable to the case is spelled out in the NYSPHSAA handbook:    A contestant, or athletic team shall not represent a school except in conformance with all rules and regulations. Is shall be the duty of trustees and boards of education to require that athletic activities be limited to competition between secondary school students.    To be eligible for sectional, intersectional or state competition, at team must have completed in six (6) school schedules contests which occurred on six (6) different dates during the season.     For the sports of baseball, basketball , field hockey, football, ice hockey lacrosse, soccer, softball and volleyball an individual is eligible for the team if he/she has been an eligible participant on a team in that sport in that school for a minimum of six (6) scheduled contests during the regular season. For football, a stude nt must be an eligible participant for a minimum of three (3) contests.     For the sports of archery, badminton, bowling, cross country, fencing, golf, gymnastics, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, outdoor track, winter track and wrestling an individual must also have represented their school in six (6) scheduled contests during the season to be eligible. These required contests must occur on six (6) different dates and must be conducted prior to the conclusion of the team 's regular schedule.    Section Athletic Councils may request in writing approval of the State Executive Committee to adjust the number of school schedules contests required on an annual basis. The request is to be submitted prior to the governing board me eting. School districts may submit a written request to the Section for adjustment of contests for individual participant based on medical documentation that confirms the individual was not able to particiapte in the required number of contests. NOTE: For the sports of golf and girls gymnastics, a waiver of the Representation Standard may be granted by the NYSPHSAA Executive Director when a student has qualified for participation in the current school year's NYSPHSAA Championship event and has subsequently transferred to a NYSPHSAA member school. The athlete must meet all other eligibility standards, including transfer, to receive the waiver." To me the issue of "an anonymous source" makes this bullshit. If an individual doesn't want to put their name on a complaint then the league shouldn't consider it a legitimate complaint, IMHO. Eligibility ruling knocks Aquinas out of playoffs - ( New Window )

But is the intent of the rule to eliminate injured players who come back, or to stop ringers being put on a team at the last moment? That's the crux of the matter here. I don't think the target of this rule is an injured player