Although the policies pertaining to competition outside high school athletics vary from state-to-state and sometimes section-to-section, in most cases high school athletic associations place some type of limit on high school athletes competing on outside teams, both in season and out of season. It is seldom wide open where players may compete on both their high school team and in season also play for an outside team. On the opposite side of the spectrum, some not only prohibit such competition, but also outside contact with private hitting or pitching coaches.

This specific matter was addressed in an article in the September issue of Athletic Business magazine. The article, entitled "Scheduling Conflict," discussed this problem and how it was being addressed by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA). While this specific situation dealt with swimmers and divers, the issues are the same as those encountered by the year round travel softball programs everywhere. In this case, the parents of affected students didn’t go to the State Association in an effort to resolve the problem; they launched an attack through their state legislature.

The parents found a supportive State Senator, Anita Yeckel, who sponsored SB 1366, which would have established the student’s right to participate on interscholastic and non-school teams simultaneously. While the bill was never voted on as the Missouri General Assembly adjourned before it could be considered, it did cause the MSHSAA to take action, as it appointed an ad-hoc committee to address the situation. In June of this year, the committee proposed a bylaw change that would permit simultaneous athletic participation in swimming and diving, provided three conditions were met:
1. Priority would have to be given to all school team practices and competitions.
2. No school time would be missed by the student to compete or practice with their non-school team.
3. A school could not replace its swimming or diving team with a non-school swimming or diving program.
A vote on this proposal is scheduled in the coming weeks, or may have been taken by the time this issue of Softball West reaches you. Missouri, like I understand all State High School Associations/Federations, allows elite student-athletes to compete in limited Olympic-development competition, but this new proposal would make outside participation much less cumbersome, and would open new doors to the athletes. While this specific proposal deals only with swimming and diving, SB 1366 in a revised form may be reintroduced in an effort to address other sports.

In preparing to address this issue, MSHSAA conducted a survey of all 51 state associations and found that 23 allowed dual participation in swimming and diving. It is my understanding that the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) does not allow dual participation, and some Sections within the CIF place additional restrictions on contact with outside coaches. Such restrictions are blasted by families of students that participate on non-school teams as exerting too much control over student-athletes and a family’s freedom of choice.

While the outcome of this specific situation is not currently known, it is refreshing that someone has taken the steps necessary to deal with what they, and many others, feel is an injustice. I have read many Internet posts concerning this situation in a variety of states, and most relate their frustration in the State Association’s lack of understanding or compromise. The California Legislature has looked at and introduced bills concerning college student-athletes; perhaps it is time they take a look at the restrictions being placed on our high school students.

CHRISTMAS WISH
For some reason, I have received several letters addressed to Santa Claus, which contain wishes for gifts for Christmas. Following are a few of those letters.

Dear Santa:
For Christmas, all I want is an overpowering 18 and Under Gold quality pitcher. If you know of any, please have them show up on the Saturday before Christmas at Linden Park at 11:00 AM.
Signed
Coach Lousey

Dear Santa:
Could you please provide my daughter with a quality coach for her travel team? The idiot she has now has not let her pitch enough to get her ERA down below 12.50, and she is only playing right field about 4 innings per tournament, which has not provided her with enough at bats to get any hits. Everyone on our team knows how good my daughter is, because last year when I was coaching her team, she was our number one pitcher and batted number 4. Although we only won one game, she was the best player on our team.
Signed
Ima Dimwitt

Dear Santa:
I need your help. Can you get my parents to stop yelling at me and my coach during our softball games. I love playing softball, but the way they act I’m not sure I want to play this season.
Signed
Darma Dandy

FOUL TIPS
I seem to be controlling my addiction fairly well. Recently I was on my way to a driving range to hit some golf balls, and passed a softball field where two girl’s fast pitch teams were playing. While I had the greatest urge to stop and watch, I was able to overcome * * * * I have read on several Internet forums speculation concerning safety in girl’s softball. In research recently published by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, it was found that nearly half of all sports and recreation head injuries to children are caused by bicycle, skating and skateboarding incidents. As a percentage, football players ages 5-14 were most likely to suffer an injury, as 28 percent of sports injuries in this age group were related to football. 25 percent were to baseball players; 22 percent to soccer players; 15 percent to basketball players; and 12 percent to softball players. Apparently we have a fairly safe sport * * * * As always, you can contact me at floydeunslip@yahoo.com_and so the ball rolls.