P.I.A.A. News & Notes...

[thetruth22]

I want to see the best competition play.

I don’t care if the teams are private or public schools. When my son is old enough to compete in high school sports and I don’t feel that public schools give him the best opportunity then he will go to a private school.

Life is not fair, nor is it played with any type of standards. So I'm not going to complain about something I can't control.

I don’t think its right to recruit kids for athletic reasons but if that is they way the game is being played by the PIAA then you have to choose. Get beat on by the privates or join em'

[southpaw]

There are standards and the privates get to play by a different set of them. I say if the PIAA is not going to separate the privates and the open enrollment public schools then let EVERYONE play by the same rules. Allow open enrollments across the state to all public schools just like district 8 and 12.

[froggyfan]

Wouldn't it be great if parents could CHOOSE the school they think is right for THEIR kids, regardless of their address?! Whether it's public or private, we should have the choice and that would solve the problem. Competition is the reason this is a great country and schools should be comptetitive on every level. The way it's currently designed, certain districts are just NOT THERE and perhaps shouldn't be there!

[wickedcrossover]

It's amazing how these posts are just overwhelmed with Private vs. public. I will agree that to a certain degree privates enjoy an advantage. Now I'm going to level the playing field. And please before any of you argue, please check the rules! You will find that I'm not making this up. Also, for the sake of arguing, I'm going to use McCort as the example. For a kid to transfer to McCort and to play sports, they have to do it within the rules (please look those rules up) be accepted by McCort and pay tuition. Pretty simple so far right? Now let's say that the same kid doesn't want to go to the school in the district which he resides, and he doesn't want to go to McCort. Is everybody following this? Good, still not too complicated. So what are his options? Well let's assume the kid is in Ferndale's school district and wants to play b-ball for Roman at J-town; can he do it? Real simple - YES. How? Transfer within the rules (please look those rules up) be accepted by Johnstown and pay tuition. Looks like the playing field is leveled (see above). You don't have to agree with me - research it yourselves - call the dept. of educ. go on pa educ' website but please don't argue out of ignorance. Now if after your research, and I'm wrong, then come back at me with a vengence, because it means there was something I missed.

[biffpocoroba]

Wicked,

Here's what you missed:

When a kid transfers from public to public, it's hard to make a case that it was for religious or academic reasons and it's scrutinized closely and sometimes there's an actual eligibility hearing about whether the transfer was for athletic reasons and sometimes the kid is ruled ineligible.

When a kid transfers from public to private, it can always be attributed to religious or academic reasons and there's rarely scrutiny (check the D-6 minutes, nearly every such transfer is unanimous) and almost never a hearing. The last time the D-6 committee ruled that such a transfer was for athletic reasons, the PIAA overturned that ruling.

[wickedcrossover]

I'm not talking about the usual attempts at transferrring for athletics where an apartment is rented or a change of residence is trying to be proved into another school district. I'm talking about wher the kid is going to attend a school in a different district let's say from 7th or 8th grade and the parents are willing to pay $7,000 or $8,000 a year. I'm pretty sure it can be done. Later transfers now, I may be wrong, but I still think they can be done if completed in march of the following school year. Not sure though.

[philip's dad]

Here is something else you missed. The private school can offer schlorships to these transfers and they can end "paying" nothing to go to McCort for their religious convictions. At the public schools the tuition can NOT be pushed aside because of "hardship'. There is the BIG difference Wicked!!

[wickedcrossover]

You're correct in your statement about "scholarship" money being available. However, I believe that the money awarded is needs based and I doubt that there are very many that get a completly "free ride".

[THE CHOPS]

Wicked, Your valid to an extent...

You have to remember that "Rules" are meant to be broken & yes sometimes even bent to accomidate these folks when there's knowledge about a person who is going to be very good at sports at an early age. These kids are watched, way-back in grade school & picked up accordingly too weather (or) not they can afford money to send them too that, Private (or) Catholic school... There are ways around all this & I kinda don't blame those parents of those kids for sending them to the Private & Cath. Schools if they are going to get help in financial backings...

Yes! the P.I.A.A. has rules & yes I'd say about 60/40, they are followed~ O.K.

The playing field as far as being level isn't level, even in the {Public schools -Vs- Public schools} ...

Down here in "W.P.I.A.L. Land", If you live in (or) near Monroeville, rest a-shured (IF) your any good at H.S. Football, your going to get a call from Gateway's Coach...

It's even happening in the Public schools... Ask "The wpial-Titan", He'll tell ya the same thing...

It's a Dog~Eat~Dog world & it's all for that prestidge of that particular school...

I used to be the President of a GIRLS Slow-Pitch softball League for many years here, where I live... & "Let me tell You"... As the Tournament Director, I ran a 14 & under Softball Tournament & I had Girls from other teams actualy driving to the games... 14 & under mind you !! :shock: :shock: :shock: :oops:
Keep in mind, they all showed a {supposedly valid} Birth Certificate, at game time...
& all this for what? a $10.00 trophy & their represented team... Hmmm !!!

All I'm saying is I don't mind kids transfering too a Private school (or) Catholic type of school.. But I want them playing sports in an entirely different State set-up League... Then everyone might be closer to an even playing field...

The Chops...

[wickedcrossover]

It appears that the biggest concern is the playoffs. Not so much league play (self-controlled) or regular season (always good to play tough competion). So a solution would be to have state playoff games for the pubs only and playoff games for the privates only.
At the end we'd have a public state champion and a private state champion. But we can't let it stand at that. We need to settle who is the best. The only way to do that is to have the two champions play. That to me is a must!

Since the publics and the privates wouldn't be combined you would have less teams in the playoffs and thus still end the season at the same time.

I'm still not convinced of the overall dominance by the privates (I know USATF will post the proof otherwise). You see, I just don't think it's so cut and dry and there are many variable that change with each school, circumstance and year. But man, I'm just tired of arguing about this. Especially with some of the posters on here who don't know crap but say stuff simply out of hatred.

Until the system is changed, for good or bad, better or worse, we have to deal with it.

Now if any of you want to go then just give me the ball, me and you, one on one, game of 10 win by two, none of that make it take it crap. I'm gonna own you!