A player for the Yucca Valley High School girls’ varsity soccer program has violated the Outside Competition Rule according to CIF regulations. The violation will keep the team from post-season play. Reporter Andrew Dieleman has the disappointing news for the team and its supporters…
The long-standing CIF ruling regarding outside competition prohibits students from playing the same sport for two separate teams during the same season. While many student-athletes play with club and community-based teams throughout the year, CIF prohibits that play of the same sport during the designated season for high school play, with few if any exceptions. Even though players on the team were advised of this rule during pre-season meetings, it became evident through an internal investigation that a player for Yucca Valley High School played in outside competition with a team other than her high school as early as November and through the month of January. The consequence of such actions are clearly defined; not only does the athlete in question forfeit eligibility in a doubly proportional response to the number of outside contests in which the player participated, but the team is forced to forfeit all contests in which the ineligible player participated after the violation. Currently in fourth place with a winning record, overall and in league play, the possible playoff team under first-year head coach Jolene Pessa will forfeit their wins this season in which the ineligible player participated, likely negatively affecting chances of the post-season bid. While many student-athletes and their families travel great distances and pay enormous amounts of money for the opportunity to train in and play for outside teams, Yucca Valley High School administration is developing measures to reinforce this rule, as well as others, to avoid any future violations. It remains the responsibility of the individual to abide by the CIF ruling as to avoid both individual and team consequences.
Statement by Justin Monical, Principal, Yucca Valley High school
A player for the Yucca Valley High School girls varsity soccer program has violated the Outside Competition Rule (Bylaw 600 – CIF Blue Book) according to CIF Southern Section regulations and reports made to school officials. The long standing CIF ruling regarding outside competition prohibits students from playing the same sport for two separate teams during the same season. Many student-athletes, in an effort to sharpen their skills and stay fit, play with club and community-based teams throughout the year. The California Interscholastic Federation prohibits that play of the same sport during the designated season for high school play, with few if any exceptions.
CIF Southern Section Blue Book
“ARTICLE 60 – OUTSIDE COMPETITION
- COMPETITION ON AN OUTSIDE TEAM
A student on a high school team becomes ineligible if the student competes in a contest on an “outside” team, in the same sport, during the student’s high school season of sport. (See Bylaw 504) The following exceptions apply:
- If the outside team has half or more of the team members as stated in the National Federation rule book for that sport, it shall be considered the same sport. Examples: three-on-three basketball—outside team competition prohibited; two-on-two volleyball—outside team competition permitted.
- SOCCER In the sport of soccer, Bylaw 600 shall be in effect only during the winter high school soccer season. High school soccer programs that compete during the fall or spring season are not subject to Bylaw 600. Note: For purposes of this section, indoor soccer and futsal are not considered the same sport. (Approved October2008 Federated Council)”
According to YVHS Athletic Director Adam Wright and Head Coach Jolene Pessa, players on the team were advised of this rule during pre-season meetings. It is evident through the internal investigation that a player for Yucca Valley High School played in Outside Competition with a team other than her high school as early as November and through the month of January. The consequence of such actions are clearly defined in the CIF Southern Section Blue Book. Not only does the athlete in question forfeit eligibility in a doubly proportional response to the number of outside contests in which the player participated, but the team is forced to forfeit all contests in which the ineligible player participated after the (first known) violation.
“601. PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF BYLAW
- Individual
- First Offense in High School Career in Any Sport The student becomes immediately ineligible for participation with his/her high school team for a number of contests equal to twice the number of contests of outside competition in which the student participated.
(2) Any Subsequent Offense in High School Career in Any Sport The student becomes immediately ineligible for one year (365 days) from the second infraction in all sports. Appeals Upon written appeal to the Section commissioner, the student may petition his/her Section for reinstatement of his/her eligibility status.
Team (1) Games Forfeited Games in which a student participated on his/her high school team after violation of CIF Bylaw 600 shall be forfeited.
- Appeals Sections may establish rules and procedures to consider requests for waivers of game forfeitures. (Revised May 2004 Federated Council)”
Although currently in fourth place with a winning record, overall and in league play, the possible playoff team under first year head coach Pessa will forfeit their wins on the season in which the ineligible player participated, likely negatively effecting chances of the post-season bid. As it appears that many student-athletes and their families travel great distances and pay enormous amounts of money for the opportunity to train in and play for Outside Teams, the Yucca Valley High School administration is developing measures to further articulate this rule, as well as others, to all stakeholders in an effort to avoid any future violations. It remains the responsibility of the individual to abide by the CIF ruling as to avoid both individual and team consequences.
