New CIF rules will have quite a bite

The California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for athletics for all the state's high schools, has a big task when you consider that its 10 sections include 1,425 member schools and more than 500,000 athletes participating in sports ranging from football to water polo.Now, after recently moving its offices from Alameda to Sacramento, the significance of relocating the CIF state office to the state capital may just have been a coincidence, considering there were no fewer than six bills related to the organization in the state legislature as of this past May.And while the CIF's 10 different sections, which stretch from San Diego to Yreka, have had relative autonomy when it comes to governing, there's one thing that will be perfectly spelled out to the letter beginning this fall.For the first time in the CIF's long history, all of the state's 10 sections, including the Sac-Joaquin Section, will abide by a new statewide rule for student-athletes that transfer schools and seek athletic eligibility.After being involved in several court cases over the past few years that cost both the CIF and taxpayers thousands of dollars in attorney fees, the message sent by the state legislature basically was the following — come to an agreement on a new statewide transfer bylaw or we'll do it for you.Basically, the new bylaws are simple. It's the 20-plus pages of definitions and legal wording that only a Harvard Law School grad can digest.For the most part, the new transfer rule allows a student one free transfer before the start of his or her sophomore year.An example would be a student could enter Del Oro High School and play sports in his or her freshman year and still be eligible to play at Placer — without the parents or legal guardian changing residences — the next year if the transfer is done before the first day of school in the athlete's sophomore year. After the sophomore year, an athlete's family must move to a new home to justify a transfer. If a transfer can't be justified, an athlete can apply for a hardship waiver —which as an example would happen when parents divorce.However, the main sticking point of the new CIF bylaw is this: All athletes who are not an incoming freshman and attended another school in the previous 12 calendar months must file paperwork (Form 207 or 510) in order to be considered eligible to play.If a student makes a valid change of residence (or is a foster student) and changes schools, that student must complete the new Form 206. "It's going to put a lot of the burden on athletic directors and the school's registrars," said CIF Sac-Joaquin Assistant Commissioner John Williams. "The new bylaw is pretty clear." Last year in a highly-publicized case, the CIF was forced to restore forfeits to Placer High's football season after a restraining order was issued and a hearing on transfer student Dalton Dyer's eligibility was heard by an Alameda County court.Dyer, in the care of the foster system, moved back to the Auburn area to live with his aunt after participating in sports at Bethel High in his first two years in Vallejo. While Dyer's move back to Auburn was considered a bona fide change of residence by Placer's administration, the proper transfer forms were not filed. After an inquiry by another school, Placer was forced by the CIF to forfeit its games in which Dyer participated in.Dyer, was, however, ruled eligible to compete after the school filled out the proper forms. However, backed by lawyers from the National Center for Youth Law, the CIF was challenged on the forfeits and a court ruled that the CIF bylaw violated state laws and the losses were turned to wins with the Hillmen making the playoffs. "I think that the new transfer forms really will put ADs and the people who register transfer students in a whole different mode," said Colfax High Athletic Director Rob Hitchcock. "I think there is more awareness now."A third option for transfer students called "limited eligibility" also exists.In that example, let's say a student-athlete at Colfax played volleyball as a sophomore and then transferred to Bear River without moving into that district. Unless a hardship is granted, that athlete can't play volleyball as a junior at the new school but could play a different sport that season and play volleyball again as a senior.The new rules also note moving can't be motivated by athletics and there can't be undue influence or an intent to deceive.Traveling summer team organizations such as the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) and the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), for better or worse, have their club programs spotlight talented prep athletes in front of college recruiters.At their worst, club programs recruit talent from all over and push for them to join one high school. This is more prominent in the state's urban areas. However, the new transfer rules are the CIF's attempt to curtail this type of recruiting.Now a student can't play for a club team and then transfer to the school or coach associated with it. If they do, the student loses a year of eligibility and the school may face CIF sanctions.Even if a coach doesn't technically recruit a player from the club team, the association is enough to prompt what the bylaws call "undue influence.""Southern California's become so club oriented that a lot of the club championships mean more than the CIF championships," Williams said. "I hope that's not where we're heading."If you want some good summer reading, visit the CIF's state Web site — cifstate.org — and check out the Parent Handbook links including Understanding the Transfer Eligibility Process and Understanding the Transfer Eligibility Appeal Process.______2009-10 Colfax sports Participation FeesStudents planning to participate in athletics this school year at Colfax High should start preparing to return their athletic clearance packets to the school by the start of the specific sport's conditioning workouts which begin next month. The enrollment packet can be downloaded at www.puhsd.k12.ca.us/colfax.Any questions on the athletic clearances can be obtained by contacting the school at (530) 346-2284.The following are the participation fees required this year by the school:Fall Sports Boys Soccer $160Cheer Squad $300Cross Country $160Football $200Volleyball $275Winter SportsAlpine Ski $375Boys Basketball $300Girls Basketball $300Nordic $500Snowboard $350Wrestling $350Spring SportsBaseball $225Girls Soccer $150Golf $250Softball $200Swim $250Tennis $160Track $200Included in the packet are the following:• An Enrollment Status Form• A CIF sign-off sheet regarding a student's enrollment in 2008-09.• A Sports & Activity Policy Form• A Use of Anabolic Steroids Form• Athletic Attendance Policy• Physical Exam Form• Medical History Form• Parent Permission Form