Boys' basketball: Say what?

2010 is going to be known as a time of confusion in trying to understand why some athletes have been given hardship waivers and others denied after transferring.

Once again, the Southern Section has left the public confused. Now, the office will say it's clear what the definition of hardship is: “An unforeseeable, unavoidable, uncorrectable act, condition or event, which imposes a severe and non-athletic burden on the student or his or her family."

So then, how does Michael Avery, a basketball player, get denied a hardship waiver? He attended Encino Crespi as a freshman, got a financial aid package to attend Montverde Academy in Florida as a sophomore, then returned to Crespi this season after the aid package was not offered. Alone, that's a financial hardship.

But the Southern Section denied it, so Avery will have to sit out his junior season unless he can convince a CIF appeals panel to reverse the decision.

Look, I'm for strict transfer rules. I have written for years about the need to crack down on parents, coaches and kids abusing and manipulating the rules to prevent athletes from moving from school to school for athletic reasons.

But I'm as confused as the general public in how hardship waivers are being given out or denied. And if I can't understand what's going on, how is a parent supposed to figure it out?

-- Eric Sondheimer

 

Comments

[es]

I have no idea if he's getting financial aid to Crespi. But he lost his financial aid in Florida or he would have stayed. That's a hardship and a financial hit. There's no indication he moved back for sports reasons. If it's not sports reasons, he should be eligible.

[james gossett]

Eric -
After re-reading your posting, I disagree with you. How is it a financial hardship to go back to a private school that requires tuition?
Now, if he was coming back from this Florida school and trying to get back into a public school in the attendance area where he lives, now I agree with you. That is a financial hardship.

[Robert]

Maybe the CIF does not want kids leaving the state and coming back and leave the state and come back. It is no secret that he left to Florida for basketball reasons. He should have stayed where he was. His father is looking for something free any way. He told me that the reason he chose Crespi over Campbell Hall was that he could not get a full scholarship @ CH.

[james gossett]

Now I'm confused. He attended a privates school his freshman year. Did he receive financial aid then? Then he gets Florida financial aid to go there. Then it is not renewed, so he comes back to the same PRIVATE school. Is he getting financial aid this year to go to Crespi? If he doesn't have the money to attend a private school, why is he trying to go back to a private school?
I can see your confusion Eric. It sounds fishy to me.