Non-School Participation Activities Need Some Clarification
By Darryl Beasley | Tuesday, October 06, 2009 12:27 PM
We are fast approaching another basketball season, but before we head on to that topic I would like to discuss non-school participation, which includes 7-on-7, tournaments and leagues in the summer, fall and spring.
Over the last couple of months, we have had numerous calls from all corners of the state about non-school leagues and tournaments. Many people seem to be confused about what coaches and schools are allowed to do for non-school participation.
This article will outline what coaches and schools, including school booster clubs, are not allowed to do in regards to non-school participation for team sports — baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball or volleyball.
In the past, we have received reports of schools using school transportation for 7-on-7 games and non-school events. On other occasions, schools allowed their school-owned player equipment (shoes, uniforms, etc.) to be used for non-school competition. We also had a number of schools hosting basketball tournaments this summer and fall outside of the season by contacting the school coach and inviting the varsity, JV, 9th, 8th, and 7th grade teams to participate. All of these situations violate UIL rules.
In those situations, we notified the schools involved of the possible violations to Section 1209 of the Constitution and Contest Rules (C&CR), but we still continued to get reports of violations.
Coaches, schools, parents and athletes seem confused on what is allowed since we continue to get calls on this issues of non-school teams. When I get a call, my response is always the same, “Is the school involved?” If the answer is yes, then the activity is no longer non-school.
The minute a school, school coach or school booster becomes involved in the non-school activity, other than supervision of the facility, it is a school-sponsored event.
In team sports, there is a start and stop date for the season. When the season is over, schools and school coaches shall not have any contact with students from their attendance zone for the sport that is out of season, other than the athletic period.
School booster clubs are an extension of the school and therefore would be in violation to use their funds to contribute to an athlete's expenses, transportation, etc. for a non-school activity.
School fundraising activities by boosters or students should support the educational goals of the school and should not exploit students. Funds are to be used to support school activities. The use of those funds for non-school activities would violate UIL rules and the public trust through which funds are earned.
Another question we receive is, “What are school coaches allowed to do in non-school participation with students in grades 7-12 from their attendance zone?” According to Section 1209 of the C&CR, school coaches are allowed to assist a non-school entity in organizing, selecting players and coaches and may supervise (not during school time) school facilities for non-school LEAGUE (not tournaments) activities such as the summer, fall, spring and 7-on-7 leagues.
The non-school entities may contract to utilize school facilities for non-school competitions, camps or clinics. The school superintendent would need to give approval for non-school use of school facilities.
In the assisting of the non-school entity, the school coach cannot schedule PRACTICES or CONTESTS for students in grades 7-12 from their attendance zone. Also, if a coach has any coaching responsibility for the district they would not be allowed to coach or instruct 7-12th grade students from their school district attendance zone in the team sports.
• IT IS A VIOLATION for a school coach to require of a non-school coach which offense to use, which drills to use or which students should participate or not participate on a specific team.
• IT IS A VIOLATION for a school coach to require school players to participate on any non-school team or to play on a specific non-school team.
• IT IS A VIOLATION for a school coach to make arrangements with another coach to hold competitions or scrimmages for their teams.
• IT IS A VIOLATION for a school coach to handle the money for a non-school league or team involving students in grades 7-12 from their attendance zone.
It is the responsibility of the school coaches and personnel to make every effort to ensure that student-athletes realize that participation in non-school activities is strictly voluntary, never required and will not be used as prerequisite for trying out for a school team.
Non-school participation is usually associated with summer participation of our student-athletes but has become a year round endeavor. At the League, we believe the issues arising from non-participation is a teachable moment. We hope that now you have a better understanding of the role of schools in non-school participation.