I have lived in this area for about 13 years from (Southern California) and I have a son whom I think will be a very strong FB p_layer_ in High School. I am reading these articles about recruiting at the high school level and I say "so what" if a coach has a program that produces state championships and p_layer_s are signing with Division 1 schools than athletes are going to line up to attend that school for that sport. I grew up playing against Mater Dei, Loyola, Servite and other powerhouse programs in California where the whole team was recruited and we still beat them our fair share of times. Everyone gets in uproar of kids leaving the local school for more opportunities elsewhere but what you have to ask is why isn't the local coach doing more to keep this kids instead of just whinning about it. Look at what happened at Mountain View once their girls BBall coach left. Some take pride in beating them now but how many opportunities for young ladies disappeared with his absence? If your local coach is not winning enough with the talent he has then the parents should challenge him or her every year, not whine because the kid down the street is attending a different school, this is the land of opportunitity and a college scholarship saves thousands.

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Some things to consider.

1. It is against the rules, but certainly can be skirted.

2. Sending little Johnny to a "Football" school (etc.) doesn't always benefit him (or her). The kid can end up lost on a team of p_layer_s that end up superior in the end.

3. When little Johnny loses his spot as a senior (or any other year for that matter) to a transfer I would love to read your post then.

4. What happened to being realistic, realizing that most likely kids will not play beyond high school and letting them have a great experience with their friends by trying to work hard to better the school they go to? Sounds like that is what you did.

5. I think other people outside the programs at local schools spend time whining about recruiting, not coaches. They may address the issue, want to see something done about it etc., but they take what they have and do their best to win.

6. High school coaches are not their to get kids college scholarships. Tough one to swallow I know, but they can help in many ways, but in the end Johnny is a college p_layer_ or he's not. Timpview or Lehi.

7. Kids don't necessarily get scholarships _base_d on HS performance only these days. Summer, workouts, size, speed, ability, grades, intangibles (and more) all go into it. Most of those are things Timpview or any other school can't give a kid or take away from a kid. Exposure is huge, but that may end up being up to you anyway if your kid isn't a D1 can't miss anyway.

All this being said, I don't blame people for wanting the best for their little Johnny's. Lord knows I did for my little Johnny when he played.

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As a parent of both boys and girls athletes who have participated in football, basketball, track, volleyball, and cross-country, I have heard both sides of this issue for the past almost decade. Personally, I have changed my views over time as I have considered different angles on the issue.

My own views aside, does it not seem that Utah has been jousting this issue Don Quixote-like forever? Utah seems mired in the quicksand, not moving forward, and not fixing the issues. It's clear the system we have now DOES NOT WORK. Recruiting is alive and well in Utah High School athletics, it's just camoflaged in the UHSAA's bylaws.

Here's the secret: as long as the athlete does not participate in high school level sports (excluding 9th grade in those schools where 9th grade is part of the middle school or jr. high) that athlete is elligible to play at any high school.

So, if Johnny wants to play UVFL football with all of his Provo neighborhood friends through the 8th grade, then enroll at Timpview for his 9th grade year, he's completely and legally elligible to play, regardless of his residence address. Same for basketball and any of the other sports.

Once Johnny is enrolled in a high school, however, if he transfers to another school in the state, he is ineligible for sports for 12 months. Basically, he has to sit out a season.

My point is: I look forward to the day when the UHSAA moves out of the 50s and considers a plan where elite athletes can compete at the highest levels regardless of boundaries (a la California), and the kids that want to play at a less competitive level have that option. Open charter schools, parochial schools and so forth should be able to recruit (yes, recruit) the elite athletes and offer them the best opportunities to be seen by colleges.

50s-era Utah HS Sports Fan: Get used to it. It's going to happen.

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Would you like some cheese with your whine!

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