JC Recruiting Rule Hard to Enforce, Coaches Say

A state community college panel’s decision to adopt stricter penalties for recruiting violations was criticized as ineffective Friday by two Valley-area coaches.

The California Assn. of Community Colleges Commission on Athletics moved Wednesday to crack down on recruiting violations in the wake of an NCCA Division I rule that will force some athletes to the junior college level.

“I don’t see it as being much different,” said Al Nordquist, Moorpark’s basketball coach. “It just looks like they’re going to be making efforts to enforce them.”

The recruiting rule that most concerns area coaches involves initial contact with potential recruits outside their district boundaries.

“We interpret the rules as saying that once the student-athlete makes the initial contact, we can make subsequent contacts and provide them with information necessary to get them into school,” Nordquist said.

Said Valley baseball Coach Scott Muckey: “That’s the way it’s always been. If you want to get a hold of someone out of your area, you can just make arrangements for someone to have the athlete make the initial contact.

“I don’t know how they would police something like that.”

Additionally, student-athletes already at a junior college who wish to transfer to another junior college, are required to complete 15 units in residence. Currently, students are required to complete 12 units.

“I like the 15-unit rule,” Muckey said. “When somebody makes a commitment to a school, they should stick with it. If they want to leave, they should have to work for it.”