Proposal on Foreign Preps Weighed : Offer Threatens Eligibility of Many Current Competitors

Many foreign high school students in Southern California would be ruled ineligible for varsity athletics if a proposal initiated by an Orange County principal receives majority approval Thursday by the Southern Section of the California Interscholastic Federation.

Foreign students living in Southern California with their parents, or under one of 11 foreign exchange programs recognized by the Southern Section would remain eligible under the proposal originally made by Dr. Dennis Evans, principal at Corona del Mar High School.

However, those who have come to the area through any other program or on their own--a group that includes many refugees from Southeast Asia and Central America--and who live with relatives or friends, would no longer be able to play varsity sports.

Evans introduced the proposal, which must be approved by the 61 leagues of the Southern Section, because he was concerned that some Southern California high schools were becoming training camps for foreign athletes.

But critics of the proposal believe that it would unfairly penalize too many foreign students.

“I have Southeast Asian kids who live with aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends,” said Robert A. Boehme, principal of Westminster High School. “We have a lot of Southeast Asians playing badminton, soccer and tennis. The proposal will run them out of business.

“I think there’s a personal bias. You’re denying a kid the right to participate on varsity sports. That’s discrimination.”

The proposed rule change reads: “A foreign student who is under no exchange program is ineligible for varsity athletics.”

Although the proposal does not specifically address the parental issue, Stan Thomas, a Tustin Unified School District administrator and chairman of the Southern Section Rules Committee, said officials understand it to mean that only those foreign students who move here and live with their parents--or are here under qualified exchange student programs--would be eligible.

A survey of league representatives in the Southern Section revealed that the proposal will encounter strong opposition.

Times staff writer Jim McCurdie contributed to this story.