Rule Change Opens the Door for County Spring Leagues

Ocean View Coach Jim Harris called the newly formed spring basketball leagues at Capistrano Valley and Ocean View high schools “the wave of the future.”

The schools, through local parks and recreation departments, are offering alternative, low-cost leagues for freshman, sophomore, junior varsity and varsity players.

The entry fee for players at Ocean View High is $75. Five teams, made up of freshmen and sophomore players from Mater Dei and Ocean View, compete on Tuesday nights for eight weeks.

The entry fee for players competing at Capistrano Valley High and Saddleback College is $45. Twenty teams, made up of junior varsity and varsity players in the Saddleback Valley, compete on Saturdays for eight weeks.

A Southern Section rule change in January allows entire teams to compete together in spring and summer leagues as long as their coach doesn’t coach the team and the school doesn’t organize the league.

Dave Aucoin, a veteran traveling all-star coach from Placentia, organized the league at Ocean View with assistance from Converse shoes. The recreation department in the City of San Juan Capistrano organized the league at Capistrano Valley.

“You can’t watch your kids play in your own gym, but it’s awfully convenient for my kids to play in their own gym rather than going to Compton to play on the weekends,” Harris said. “Dave got a late start organizing the league because the rule change was made midway through the basketball season, but I think you’ll see a team rate of $300 next year, which is very affordable.”

Capistrano Valley Coach Mark Thornton said the school’s spring league officials are being paid money comparable to those in the Future Stars and Slam-n-Jam leagues, despite the lower entry fee. Capistrano Valley referees are paid $15; the higher-priced leagues pay officials $18 and $22.

“Both of my sons have been in both leagues (Slam-n-Jam and Future Stars) and I have nothing bad to say about them,” Thornton said. “But our leagues are giving our kids a better chance to play in a low-key atmosphere.

“The kids are closer to home and playing team basketball. There are times in those other leagues where you throw the ball into somebody and you’re lucky to see it again unless you get a rebound.”