City to Stop Competition in Off-Seasons

A loophole allowing off-season high school competition such as spring football passing competition and winter-league baseball will be closed by the City Section next month, Commissioner Hal Harkness said Friday.

The revision will put the City Section in line with its Southern Section counterparts and will end years of loosely organized, off-season competition in a variety of sports.

The Interscholastic Athletics Committee is expected to implement the proposal barring off-season contact between coaches and players with remaining eligibility at a meeting May 17. The rule would not affect summer-league play.

“It will be approved,” Harkness said. “It’s something we should have addressed years ago.”

Harkness said his office has long heard complaints that varsity coaches have pressured players into specializing in one sport. Often, that pressure has forced players to participate in off-season, weekend games. Some players have been directly or indirectly told that they must play to keep their place on the team, he said.

“We have kids that are being coerced or pressured into participating in off-season games,” Harkness said. “We’d prefer kids not to specialize.”

Insurance liability also is a concern, because off-season events are not sanctioned by the City athletics office and transportation is not provided.

Several City football teams already have begun playing in spring passing leagues, probably for the last time.

Participation in non-sanctioned yet school-related games leaves the district open to lawsuits, Harkness said.

It is thought that baseball programs with strong youth feeder programs and parental support would start club programs.

Currently, club teams may not be coached by “anyone connected with the school,” Harkness said, and teams may not use school equipment. Use of school facilities also is prohibited unless the teams follow user-permit procedures, he said.