Restrictions OKd for Transfer Athletes

School board trustees agreed to prohibit out-of-area athletes from playing varsity sports for one year after transferring to a city school--but the new policy won’t take effect unless other schools districts also adopt it.

Officials with the Marmonte League--which includes Westlake, Newbury Park, Agoura, Simi Valley, Royal, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks high schools--asked district trustees to adopt the policy in an effort to stop sports teams from adding players who do not live in the area.

Moorpark Unified’s school board became the first to agree to the policy, which would bar students who transfer within the city or between districts from playing varsity sports until they have completed one academic year. Such athletes could still play on junior varsity teams.

The Conejo, Las Virgenes and Simi school boards must also approve the proposal, however, for it to take effect. If approved by all the boards, the rule would be implemented in fall 2001.

Royal High School Principal Bob LaBelle presented the proposal to the school boards of Moorpark, Simi, Conejo and Las Virgenes. He said he was he was pleased to get the Moorpark board’s support. He is hopeful that the other schools districts will also sign on in coming weeks.

“The other school boards think this is ethically correct,” he said. “And seven out of seven principals are also in favor.”