LHSAA ODP Proposal

 

We hope you will take the time to understand and actively support the LHSAA rule change that St. Amant High School is proposing.  It adds an exemption to the independent teams rule that will

 

allow players to participate on Regional ODP and National level soccer teams during the high school season.

 

During the LHSAA Convention, January 23-25^th, the High School Principals will vote on this proposal.  There are 407 Member High Schools in the LHSAA.  Less than half have soccer, and it is safe to say that only a handful of principals, even at soccer schools, know anything about ODP.  LHSAA holds Area Meetings around the state January 7-17. This is where the support for the proposal needs to be gathered, and is probably where the real decisions are made.  LSA (the Louisiana Soccer Association) mailed letters to each principal in early January asking for support. 

 

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTS SOCCER contact their local high school principals (both at soccer and non-soccer schools).  Without an explanation, this proposal will mean nothing to them.  We need to help them understand the proposal.

 

Ten reasons why this proposal should be passed:

1. Fair for the players – allows regional/national development and recognition.  There are only four Regions in the US.  Playing at this level is well beyond the high school or club level.  It is an opportunity that few players have.
2. Better for the high school teams – given the choice, players invited to a regional or national event will attend at the expense of their high school eligibility.  Every regional event is a tryout for the national teams.  Skipping events would mean a lack of commitment that can influence their future at the national level.  Wouldn’t it be nice to let these players return for the rest of the season?
3. Part of the reasoning behind the independent teams rule is to protect the players from being overused during the high school season. Regional and National teams are not like local teams.  The players are selected from a pool of identified players and invited to specific events.  There is no set roster, like a club soccer team or AAU basketball team.  The Olympic Development Program at the regional and national level is an honor and provides a great opportunity for training with the best.
4. LHSAA does not grant exceptions to their rules.  They have to have a rule (like the other 9 clarifications to the independent teams rule) added to allow something.  Even with an LHSAA rule to allow participation in Regional and National soccer events, schools and teams can have stricter rules.  (Passing this rule change does not prevent a high school coach from having a school rule that would prevent a player from participating.)
5. Similar exceptions have been passed in Louisiana for professional baseball tryouts and NCAA basketball evaluation showcases during the high school seasons.  Our talented soccer players deserve similar treatment.
6. No other Region III (Southern US) High School Athletic/Activities Association prevents players from participating at the regional/national level during high school.  Most other states allow participation as well.  The National Federation of High Schools even has procedures agreed to with US Soccer and USYSA to facilitate player participation at Regional and National levels.
7. Louisiana is one of six states in the US that play high school in the winter (LA, MS, TX, FL, CA, HI), when most other players and coaches are available for training.  The rest of the country is split between fall and spring seasons.  This just adds to our conflicts.
8. This year twelve Louisiana soccer players were selected to the Regional pools.  Only six were invited to participate with Regional teams this fall (last fall there were three).  This January two Louisiana players have participated in US National Team Camps, making them ineligible to finish the high school season.  How fair is this?
9. Louisiana High School Soccer Coaches Association overwhelmingly endorsed this proposal last spring.
10. LSA fully supports this proposal.

 

If you need more information about ODP or would like to discuss the issue, please feel free to call us at 225 647-0161, or email us at [email protected].  The LSA website and LAprepSoccer.com also have information about the proposal.  More LHSAA information, including names/numbers of ALL member schools/principals, can be found at www.lhsaa.org

 

We hope you can understand and actively support Louisiana’s very talented up-and-coming student-athletes.