There has been a lot of discussion lately, locally and statewide, about school choice — student-athletes' right or opportunity to transfer from one school to another just to play for a certain team.
Tallahassee law makers seem determined to open flood gates that would allow any student or student-athlete to attend any Florida high school, regardless of different school districts' policies.
On the surface, that sounds all well and good, but folks in Tallahassee don’t have to hire teachers and coaches. And well-intentioned law makers don’t have to squeeze additional students into an already overcrowded building.
Facility and faculty issues aside, something doesn’t sit right with me about athletes transferring for the opportunity to play more or to play on a better team.
Everyone talks about the right of the athlete to go from school A to school B, but nobody seems to talk about the athlete who has been faithful to school B throughout his or her time in high school.
There is an old saying that coaches used to tell athletes, “If you stay, you’ll play.” Simply put, if you work hard for two or three years, by the time you are a junior or senior, you will be rewarded for the hard work with significant playing time.
Some kids who stay with the promise of playing as upperclassman endure the hardship of being a practice player or scout team member for two or three years. Often, the promise of playing as a junior or senior keeps them leaving when things are tough.
How many athletes who have stayed with the hope of playing have been denied their turn on the field or court because a hot shot player from another local school decides there is more glory to be had elsewhere?
Does a coach play the transfer, who is a better athlete, over the kid who has been loyal to the program for several years?
And what about the rights of kids who stayed with the hope of playing for their school, only to see the playing time taken from them by someone who was a rival the year before?
Players destined to be Crestview backups will transfer to Baker or Laurel Hill, where they can start. And occasionally, a Baker or Laurel Hill player will transfer up to see how they do against the top competition.
I understand a kid wanting to play up in competition or move down to compete against those more on his or her skill level, but I can’t always agree with the decision.
As long as Okaloosa County has a school choice policy, questions about student-athletes transferring to play will always be a hot topic. I don’t know if there are any easy answers.
However, there is an obvious answer: requiring students to attend school in their designated district.
It might not be popular, but it might be the best and right thing to do.
Email randyd@crestviewbulletin.com, tweet @cnb_sports or call 682-6524 to contact Randy Dickson.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SIDELINE OBSERVATIONS: Pitfalls of Florida student-athlete transfers