| OCR Text |
Show As the Ball Bounces 7 r . 77 - Soccer teams face inequalities I In spite of worthy efforts to save money, consolidate tournaments I and facilitate inter-school competition, The Utah High School I Athletic Association should not sacrifice equality among teams in an I attempt to reach these important goals. I For the most part, competition between high schools is evenly I matched There will always be dominant teams even though schools I in similar classes, i.e., 3A, 4A, etc., have roughly similar pools of I players to draw from when trying to man a team. I However, inequalities do exist. The pools of players from which I high school girls soccer teams are chosen are not equal. High I schools that have freshman players have and will continue to I dominate girls' soccer play. I High school girls' soccer is a relatively new sport. And, surprising- I ly, the most experienced players are not even seniors yet. For exam- I pie, this year's 3A and 4A state champions Ben Lomond and I Brighton have been the dominant teams for a number of years and I allow freshmen to play on their teams. Last year's most valuable I player was a freshman from Ben Lomond. This edge is obviously I making a difference. I Individual districts generally are responsible for deciding if I freshman can participate on the team. The athletic association is not I responsible, but there obviously is an inequality, and steps should be I taken to resolve the problem. I Although most Davis County, high school girls' soccer coaches I can see both points of view, many admit their teams would be more I competitive if district policy allowed freshman girls to compete in I soccer at the high school level. l Davis School District policy states that if a given junior high does not offer a sport at the junior high level, a freshman may compete at the high school levelexcept in team sports. In the majority of sports such as football, basketball and volleyball, this does not create a dilemma because few freshman athletes can compete on a varsity level in these sports; however, in girls' soccer, some of the most gifted athletes have not yet reached the high school level. Where Davis County schools stand at a disadvantage, according to District Athletic Administrator Jim Hill, is where schools such as powerhouse Judge and Ben Lomond have the ninth grade included in the high school itself. "Another problem you run into," said Hill, "is the fact that junior high school time is different than high school time. Five of our six high schools are on an eight-period block with 'A' and 'B' schedules. On the 'A' day, practice generally begins at 2:30 p.m., but on the B' day, practice may begin at 1 p.m." Hill added that transportation to high school from the junior high also presents a major problem. Hill said that junior high students competing on the high school level must furnish their own transpor-. tat ion and are not allowed to leave class until school lets out. South Davis coaches react differently to the prospect of freshman girls participating on their teams, but all agree that with them their teams would be more competitive. According to Bountiful High soccer coach Dave Wigham, next year's Bountiful girls' soccer team would be three times as good if he were allowed to play freshman girls as is done in most of the school districts throughout the state. I Woods Cross Wildcat coach Kevin Rigby said, "I would love to I have the girls for four years, but I can also see the district's point of I view. How do you arrange to get them out of school?" I Viewmont High Schools girls' soccer coach Richard Cook feels I that not being able to use freshman does put Davis County high I school soccer programs at a disadvantage, especially because soccer I programs are not offered in the junior high schools. I "We can compete well because of the South Davis Soccer I Association program," said Cook. I "I can understand that transportation (of junior high students) is a I real problem. I guess the real issue is whether or not the emphasis I and only purpose of athletics is to teach kids values or to try and I compete. I "I don't know what the answer is. I do know, however, that since I the junior high school football program was eliminated, our football I program has gone downhill. Our kids that walk on the field for the I first time as sophomores are at a disadvantage. I South Davis girls' soccer teams continue to compete in the state I tournament which is a compliment to the dedicated coaches and I athletes. I No matter how hard we try to disguise or hide it, the intent behind I competition is winning games. I The activities association and individual school districts must I reach a compromise that is fair to all teams. Compromising south I Davis and other girls' soccer teams for the sake of convenience isn't really fair to the coaches or the athletes. I |
