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The Constitution of the Alabama High School Athletic
Association requires that rulings be given in writing only (Article X,
Note, of the AHSAA Handbook). The Handbook states that a verbal opinion or
statement is not an official ruling.
Many
principals, coaches and parents call the State Office with questions
concerning eligibility. In an
effort to serve school authorities in the most expedient manner possible,
Executive Director Steve Savarese and his staff give verbal opinions and
statements on the phone.
However,
Savarese wants every principal and coach to be aware of the rules and
procedures of the AHSAA and that verbal opinions are given according to
the application of the rules governing eligibility. To get an official ruling on any
case, it must be submitted in writing to the Executive
Director.
It
is the policy of the State Office to give official rulings in writing only
upon request of a school principal. The rulings are based on the facts
presented in the letter of request. In this regard the ruling can only be
as accurate as the information given.
Many
principals and coaches refer parents to the State Office to inquire about
their child’s eligibility.
The parent is sometimes misled to believe that the Executive
Director has the authority to grant eligibility to a student
arbitrarily. The Executive
Director has no such authority.
In many cases, school personnel know the rules regarding
eligibility but simply are unable to say “no” to a
student.
Since
each member school has a current Handbook, a principal or coach can
usually determine a student’s eligibility. If the student is ineligible, then
the student and/or the parents should be advised accordingly. It is much better to end the
matter when it is first presented at the school than to project false hope
by referring the parent to the Executive Director with the implication
that a ruling contrary to the Constitution and By-Laws can be given.
Official
rulings are never given to parents or outside people, only to member
schools of the AHSAA.
The
appeal procedure as outlined in the Constitution (Article X) states that
the Executive Director will give the first ruling on any case. This ruling may be appealed to the
District Board, whose ruling may be appealed to the Central Board of
Control provided the school has reason to think that an incorrect ruling
has been given or the rules have not been properly
applied.
Each
school principal is committed to abide by the rules and regulations of the
AHSAA and the decisions of the Central Board of Control by signing the
school membership application form submitted to the State Office at the
beginning of each new school year.
The Central Board’s decision should be the last attempt for an
appeal.
In
recent years, however, several cases have gone to the courts where a long
and expensive procedure has taken place. When the high school athletic
program is put into the local courts, the perspective of the entire
program is out of focus.
Member
schools of the AHSAA make the rules and should abide by them until the
schools in turn decide to change the rules or remove them entirely from
the Constitution and By-Laws.
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