New Attendance Zones

[findingthenet]

I'm curious how many Freshman students statewide are being denied the opportunity to try out for Varsity because of the new attendance zones set by the LHSAA? I know of at least 5 schools affected in the Northern part of the state. What I find curious is the votes shown on the LHSAA page. It passed 202 to 132. There were 6 schools who did not vote at all. There were 72 schools who voted on many or ALL other issues, but did not vote on this one. Is that odd??? Was it clear to schools what was being asked in this amendment, as several schools that voted for it are now affected by the change. It is also extremely disappointing that zones were created by LHSAA AFTER contracts were signed back in April/May to go to schools. Seems like parents should have had all the information before their school choice was made.

[coachray40]

This is really where i have a big problem with LHSAA eligibility rules. I also believe this is where we can set the standard for eligibility and get away from all this public/private crap.

Make all freshmen immediately eligible--anywhere and everywhere. No student athlete should be punished for making a school choice, especially if that choice is influenced by desire to attend a faith based school (and that could make for an interesting legal challenge to LHSAA's eligibility policy.) Now, once a student athlete has made a decision on a school of first choice and enrolled, they are there for the duration of their HS time, but every student will be given one (1) opportunity to transfer during that four year period. Keep home attendance zones intact, and the rules for transfers the same. If a student athlete opts to transfer from public to private, or vice versa, they could do so and be immediately eligible provided they live in the home attendance zone of the school they are transferring to--oherwise they sit a year.

Example--Ascension Christian shares a home attendance zone with East Ascension. A student athlete from the Dutchtown area of Ascension parish opts to attend AC as a freshman. Hes immediately eligible. If later in his HS career he and his family cannot meet the academic or financial obligations of AC, or there is a behavior issue, he could then enroll at Dutchtown (which is the school with the home attendance zone that encompasses where the student athlete lives) and then be immediately eligible. If it were the other way around, and the same student athlete wanted to leave Dutchtown to attend AC, he would be ineligible for a year because he doesnt live in ACS home attendance zone. This would eliminate the perceived recruitment of athletes to select schools later in their HS careers.

I personally believe we are going at this select/public issue the wrong way. Give everyone the same rules, get freshmen immediately eligible and then reduce(not deny) student athletes ability to move after they enroll in a school of first choice

[East St Tam]

We had an 8th grader who could play varsity, ineligible for varsity as an 8th grader from outside attendance zone, plays as a freshman and was outstanding, chooses to transfer to the public school in his attendance zone and is immediately eligible as sophomore. Huh? A family moved in from out of state as a sophomore and does not live in attendance zone but chooses our school based on faith, completely ineligible as a sophomore, frustrating. I agree with a transfer not being penalized but after school of first choice. Good luck with moving that dot!