Charleston, W.V.
Sen Amy Gradi (R-Manan)
Bill, SB 813, says that keeping children from travel teams during their school team season is illegally arbitrary and not rational.
Amy Gradi, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, R-Masan, head sponsor of the bill, said that he believes that a student may be loyal to his school team, while playing travel balls at the same time.
“Many of these parents and students are choosing a trip to play for their high school team as the journey gives them more risk for more college coaches and other things. So we want to be able to achieve that risk and have a sense of pride to play for your community, ”Gradi said.
The Bill states that “a County Board and West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission may prevent a student from participating in non-school events or participate in non-school competitive teams nor can a school restrain as an extra curricular activity or play for sports.”
David Stover
Sen David Stover, R-Wiming, a former coach, said that he removes some problems with change. He said that loyalty can be divided.
“I don’t agree that you should be able to operate both teams in a single season,” Stover said. “If I am going to play for high school, I should not divide my time into a coach or player.”
Stover said that high school coach benches can choose players who select the travel team in the school team.
Graddy said that this is a coach call.
“I agree that this is the decision of a coach. If you choose to play in another team during your season. The coach can say that you are going to lose your initial place. This is the decision of a coach. So we rent the coach, right? ,
Graddy said that most travel team season comes after the actual high school season.
The committee approved an amendment that would allow high school coaches to coach the travel teams in the same game. Currently West Virginia is not allowed by SSAC.
Mike Olivorio
Amendment sponsor, Sen Mike Olivario, R-Monongalia, said that he wanted to give coaches as flexibility as possible.
“Who is better to coordinate with you? I just want to tie the hands of my coaches and make more flexibility, ”said Olivario.
The approved amendment states that the coach that selects coach coach travel balls can only do so if he does not interview with his contract with the County Board of Education.
The bills now head the full Senate for consideration.