Have questions for the new CIF-SS commissioner?
Above: Rob Wigod, the new CIF-SS Commissioner.
As part of the CIF-Southern Section's continuing hope to communicate effectively with the public through media outlets, the CIF-Southern Section will hold a Q&A session with Rob Wigod, the new Commissioner of Athletics.
The session will take place Aug. 25 at the Southern Section office in Los Alamitos. All topics are on the table, unless otherwise precluded from doing so (i.e. pending legal issues).
If you have specific questions you would like me to ask, please leave a comment or email me at miguel.melendez@sgvn.com.
Wigod, who officially took over the position today, succeeds the much-respected Jim Staunton.
For the last decade, Wigod served as assistant commissioner and he's now the point-man who will oversees 581 member schools with approximately 800,000 student-athletes.
In an interview with our Doug Krikorian, Wigod explained what he thinks might be the most daunting challenge:
"Trying to keep the focus on what high school athletics is all about - and what they're all about is for student-athletes to gain life lessons through athletic competition," he said. "There's a peripheral segment that hangs around and cares only about star athletes getting pro contracts, or college scholarships.
"Obviously, we're proud of our student-athletes who get scholarships, or who are good enough to sign pro contracts. But only a small number of them wind up with full rides to colleges, or play professional athletics."
I seldom interacted with Wigod during my four years at the Orange County Register (working a lot more closely with the now-retired Paul Castillo since he was the assistant commissioner in charge of the sports I covered at the Register). But over the last four years since my arrival here at the Star-News I've worked closely with Wigod, and he's proven to be a man of integrity. I look forward to working with Wigod and his staff.
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
I'm a volleyball coach at Chaparral High School in Temecula, CA. I have a freshman girl with a full prosthetic left leg that made the team. I'm sure we need some sort of letter approving her to participate.
I'm aware of the rules governing a prosthetic: "It cannot be any more dangerous than the corresponding body part, and it cannot be ruled a disadvantage for the opponent." The knee and shin will need to be padded to cover the metal parts. Other than that, she's good to go.
Can you help direct me towards the right forms? I know we'll need to present the officiating crews for each of our matches with some sort of formal letter of CIFSS approval.
Is Cif going to Move some teams up in Division any time soon? Mainly Monrovia or West Covina who may go back to back Division Champs. Monrovia is beating up on the competition in the Rio Hondo, and Midvalley Division.
Yes, part of CIF's objective is to regulate play, but my comment goes more about what CIF is doing to address the very issue that Mr. Wigod commented on.. and if more could be done i.e. "Trying to keep the focus on what high school athletics is all about - and what they're all about is for student-athletes to gain life lessons through athletic competition..."
When has CIF partnered up with it's members (585 of them)to promote school pride, or promoting a team spirit day or month, or honored a school for decades of athletic achievements i.e. Pasadena, Muir (or Blair in its prime - think of Chris McAlister's dad, and yes, I am biased)or even hosted a reunion of the great ones from the CIF-SS or any section for that matter? Held a fundraiser for booster clubs supporting its members, or hosting clinics for its coaches in areas where "IT" believes there should be more competitive play? Or started a campaign that encourages players (and thir families)to honor the code and to "play where you live." Simple ideas (got hundreds of them) that encourages (and rewards) play, commitment and honor of the/a sport.
Metaphorically, imagine if the Pasadena Star News never covered one single sporting event for any schools in PUSD, but only reported on who is and is not eligible to play. Would you like that? I don't think so. Again, regulation is part of the job, but regulating the ".....peripheral segment that hangs around and cares only about star athletes getting pro contracts, or college scholarships." can't be all there is.
I'm hoping that the new CIF-SS chief will strive to make the high school sports (football in particular)an enjoyable, memory packed experience for our kids - regardless of their future goals or aspirations. There will be some cheaters but they won't spoil the fun for everyone else.
I am hopeful....Mr. Wigod has quite a bit of memorabilia in his office....from the SS section, no doubt.
Laurence Todd
President
www.pasadenasportshalloffame.rog
How can a player practice in the summer with a school he is not enrolled in and then go to a different school without any consequences.
Mr. Todd,
Isn't the CIF FORCED to regulate due to the actions/roles of schools, parents, coaches in bending/breaking the rules in place? I doubt it's students wanting to transfer etc. that leads to the incredible lengths one reads/hears about when it comes to transfers....
fbfan's comment is an example of what many know what's going on at ONE school. This is ORGANIZED by the schoool. Does Alemany provide this service for non-athletes?
Let me ask you this: Does Alemany 'care' what about these players experiences in the years of their lives AFTER they leave the school?
im with fbfan pasadena talent is being spread all over mostly to Alemany. i think they should make a rule that if you grew up in a city and stayed with a certain parent you shouldn't be allowed to all of a sudden move with another parent or guardian and play for another school especially a private school. i have witnessed a van that comes to pasadena to take the kids to alemany every morning for school when they do that the student should have to sit out their first year of varsity football.
Over the years, CIF's role in competitive play has been more of regulators i.e. who can and who cannot play, rather than facilitators/mentors of competitive play. Granted, we all love it when our kids get the full four year ride or even the pro contract, but what about their experience in their conference/leagues for those four years of their lives?
I guess the question is: "Is CIF living up to the expectations of its membership and student body in its current capacity?" (Careful, its a loaded question.)
Laurence Todd
President
www.pasadenasportshalloffame.org
The most daunting challenge should be how to stop schools like Alemany from coming into Pasadena and recruiting kids to go out there. Why doesn't the CIF enforce their own rules.