Canada's mom speaks out

I had a conversation with a former local coach last week who told me recruiting is done by ALL schools and it was the part of the job he hated. He stated if its not done by the head coach it's done by the assistants. How else are schools going to win unless they get talent?

How about we examine the role of the "new" coach in all of this. Maybe it time for coaches to address openly the issues involved. Some coaches do a better job of leaving themselves "open" to transfers while others flat out recruit. The fact is some coach put out "feelers" or have conversations where players names come up and the casually ask..."Oh ...why was he thinking about transferring. I think Damien does a pretty good job in this area.

The bigger question I think is how many parents are holding their kids back a full year to gain some sort of athletic advantage. My son is 14 and plays along side team mates that turn 16 as Freshmen? My son will graduate, like I did at 17. It's a tough call for kids being held back..what happens when they don't pan out...do they blame their parents or are they stigmatized by their peers?

Maybe someone has information or an opinion on this...I know I haven't figured it out...I mena what do you do academically when you're repeating a year's worth of school work...that you've already had? Is that cheating and does CIF have a stated policy on this most recent trend.

On my son's Travel Ball Club at least three parents held their kids back...and all were at least B+ or A students?

Any thoughts?

Huskie Parent,
Thanks for being honest, I couldn't agree with you more, what are we teaching our kids, that its ok to cheat & get a false address or make up an excuse to get a hardship just cause the grass looks a little greener, isn't it better to teach our kids loyalty, why not teach em to stay & try to improve the situation at your current school.
Instead of running to greener pastures, why don't we teach our kids to try to make the best out of whatever situation they are in. So Canada was there at Duarte all this time only for coach Crutchfield? Then why didn't he follow him to BP.? Or what about his teammates & friends over at Duarte, wasn't he there for them too, or was it just for coach Crutchfield.

Duarte never played Glendora, and Huskie parent he's a Huskie now... He's no longer a Falcon, be a little positive... Did u not read Fred's earlier post, about 99.9% of transfers are athletically motivated... Which is 100% accurate... He transfered to a much better school in athletics, as well as education... The shirley case is much different, W.C. to S.H. minute drive and education wise W.C. is not better than S.H. but it's a good school... I don't think CIF will deny his transfer, senior season and he transfered up a couple notches... It's not like he stayed in the same division or league...

I mentioned the attention this transfer is getting to my son tonight and he told me that this entire situation is going to get worse before anything gets better because and now these are his words not mine "unless he gets an address he won't be eligible to play football anyways" meaning my son his teammate actually is even aware of that this transfer is lacking a legitimate address so he can compete and play on our team this year. I was astonished at him knowing this much probably being too much information and what's that say and the lessons were teaching our children when he comes home and I'll stop before I get too far ahead of myself but I am a parent and a fan of South Hills football and even I admit these transfers and win at whatever cost mentality is getting to be extreme when kids are participating in the politics. Stop already and please I beg you plead with you let's get back to doing the right thing and remember there is still a real game that were teaching them most importantly everyday and that's the game of life!

is that him straight arming a glendora player

Are parents getting dumber by the minute in high school sports? I mean think about recently the father who okay'd his son to drop out of high school before his senior year and go play basketball in europe. Stop shopping your kids around 1 out of 150 kids make it to a division 1 school on a scholarship. I don't have the exact number for pros but I'm sure its even smaller.

Fred,

A lock? How so? What about the freshman that the GURU claimed to be the next ADAM MUEMA? Or the other Jordan that put a spanking on Schurr, after the coaches decided to cut his playing time against DR? Remember Fred he came from the Montview, the two leagues don't compare... The teams, coaching, and players you can't compare at all... Speed, size, and strength are all at a whole other notch...

Jacob shirley was denied for baseball and football---sat out this year football, has been sitting all season and will for the next 8+ games for baseball. Next season football 09--he's good to go. Come on Jake, play football.!!!!

The CIF Website states under their Hardship Appeals that Jacob Shirely's State Appeal was denied as of 4/16. He has been ruled ineligible for both football and baseball.

Shirley Jacob South Hills Denied State Appeal - Restrict baseball and football 04/16/2009

A good chance? I would say he's a lock to start in the backfield. And I repeat, if they talk Shirley into playing quarterback with everything else they have back, the Hills will give Charter Oak a run for their money.

Fred,

Do you think he has a good chance at starting at S.H.?

Yup, Fred is completely accurate... He should be able to play, I'm sure his parents thought about the move before they made it... Knowing that possibly he wouldn't play, isn't SH one of the better academic schools in the SGV also???

Yup, Fred is completely accurate... He should be able to play, I'm sure his parents thought about the move before they made it... Knowing that possibly he wouldn't play, isn't SH one of the better academic schools in the SGV also???

They're all athletically motivated to a degree. Name a high profile football player that transferred for non athletic reasons.

If you think this transfer isn't athletically motivated your're nuts. That's all it is. You would think she could lie a little better about it. When the CIF rules the two can't play she'll think twice.

Its sad that all she talked about was the athletic part of the problem. What about their education? I can already see where this is going. Its not like they'll play in the NFL. South Hills is a good School for education but we can see she didnt do research on this.

sgv fan..

I don't know the man, but I would have to agree, at least partially. The decrease in numbers and lack of a freshman team has to fall on the head coach.

But, in the end the administration allowed it to take place. I think it will take more than two years. There will have to be some institutional changes for there to be real growth at Duarte.

cougar you are wrong. The problem was Wardell. Give the program 2 years to get over all the harm done by that coaching staff, and they will be back to normal.

I completely understand Mrs. Canada's desire to provide the best opportunity for her sons; academically and athletically. We all want our children to be in the best situation.

There is no doubt that the infrastructure and support systems at South Hills allows that to take place, with our without athletic participation.

I would agree from her comments that she did do everything she could as a parent to help right the ship that is Duarte Football; even participating in the hiring process by being a member of the interview panel, with her son Jordan.

The problem is institutional, beyond athletics, at the administrative level. It falls directly on the principal's desk. He allowed the football program to become nothing more than a football team. There was no freshman team last year, and only a handful of players at the end of the 2008 season.

Did she say "that's the only reason(Jordan and Jaime) were at Duarte was because of Wardell"? Wouldn't that mean the transfer was athletically motivated? Which would make them ineligible for the 2009/2010 season? Wow. Am I wrong? Can someone help me understand the C.I.F. rule on that?