Donations to athletes; merit scholarships

[ClayK]

So the Stockton Record piece

https://www.recordnet.com/sports/20...lation-of-cif-lsquoundue-influencersquo-rules

is about St. Mary's but it applies to all private schools and if seriously enforced, could have a major impact on all high school sports in the state.

If, for example, schools cannot give merit scholarships to athletes (even though they could to musicians and math whizzes) then I think some sports powerhouses are going to suffer a drop in talent. The reason is that if athletes can only receive needs-based funds, with the amount determined by an outside firm that uses tax data and tuition costs to come up with the number, then many athletes that now attend private schools at substantial discounts will have to pay significantly higher tuition.

When I coached at Bentley, this was a major issue for us, on top of the strict academic requirements, as athletes that were interested simply couldn't afford to attend.

It would seem that if there is enforcement, big Catholic schools with elite programs in many sports could now have to restructure their aid programs so that all donations, scholarships, etc., go into the general aid pool, and aid amounts are determined by an outside agency.

 

[OnBall8]

It would seem that if there is enforcement, big Catholic schools with elite programs in many sports could now have to restructure their aid programs so that all donations, scholarships, etc., go into the general aid pool, and aid amounts are determined by an outside agency.

There are more than you think that already operate this way or close to it.

 

[Streak One]

I agree with Clay that this could cause big ripple effects on the prep scene if it becomes something sections look into more. A big if though.

Back to the article, whether this is fully true or partially true at St. Mary's, I don't thnk it falls solely on the athletic department like the article insinuates.

 

[da real]

CIF is playing with fire if they begin to over regulate private schools.

 

[Norcal_Fan]

I agree with Clay that this could cause big ripple effects on the prep scene if it becomes something sections look into more. A big if though.

Back to the article, whether this is fully true or partially true at St. Mary's, I don't thnk it falls solely on the athletic department like the article insinuates.

How would the CIF regulate private schools and how their students scholarships are distributed? Seems to me that if you offer scholarships based on X, then it should be allowed for Y and Z. For instance, you offer a band, drama, or sining scholarship, it would only make sense to be able to offer a athletic one. So an ex-teacher wants to give money so that underserved kids in Stockton can go to a private school and play basketball. I'm on the fence if that's okay or not.

It's not like a cookie king allowing a family to live, virtually rent free in one of the most expensive places in the Bay Area just so their kids could go to a school. I"m sure it happens in more places than we know. But for a coach to say he doesn't know whats going on is just stupid.

 

[ankleassassin]

Of course he is wearing a Patriots hat.

 

[Bigran44]

Oh the evil private schools, giving out discounted higher education to the less fortunate in exchange for athletic services. How terrible.

 

[SouthBayHoopFan]

Oh the evil private schools, giving out discounted higher education to the less fortunate in exchange for athletic services. How terrible.

It's one of the most terrible things I've ever heard of. Thank God the colleges don't do it!

 

[ClayK]

It's another example of how athletes are punished. A drama student can get a donation, but an athlete can't. A musician can transfer and play first violin in the orchestra as soon as she arrives on campus; an athlete has to sit out.

Makes no sense. A family can choose a school for a math whiz but the student doesn't have to stay out of math class.

 

[observer22]

Oh the evil private schools, giving out discounted higher education to the less fortunate in exchange for athletic services. How terrible.

That is, if you consider high school to be “higher education”.

 

[straightline50]

It's another example of how athletes are punished. A drama student can get a donation, but an athlete can't. A musician can transfer and play first violin in the orchestra as soon as she arrives on campus; an athlete has to sit out.

Makes no sense. A family can choose a school for a math whiz but the student doesn't have to stay out of math class.

Not sure how many math whizzes are getting boosters dropping off cash at the school to go toward an individuals tuition bill. If this story is true it will not end well for St. Marys.

 

[Valleycat209]

Netflix documentary??

 

[Streak One]

Statement from St. Mary's-Stockton

 

[straightline50]

St. Mary's is asserting they didn't know paying for basketball players tuition through a private donor was not proper?

 

[Bigran44]

Private school is definitely considered higher education when for example, OUSD schools are terrible in comparison. It might not seem higher to those fortunate enough to live in a nice area. I find it odd that most of kids on scholarship are underprivileged. When did it become wrong to help those less fortunate get quality education.

 

[ClayK]

Which comes back to why athletes are treated differently than other students. I've been waiting a long time for someone to come up with a good reason and no one has.

And yet a young talented athlete in Oakland or Stockton cannot take advantage of an opportunity to get a better education and improve their chances of getting a scholarship while a talented actor can.

 

[Bigran44]

Because most of the athletes that you speak of are minorities.

 

[Norcal_Fan]

Which comes back to why athletes are treated differently than other students. I've been waiting a long time for someone to come up with a good reason and no one has.

And yet a young talented athlete in Oakland or Stockton cannot take advantage of an opportunity to get a better education and improve their chances of getting a scholarship while a talented actor can.

how many actors do you know (personally) that have gotten full ride scholarships to a private high school for acting? Or a wiz kid in math? It's cause it's hypothetical and it doesn't happen (maybe once in 3 blue moons). athletics are visible and the MAIN reason why it's differs is because of the stigma that athletes are stupid and dumb. So why let a stupid and dumb kid into a college prep school when they won't be able to hang academically? Now i know this is a slight exaggeration, but it's the truth. There is still a stigma out there that athletes are just there for athletics.

 

[ClayK]

I'm not talking about a full ride -- I'm talking about financial aid in excess of the amount specified by the firm in New Jersey. I'm talking about a donation to offset some expenses, a partial scholarship for an artist or actor.

That is legal for those students. Illegal for athletes (if they want to participate). Why?

 

[bayareagbballfan]

Which comes back to why athletes are treated differently than other students. I've been waiting a long time for someone to come up with a good reason and no one has.

Why? Money of course. No one is trying to be the music student's agent. No one wants the drama student to endorse their product. Having a great drama program is not going to get big donations to the school, but have the top basketball program in the state or country might and does. The great high school athletes have a chance of making big $$$, so there are a lot of scam out there and the idea is create these rules to prevent exploitation. I'm not saying it's right, but that's the idea.

 

[becoolpt55]

Follow the money

 

[ClayK]

Money? In high school sports? Please ...

What difference does it make to CIF if a player goes pro out of high school? That has zero impact on the bottom line of CIF or any high school.

High school sports in California lose money every year -- though maybe there's a powerhouse football program that draws 8,000 a night somewhere -- so it has nothing to do with money.

And admission is charged for drama, choir, concerts, etc., so there's money in those as well.

But OK, let's say football actually turns a profit (I don't think it's possible without thousands of fans) -- why then are athletes in softball and track prohibited from playing after they transfer? If it's all about the money, that makes no sense.

And finally, if CIF really wanted to cash in on playoffs, super teams comprised of many Power 5 athletes recruited to the same school would draw more fans and TV viewers than a bunch of anonymous schools with just a couple major recruits.

"Follow the money" is an easy answer that allows some to avoid thinking about what the real reasons are, but, to repeat, there is no money in high school sports.

 

[Marcskit]

It's another example of how athletes are punished. A drama student can get a donation, but an athlete can't. A musician can transfer and play first violin in the orchestra as soon as she arrives on campus; an athlete has to sit out.

Makes no sense. A family can choose a school for a math whiz but the student doesn't have to stay out of math class.

I think it has to do with the fact there is no CIF for band, or math. Remember CIF was started for Athletics.
Here's wishing you great hoops

 

[bayareagbballfan]

Money? In high school sports? Please ...

No, but in 1-2 years after high school, of course. Big time money. I would argue a lot of kids are identified and tracked from 5th/6th grade.

 

[larry_c]

Tough situation all around we all know this happens behind closed doors at all levels even at the many private schools around the area at a local level.