Explanation Of OSSAA Recruiting Rules

By Jeffrey Smith, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The Booker T. Washington athletics investigation comes four weeks after Jenks issued its own report detailing repeated rule violations.

Of the 23 rules in the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association handbook, Rule 9 finds itself in the spotlight -- four pages that detail, very explicitly, what constitutes a recruiting violation.

"In my opinion, I believe that it was just a lack of proper oversight," said Dr. Keith Ballard, TPS Superintendent.

According to a 49-page report, Booker T. Washington High School repeatedly violated recruiting rules. One football player was driven 90-miles round trip, everyday by an assistant coach. That player and coach were family friends, and even if the coach thought the lift was no big deal, TPS calls it...

"This is a recruiting violation for BTW, and is serious."

Read the complete Booker T. Washington report.

Rule 9 in a nutshell -- no school can recruit a student based on athletics. Booker T. is a magnet school, but the rule still applies. No member school that is selective in admissions may allow preferential treatment on the basis of athletic ability. Financial assistance can't be provided on basis of athleticism. The rule is supposed to stop incentives for playing sports.

It's the same issue Jenks ran into just a few weeks ago. An assistant coach deposited $200 into a player's family PSO account to get the electricity turned back on. Many viewers of The News On 6 commented that it's not such a bad thing to help a kid out. But still, the OSSAA considers it a financial incentive to play.

10/14/2009  Related Story: Jenks Football Booster Club's Financial Records Released

TPS is mapping out a course of action.

"I said in my statement that we will be working with all of the high schools to make sure that everybody understands what the rules are," said Dr. Keith Ballard.

10/27/2009  Related Story: Penalties Recommended For Tulsa's Booker T. Washington Athletic Staff

Rule 9 states "all coaches must sign a written form indicating they're familiar with the rule."

The executive director of the OSSAA says his staff will visit the coaches and athletic directors at Jenks and Booker T. They'll host a PowerPoint presentation on Rule 9, followed by a question and answer session. Those meetings will take place in late November.