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The Board passed a revised policy on interscholastic athletics at RHS. In the new version, the expression that a “no-cut policy is desirable” was eliminated. Instead, the new policy refers to a suggested range for participation in each sport that is contained in administrative procedures. The range of athletes per team is determined by the nature of the sport, facility use, coaching personnel, budgetary constraints, and transporting students safely to events. For example, the range for football at the varsity, junior varsity, or freshman level is 44-60, while boys or girls golf is limited to 8-12 at the varsity level only.
>NEW BOE ATHLETIC POLICY
13 thoughts on “>NEW BOE ATHLETIC POLICY”
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>This is unfortunate…the Superintendant was right, the spirit of sportsmanship should override the need to win games. If a student wants to attend all of the practices and ride the pine then they should have that option…
Charlie Brown
>Not if that student is taking up practice time for other players who would then have the chance to develop and see playing time down the road. Give me a break…. why not keep 50 kids on the HS Varsity team? Make everyone a Captain, too. This way, they can all have it on their college applications.
The Super was wrong. He overstepped the bounds of his temporary job, showing his true colors. Can only wish that more HS coaches threatened to quit, in support of the soccer coach. What a joke.
There is a word for what you want…. its called Socialism. There is a word for what goes on in the real world… its called Competition. Kids at 17-18 years are old enough to understand it. You should be too.
PS… dont know the coach and I have ntg to do with soccer. But that doesnt mean I shouldnt be horrified by the actions of this clown Administrator, who just wanted to get himself in the newspaper.
Feel sorry for all the kids. Was a train-wreck and not their faults.
>Charlie Brown…
I am not sure if you ever played a competitive team sport. But, you certainly are out of touch with the real world. Your suggestion would be appropriate for a “recreational” team, whose objective is maximum participation. However, it is totally inappropriate in for a “competitive” sports program, particularly at the high school Varsity level and beyond. In such programs, the opinion of the athlete, the parent or the Superintendant means very little. The coach’s opinion is what counts.
You and the Superintendant could not be more wrong…and it has nothing to do with “the need to win games.” It is about the definition of a “COMPETITIVE” program. Frankly, sportsmanship has a greater opportunity to thrive and teach the all important “life lessons” in a healthy competitive environment than it does in an evironment where everyone makes the team, everyone plays an exactly equal amount of time and no one keeps score. At what point is it OK to teach our coddled Ridgewood children about life? Should every student get an “A” because they attended class? Should someone be given any job or earn any salary they want, just because they asked for it?
I am not in favor of a “win at all cost philosophy” at any age. But, I am in favor of a “winning” philosophy, particularly as kids approach high school. The political correctness that suggests it is wrong to cut a teenager from a team, even though they are not skilled or committed enough, is ruining sports at that age. Forcing teams to practice and play with an excessive number of players with widely varying skill levels is impossible for the coach, unfair to the athletes who work hard to develop and, potentially dangerous in some sports, for the unskilled/uncommitted athlete.
>Check out this scenario: Our daughter has been performing in musical theater here in town since she was six years-old. She’s really talented and all of her friends and relatives think she’s really great. She has had the lead role in all of the theater companies we have paid for her to be part of through the years. Unfortunately, when she auditioned for a part in the new RHS production she was given a minor role, hardly adequate to showcase her myriad talents. When we asked the drama teacher/director about this apparent oversight she responded that there were numerous other students who were better suited for the larger roles. This just could not be true. When we complained to the RHS principal he supported the decision of the teacher. He obviously doesn’t understand theater or how much time and effort, not to mention money, we have dedicated to our daughter’s theater career. After all, she might get a scholarship to college for her abilities. Somebody who knows a lot about the theater told me that. Our daughter deserves that lead role because she has put the time in and paid her dues. We’re contacting the Superintendant’s office in the morning to see what he can do to straighten out this situation. If he can do it for soccer players, he certainly can change things for our talented daughter.
The moral of the story: If you think this issue of participation in competitive arenas is only about sports and teams at RHS, you are as naive, illogical and spineless as our Superintendent.
>to the 11:31 post…. Brilliant and well-said! In fairness, most of us, including those who support the athletic programs in this town, both Rec and High School, agreed with you already that this garbage extends beyond the athletic fields. Thank you for tying it all together.
Perhaps a message to the meddling parents out there across many spheres?
One can only hope….
>Anonymous 11:31…
CLASSIC!!!
>Note to the Soccer Dad that made a post at 11:31….I know who you are. You came from one of the 5 boroughs, you played soccer growing up because Mom didn’t want you to get hurt playing football. Then you played tennis in the spring while practicing the tuba at night.
You probably moved to RW cuz your wife’s best friend moved here when Slick Willie was re-elected and you called Mom after the lawyer handed over the deed…”I made it, Mom…I’m in the Village”….you somehow manage to get tickets to the NY Giants but miss the home games if they conflict with a soccer game against North Rockland or Maywood.
You always liked the theatre but somehow never thought you’d look good in a leotard. Now you your president of The Association and you want the world to embrace David and Posh….it’s like the ’77 Cosmos all over again….
>To 9:10 pm:
1. Look up the word “allegory” in the dictionary and then re-read what I wrote.
2. Abandon your theory about my identity, as if it matters who I am. By the by, I’m not a soccer dad, not from NYC, not this, not that.
3. Try to understand that the ignorant decisions made by the Supertintendant effect every student and teacher in every school in Ridgewood. The decision undercut every teacher and coach in the District. And although it was not his intent, his inability to consider the precedent he was setting demonstrated true arrogance and character flaws rendering him unqualified to continue in the role of superintendent.
My point was and is, you just can’t make stupid, unilateral decisions when you are the chief executive. You must trust your direct reports because they are good people or else they wouldn’t be where they are. And you can’t be swayed by parents bearing false witness.
>8PM Dude – as I understand it the interim Superintendant was merely enforcing the policy as it was written…
Didn’t the 11:31 respondant want the same Super’t to help him with his plight regarding the school play….?
You can’t have it both ways…
>11:31pm, stick by your guns.
Your point about the Interm Super was spot on… He gave into pressure from two very powerful parents, with deep pockets and deep connections in the Village and the BOE.
It would have said something about our teachers and coaches if they ALL threatened to resign in support of their colleague… thats ALL teachers and coaches, music and drama too. By the way, where was the Athletic Director? How the heck could he allow the Interm Super to tell his staff how to handle such a minor problem? Gutless.
As to the moron above, ignore him (or her). My guess is that this is someone related to the “resume-building” exercise, just trying to go over the top to mask their identity. Its doubtful that this person ever participated in any sport, club, or activity.
Nice to grow up in Ridgewood and have your family’s money to fall back on, huh? Only downside is when you enter the real world and find that no one gives a crap if your relatives were on the Mayflower. Competition… tough word to pronounce with the silver spoon in your mouth.
>Hey, Mr. 8:01 Morning Mamma –
The Super was only enforcing policy…written prob. in 1970s….all Mahler had to do was say ‘okay’ and proceed as normal.
If you’re beating Bloomfield 6-1 then empty the bench. Otherwise the 2 waifs never get to see the light of day.
I know the AD and he would follow the rules as they were proscribed.
My God, what are you people going to get do when something important comes along…?
Like Belichek said, “I just did the next thing that came along”.
The tallest nail always gets hammered down ~ ancient chinese proverb.
– Rob N. Hood
>Super was protecting two very vocal families, with connections in town and on the BOE. Interm Super…Want a full-time job down the road? Take care of those who take care of you. Check your facts.
Unless, by chance, the above poster has kids who are also protected? Make sure that this dated “policy” helps your little sweet-tart get into college…
Most of us would be happy to see Ridgewood HS take on any and all opponents, including the private schools who recruit from all over the state. Would love to have this scheduling shift explained… as certainly its going to “dummy-down” our programs and lead to even more talented student-athletes leaving RHS in the future.
But wait… wont that open some roster space for the above poster’s kid? Might be your chance to touch the field, junior. Heaven knows that daddy and mommy never did, and they’re guilty of “projecting” again.
Keep practicing…
>A few clarifications…
For the ANONYMOUS 8:49…
Can you say “sarcasm”???? Anonymous 11:31 was using sarcasm and hyperbole to make the point that the Super was wrong.
For ROB N. HOOD and others…
The Super was NOT enforcing the policy. He misenterpreted it, not allowing for the latitude it permitted for coaches to make such decisions. He, thereby, undermined every coach and teacher, as explained by Anonymous 8:00.
For Anonymous 8:16…
I agree with you. However, the new scheduling policy does not prevent RHS from playing schools like Bosco or Delbarton. It simply doesn’t REQUIRE them to do so. Therefore, in sports like football, where Bosco is successfully attempting to build a nationally prominent program and it may not be appropriate for RHS’s local program to compete with them, RHS is not forced to do so. However, in sports like lacrosse, if RHS wants to compete with nationally ranked teams like Delbarton and Lawrenceville, they may do so. It is not about running from competition. It is about building an appropriate “sport specific” schedule. In the end, that is in the best interest of competition. By the way, the Bosco parents who criticize RHS from running from Bosco’s competition on the football schedule don’t have a son who plays on Bosco’s football team…so consider the credibility!!!