In a case with career-altering implications for one of the state’s top high school basketball prospects, attorneys Amanda Beck and Lauren Dodge successfully appealed a ruling by the California Interscholastic Federation (“CIF”) that the young man’s transfer to a Bay Area high school was “athletically motivated.” The CIF had previously found the player ineligible for the entirety of the 2014-2015 season. With the reversal, he was allowed to take the court immediately, leading his team to victory with 17 points and 15 rebounds in his first league game.
The California Interscholastic Federation (“CIF”) governs interscholastic athletics at the high school level. The CIF state office is located in Sacramento, with 10 section offices located throughout the state. One of the many things that the CIF governs is transfer eligibility, which was the issue involved in the recent case won by Ms. Beck and Ms. Dodge.
The case involved an incoming high school junior who had recently moved to the Bay Area and enrolled at the local public high school which corresponded to his new residence. He submitted the required CIF paperwork to obtain eligibility to participate in athletics. The Commissioner for the CIF North Coast Section (“NCS”) initially denied the young man eligibility in the sport of basketball, taking issue with his alleged pre-existing connection to other players who would be attending the same high school and declaring his move “athletically-motivated.” The NCS claimed that the young man's family moved to the Bay Area for athletically-motivated reasons, namely, so that the young man could play on the same high school basketball team with other talented players that he knew through his participation on a traveling club team.
In reality, the family moved for reasons that had nothing to do with athletics. The family had a compelling personal story and shareholders Dodge and Beck were determined to achieve justice for this young man and his family. The basketball season was already underway and it was crucial for the young man’s college recruiting prospects that he be able to participate.
Attorneys Beck and Dodge submitted an appellate brief outlining the legal and factual issues, prepared the family to give testimony at the hearing before the State CIF Appeals Panel, and represented the family at the hearing.
Within days of the hearing, the State CIF Appeals Panel overturned the NCS Commissioner's decision and ruled that the young man was eligible to pay basketball, effective immediately.
The Difficulty of Navigating CIF Rules
The case highlights the difficulties student athletes and their families face as they try to navigate the complex and confusing CIF rules that govern high school athletics and transfer eligibility.
The NCS’s initial denial of eligibility in our case focused on two issues: (1) so called “pre-enrollment contact,” and (2) “athletically-motivated” transfer. Yet for parents trying to find clarity on what these terms mean, the CIF bylaws provide little guidance.
The purpose behind these rules is undeniably admirable: Prevent illegal recruiting by high schools seeking exposure for their programs and rein in excessive transfers by overzealous parents seeking future monetary gain via college scholarships and professional contracts. But as written, the CIF bylaws are confusing and contradictory, leading to inconsistent application of the rules. Activity that is completely innocent can be deemed a CIF violation based on the way the rules are worded, making it difficult for families to understand exactly what they can and cannot do.
For athletes with aspirations to play college and beyond, understanding and following the CIF rulebook is critical. The most innocuous conduct can and has raised red flags with CIF officials, resulting in ineligibility findings. If your family is considering transferring your child from one high school to another, for whatever reason, and your child is planning to play sports at the new school, it is advisable to consult an attorney familiar with the CIF rules to help navigate the confusing process.
Unique Experience With Issues Facing Student Athletes
Ms. Beck and Ms. Dodge have a unique understanding of the issues facing student athletes. As a former Division I volleyball player, Ms. Beck has extensive firsthand experience with the complexities of high school and college athletic rules governing transfers and recruiting. Ms. Dodge, a former journalist, has written extensively about education and interscholastic sports, including an award-winning series that uncovered rampant illegal recruiting by a state championship basketball program.
If you have any questions about your student’s athletic eligibility, Ms. Beck or Ms. Dodge would be happy to speak with you.