Big Changes Litigation Dominated UIL During the 1980S
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
The Leaguer Big changes Litigation dominated UIL during the 1980s By CHRIS BARTON we're going to have to examine them as The University Interscholastic League quickly as possible or risk losing them in had a choice. court." It could face the possibility of In fact, a dispute over the validity of a spending the 1990's defending its rules rule prohibiting high school basketball, and regulations at hearings and trials in football and volleyball players from Texas courtrooms, battling to maintain its participating in summer camps initiated authority as it did from the onset of the the decade's streak of litigation. In 1978, 1980's until late in the decade. Or, the Greg Kite, a Houston high school student, League could look closely at itself, detect sued the UIL after being ruled ineligible its own weaknesses and make needed because of his participation in a California changes. basketball camp. The University Interscholastic League A federal judge in 1979-80 ruled that has changed. the League's prohibition of summer "The authority of the League has athletic camps was unconstitutional. That certainly changed," said Athletic Director decision was overturned by a federal Dr. Bill Farney, "and I think most people appeals court in late 1981, only to be would say that it has changed to reflect the upheld by a state district judge less than society. Society now is not a society that three weeks later. The UIL's somersaulting accepts, 'Well, that's just the way it is.' courtroom status resulted in uncertainty They want to know why you can't do about the existence and extent of its something. So we're having to explain why, authority. Much of that debate stemmed and in areas where we can't give good from conflicting arguments concerning reasons, or in areas where the schools will the mere definition of the League. not support existing rules, we've had to "The only thing we know is that change the rules." whenever we go into a courtroom now, the Rules such as those restricting out-of- first thing we have to establish is whether season athletic activities, most of which we are a part of UT, whether we are a state were eliminated by the Legislative Council agency," UIL Director Dr. Bailey Marshall in early 1989. told Austin Anderson High School's The "I think the League will have Edition in January 1983. continued pressure to not control what Despite a 1973 ruling that declared youngsters do outside of the school day the University Interscholastic League to and school year, although that there are be a state agency, the League in 1981 was certain rules that we can and should denied its appeal of a case because it had maintain, and even rules that the parents failed to post a $500 appeal bond-a court would like for us to maintain," Farney said. fee from which state agencies are exempt. "But if we can't offer reasons for the rules Continued on page 4 based on educational principles, then Workshop for UIL spring meet directors set January 29 A workshop for UIL spring meet Among the academic topics to be directors general will be held the day prior discussed are setting schedules, obtaining to the Texas Association of School judges, handling protests, certifying Administrator mid-winter conference in results to regional and handling Austin. The workshop will be 9 -11 a.m. substitutions. Monday, January 29 in the Texas I room of Athletic issues to be examined Photo by X>HN MOORE. the Hyatt Regency Hotel. include planning for inclement weather, THE FIRST 40 VICTORIES WERE NICE. But number 41 was the biggie. Cypress Creek The purpose of the workshop is to establishing lines of authority, handling players celebrate their three-set victory over San Antonio Clark to win the girls' acquaint academic and athletic contest awards and scoring, setting schedules and Conference 5A state volleyball championship, Nov. 17 In Austin. For complete tournament results, see page 10. directors with the myriad technical aspects policies toward substitutions, ordering and of the spring meets, Janet Wiman, distributing medals, handling disputes academic director, said. and handling alternates to regional. Volume 74 • Number 4 • December, 1989 • ISSN 0897-4314 viewpoint Make each day National Sportsmanship Day Editor's note: The following article good loser or a gracious winner? is reprinted from the December issue of That's the test and that's the the National Federation News. Winning the game gets far too much attention. challenge for every competitor and every Every day should be National coach and, yes, for every spectator, too.. Sportsmanship Day in our schools. That's what sportsmanship is all about. In fact, games often aren't games at all— they're miniature The "da/' was Thursday, October 19, These are the points we must and was part of National High School wars and they're community supremacy contests so much of emphasize on National Sportsmanship Activities Week commemorated from the time." Day, on any day we have an athletic October 15 to 22 this year. contest. Our athletes must get this What can we say about message from their coaches, and our sportsmanship? Strangely, perhaps, the word That characteristic is true in our high coaches must get this message from our Our first thought is we shouldn't have "sportsmanship" appears only once in the school programs even though it may not administrators. to say anything about it. Sportsmanship Constitution, Bylaws and Rules of be as rampant as what we see and hear in Those two groups—athletes and ought to be as natural to our.systems as Eligibility of the WIAA. That's in Article professional and collegiate sports. coaches-carry the biggest sportsmanship breathing. II—Purpose. Maybe the writers and re- Winning the game gets far too much burden. They are closest to the action. But the simple fact is that it isn't. writers of WIAA rules and regulations also attention. In fact, games often aren't The challenge to be fair and honorable, to Sportsmanship-that quality of being fair thought sportsmanship was as natural to games at all-they're miniature wars and be a good loser or a gracious winner will and honorable, a good loser, a gracious our systems as breathing. they're community supremacy contests so come hardest for them. winner-it isn't as natural to our systems as The National Federation was not off- much of the time. It wouldn't be so hard, of course, if we breathing, and it better not be taken for track in deciding we needed a special Winning is not wrong. After all, that's didn't have spectators. And somebody's granted. Sportsmanship Day. We need to re- the only way to play. You must play to win. got to let the spectators know, too—over We've got to work on it, and work on it emphasize the virtues of fairness, honor, You are expected to put forth an effort, a and over again—how the educational constantly. good loser, gracious winner. And more maximum effort, to reach a goal. There's community feels about sportsmanship. The Wisconsin Interscholastic than anything, we need to practice what we nothing wrong with that. That's another job for our administrators— Athletic Association has emphasized preach. But that's not what we're talking to lead and guide spectators-adult as well sportsmanship virtually from its beginning In the kind of age we live in and about. What we're talking about is how as student-down the sportsmanship path. nearly 100 years ago. All sorts of rules society we exist in, practicing what we you pursue that goal and how you act after We hope National Sportsmanship outlining expected behavior and all sorts preach isn't easy. There is so much the game is over. The test of the situation Day will help administrators, coaches, of articles discussing philosophy and emphasis on winning in sports that is this: Were you fair and honorable as athletes and spectators experience only guidelines have been written through the sportsmanship is pushed into the you made the effort to reach your goal, good sportsmanship competition years relative to sportsmanship. background, even totally ignored. and when the contest was over, were you a throughout the rest of the school year. Cost of misplaced values The Leaguer Reforms will not work until society changes The Leaguer is the official publication of LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL the University Interscholastic League. The Chairman Sam May, Sinton ISD; Vice Editor's note: The following article educational problems will not be solved Leaguer is distributed to Texas public school Chairman Paul Curtis, Uvalde ISD; Bill Graves, is reprinted from the October. 1989 issue until we, as a nation, take a long hard look administrators, contest directors, coaches San Angelo ISD; Larry Butler, Spearrnan ISD; at our societal values. Scott Thomson of and sponsors, the media, and to other Richard Cohagan, Gunter ISD; Eddie J. Little, of The Maine Principal, the official interested parties. The UIL office is located at Kilgore ISD; John D. Hom, Mesquite ISD; Bob newsletter of the Maine Secondary NASSP claims that, "When citizens look at 2622 Wichita, Austin. TX 78705. Letters, Hawes, Joshua ISD: Kenneth Judy, Crawford School Principals' Association. their schools, they see a mirror of society." inquiries and changes of address should be ISD; G. W. Maxfield, Gorman ISD: Dan Owen, Noting that rock stars receive far greater sent to UIL. Box 8028. UT Station, Austin. TX Holliday ISD; James Phillips, BrazospOrt HS, By Richard W. Tyler attention and salaries than scientists, 78713-8028.