Babovic bid for varsity eligibility denied (updated)
October 15th, 2008, 11:53 am · · posted by DAN ALBANO, ocvarsity.com
SANTA ANA An Orange County Superior Court Judge late Wednesday morning denied Corona del Mar water polo player Martin Babovic’s appeal for varsity eligibility.
Babovic, a foreign exchange student from Serbia, has been cleared by the Southern Section to play junior varsity but was seeking to play varsity.
As it was late in Tuesday’s session, the definition of enrollment loomed large in the decision by Judge Steven L. Perk.
The Southern Section and state CIF argued that enrollment starts when a student begins to attend class.
Babovic’s attorney, Richard Bridgford, argued that enrollment started when Babovic’s registration process was completed at Corona del Mar in March and his spot at the school was secured. The senior arrived in the United States in August and began taking classes in September.
In the end, Perk sided with the Southern Section and state CIF’s definition, meaning that Babovic had inappropriate contact before enrolling.
“They (CIF) won a technicality based on an interpretation of enrollment,” said Bridgford, also the father of Mission Viejo quarterback Allan Bridgford.
Perk emphasized that Corona del Mar administrators should have known the eligibility rules better.
Babovic played for Corona del Mar in a tournament in Hungary in July. James Watson, the father of the family hosting Babovic, said Corona del Mar’s administration approved the participation.
But Perk also said that he believed Babovic was not recruited by the school and was a random placement. Watson took victory in that part of Perk’s findings.
Watson said he was “thrilled” his family’s name was cleared. But there was disappointment, too. He said he was disappointed that a “tragic comedy of errors” prevented Babovic from playing “varsity ball.”
State CIF attorney Diane Marshall-Freeman was pleased with the ruling. “We’re just pleased the judge upheld the rules of the CIF,” she said.
Bridgford said he has not decided whether to appeal.
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What? The CIF’s argued “enrollment” begins the day a students begins to attend class!
That means EVERY incoming 8th grader that participates in practice, leagues, or tournaments the summer before their freshmen year is in violation of pre-enrollment contact. How about the student transferring to a new school? That student no longer can participation with the new school the summer before they attend A CLASS or that would be in violation of CIF’s NEW definition of enrollment.
I’ve worked in high schools for many years and as far as enrollment goes, the understanding has always been that once a student has REGISTERED and they’re in the new school’s computer they’ve ENROLLED. Then that student is okay to participate in summer programs and the new school’s coaching staff may communicate with that student and family.
The Watsons registered Martin Babovic in March? And the Judge determined there was Random placement and no prior contact with Babovic . . . what is the issue of him playing a summer contest with CDM in Hungary?
bonwilk – you raise some excellent questions
The CIF state commissioner and section assistant commissioner Kristine Palle were pretty clear that enrollment begins the first day a students actually attend class. There also was mention that there is a qualifying standard of eight or nine days of consecutive attendance as well.
I’m not sure but I think freshman escape transfer rules because they are technically not enrolled in a high school school. They get to shop around until they make a decision, then the rules apply.
As for your question about the transferring students and summertime — I think the answer might lie in the time of the year we see so many transfers. We see them late in the spring. Kids enter the new school in spring, establish enrollment and then participate in the summer.
The problem with Babovic is that he had contact with the CdM program before he had established enrollment. Most of the foreign exchange stories I heard that have worked out are when the kid just shows up one day on the pool deck or on the football field looking to play.
Interestingly, the judge asked the state commissioner and anyone in the courtroom to find him a definition of enrollment in the CIF bylaws and it could not be found. That will probably change after this case — at least it should.
The individual sections in the state provide this info on enrollment and its practical application in training seminars with athletic administrators but I think this case shows that it needs to be defined in writing some how.
I’ll ask the Southern Section about my answers and if needed, will add to my response.
Come on…we all know they recruited him…a Serbian “national team pipeline” goalie did not just show up on the deck for a division 1 team out of the blue…a team that needs a goalie and is not doing as well as people thought they would have…that is way to big of a coincidence to be a random pick…the host family has a kid who is on the polo team…come on y’all, dont be fooled…
Having had much experience with the CIF, (not specifically the Southern Section), and reveiwing their charter, which by the way all should read, this body has consistently failed, like most of our public agencies, to take into account the only ones hurt by their draconian approach to these situations, the student or kid. The CIF has over the years set it itself as a protectorate of the schools and more specifically the petty issues of parents, principals, AD’s and coaches. Ask yourselves this, outside of the apportionment issue, who is really the only one hurt by these ridiculous decisions?And by the way everyone of these folks hides behind the bureaucracy they have created and only crawl out from under their rock when they are either in numbers or are “lawyered up.”