COLUMBIA, S.C. — A proposed South Carolina House invoice would move excessive school sports under a brand new governing physique with a board chosen by elected officers.
The invoice would dissolve the South Carolina High School League and substitute it with a brand new state-controlled entity referred to as the South Carolina High School Athletic Association.
Public and constitution faculties would be required to affix. Membership would be non-obligatory for personal faculties.
The invoice would require public and constitution faculties to affix the brand new affiliation. Membership would be non-obligatory for personal faculties.
Republican Rep. James Teeple of Charleston, a supporter of the invoice, mentioned the present league has failed to reply to lawmakers’ requests for info.
“Whenever we ask for information or to address issues it’s just excuse after excuse after excuse and it’s gotten to the point where I feel like it’s untenable,” Teeple mentioned.
Teeple additionally cited considerations concerning the league’s appeals course of for scholar eligibility.
“They will deny your request and then two appeals before they ever think about approving it, and to me that’s a culture problem with the league,” Teeple mentioned.
Transfer scholar rule, league response
Under the invoice, switch college students in center and excessive school would obtain a one-time waiver permitting them to play instantly with no restrictions.
SCHSL Commissioner Dr. Jerome Singleton mentioned the league’s membership needs to retain control over its personal governance.
“Anything that’s there is membership driven. The bill they have in place is not necessarily membership driven, so I’m sure the membership, if you were to ask any of them if they’d like to retain authority over their association, they would say yes,” Singleton mentioned.
Bipartisan requires a center floor
Democratic Rep. Jackie Hayes of Dillon, a former excessive school coach and present athletic director, mentioned he doesn’t assist eliminating the SCHSL fully however acknowledged broad assist within the House for making adjustments.
“We’re going to try to have something come together that can be an in-between that might be a mediator and make this work. I don’t think we need to blow the high school league up, but I think the will of the body is to make some changes,” Hayes mentioned.
A House vote on the invoice, initially anticipated this week, has been delayed to subsequent week.
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