This whole subject of students transferring schools to play for a better shot at a scholarship realllllllllly bothers me. I blame it on free agency. It started at the professional level when players were allowed to chase the money. Then, it began to effect the college game. Don’t like your situation? Transfer. Now, it seems, it plagues high school ball too. At least it does in our area. I know it does in other states too.
There is a friend of mine who coached (successfully) in Florida for a number of years who just recently opted out and moved to take over a program in Alabama! Why? Cuz Florida allows “open transfers.” Players can transfer from one school to another in the state and be immediately eligible! So, a disgruntled player can transfer on Monday from School A to School B and on Friday night he can suit up and play for School B… against School A!!! Wow!
If it’s an issue, then how do you deal with it? First off, if it’s still a rule in your state that recruiting is illegal then… you don’t do it! And you tell everyone on your staff that they don’t do it! As is often the case, it’s the adults who create the problems. My rule of thumb has always been: if I’m approached by a player about transferring to my school, I tell him 2 things: 1- your family must move into our zone and 2- have your parents call me to set up a meeting. Once they approach me, I will discuss what our school has to offer. Until then, the player is off limits.
How do you keep players from wanting to leave your program? That is more difficult to cope with. As I mentioned, the coach I know from Florida was very successful— a couple of state championships. And still, players wanted to leave. Why? They expected more playing time. They expected more scholarship offers. They wanted to play for a winning program. They wanted to play for a coach who they felt would treat them better. I don’t think you can deal with any of these things and still run a solid program. Unless you allow the players and their parents to run your program… and even then, someone is going to think they’re being treated unfairly… you’re never going to make everyone happy.
I think it’s important to treat players and their parents with respect. But, as my high school coach reminded me several times over the years: “Lew, you are the coach. They are the parent. Who’s in charge?!” The principal and AD hired you to lead the program. It’s your job to help your players both on and off the field. Accountability; respect for authority; and working together for a common goal are 3 objectives of any high school football program. Your job as HC is to see that these objectives are met.
It is often the case that if you take care of these little things, the wins will follow. Chase the wins and you’ve got your priorities out of order. When asked what his main purpose was as a football coach, the coach stated: “To win football games!” The other man responded, “Friend, winning football games is too small a thing to live for!” Amen!
