|
Netters:
In my
long experience with HS track, I would back the statement that Most"
coaches are not ineterested in the sport beyond their own backyard. There are
still many who are, but not enough.
Also,
we must not discount the chilling effect that the various state associations
have in this regard. Remember, that in the 1960s, the National federation and
its satellites actually recommended that no HS facilities be utilized by the
rest of the sport---in those days the AAU. (The NCAA went even further,
forbidding its members to allow such use---though, thankfully, this order was
honored in most cases by being ignored).
I
would be a rich man if I had a dollar for every question I have answred from HS
coaches over the years about whether it was OK for their athletes to participate
in outside meets during, between or after the season. NJ has generally, had a
liberal attitude in this area, but I will tell just one story to illustrate what
was happening in the 60s.
When
Bill Gaines won the national AAU senior 55M title while running for Clearview
HS, our state association executive secretary of the time said that " this
boy will have to decide whether he is a HS athlete or an AAU
athlete." As is often the case, the statement was a bluff and was
ignored as Gaines went on to win a second 55 title and compete regularly in open
meets, while also sweeping all NJ HS sprint honors in the bargain.
In NY
at that time, outstanding HS athletes could not accept invitations to open meets
such as the Millrose Games. NY coaches could never understand how people like
Milt Campbell, Aubrey Lewis and the like could accept their invites and remain
elgible in NJ.
Ed Grant
|
