LB1135 "Right to Participate - Right to Excel"

LB 1135 "Right to Participate - Right to Excel" has been introduced into the 2008 Nebraska Legislature. The Education Committee will be conducting a hearing on February 25 at 1:30 PM.

Judging from the number of emails and phone calls I've received, this issue is causing quite a stir in the swimming community. Several parents and swimmers have asked me about my opinions on the proposed bill. Yesterday, I heard someone quoting me on this issue, or rather misquoting me! This post is to document my position. Please keep in mind that this is my opinion. I am not speaking for the B-T Athletic Department or Brownell-Talbot School. I should also point out that I am not currently a high school coach or an active club coach.

You can read the proposed bill yourself at http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/web/public/home. (You'll have to type in LB 1135 to get to the page for the bill, and then click on "Introduced Copy" to see the text."

Currently students/athletes participating in high school sports are prohibited from receiving outside coaching, training with, or competing with "club" sports teams during the high school season. This bill, if passed, would require the NSAA to allow students to participate in club sports during the high school season.

Copied below is the letter I emailed to my State Senator and to the members of the Education Committee. I've gotten a few detailed responses. I assumed I was just being tallied, but I'm very pleased to report that the responses I've received show that those involved are trying to get more information. I would encourage you to write to your senator or to the Education Committee if you have an opinion on this issue - whatever that opinion may be.

From: Jeanie Neal [mailto:jeneal@brownell.edu] Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 7:33 AMTo: 'rraikes@leg.ne.gov'; 'gkopplin@leg.ne.gov'; 'gadams@leg.ne.gov'; 'bashford@leg.ne.gov'; 'bavery@leg.ne.gov'; 'cburling@leg.ne.gov'; 'ghoward@leg.ne.gov'; 'jjohnson@leg.ne.gov'Cc: 'jsynowiecki@leg.ne.gov'Subject: LB1135

Legislature Education Committee Members:

I am grateful to see that there will be a hearing on LB 1135 Right to Participate, Right to Excel on February 25.

In my opinion, the best chance our athletes have of attaining their goals at all levels is to forge a productive relationship between clubs and high school programs. The focus of high school coaches is generally on the team's needs for this season and the focus of the club coaches is generally on the individual athlete's needs over at least a four year period if not a career. Club coaches think in terms of what sacrifices need to be made to further the goals of the athlete and high school coaches think in terms of subjugating individual needs for the good of the team. Both approaches and philosophies are reasonable, appropriate, and do not have to be mutually exclusive. It is my opinion that coaches share the common value of respecting youth competitive sports and the benefits they offer to all the participants. Coaches are professionals and should rightly be charged with the responsibility to mutually support each other's efforts for the good of the athletes. I have every confidence that this can happen as it does throughout the country.

This legislation is needed to give coaches the freedom to forge these relationships and explore these options and create as many opportunities for participation and excellence as possible.

I have two concerns with LB1135. Perhaps there is room for a compromise position.

1. Remove the references to the US Olympic Committee and National Governing Body entirely. If this is a parents' choice issue then it should be a parent's choice issue and should support all those involved in events covered by the NSAA regardless of whether or not it is covered by a National Governing Body or leads to the Olympics. Why should it be okay to play basketball for Nebraska Bison/Runza, but not for your local parish church? That is a real economic issue for many families. If you can afford the club - you get the exception. If you can't afford the club and want to compete locally, tough luck. (I don't know the reason for restricting the bill to these sports. I suspect it has something to do with using the Amateur Athletic Act for support for this bill and it only covers these sports, but I really don't know.) Perhaps a compromise could be to include rather than limit the bill to these sports... "including any sport governed by..." That would tie the bill to the Amateur Athletic Act without excluding other activities or sending the wrong message about the intent of the rule.

2. Add wording similar to the bill in Missouri that says that outside training and competition can take place without sanction from the high schools only after the requirements of the high school program have been met. Correspondence sent out by proponents of the bill would indicate that this is their intent, but it was not originally stated in the bill. Authority must be given to the high school coach. The rel ationship between high school and club coaches needs to be mutually supportive and mutually reinforcing.

I've copied the wording from the Missouri Bill below. The Missouri wording reflects a sense of the value of high school and the focus on the parents selecting what a child does outside of school. The Nebraska bill focus seems to devalue high school athletics and only value efforts by students that lead to the Olympics. I believe those ideas might be considered very narrow view points by some who promote youth sports and activities at all ability levels.

I have experience as an athlete, high school coach, and club coach under the NSAA system. I am a proud swimming alumnus of Lincoln Northeast High School and coached club in Nebraska for many years as well as coaching at Lincoln Northeast, Millard South, and Brownell-Talbot. In addition, I coached high school and club for almost twenty years in South Florida before returning to Nebraska to continue coaching here. I can speak from much experience on this subject.

The focus needs to be moved from the relative quality of high school programs and high school versus club programs, and from athletes attempting to get to the Olympics. The focus of this bill should be on choice and responsibility. As a coach, I would like to require lots of things from my athletes - behaviors and attitudes that I know will help them excel in swimming. Unfortunately, all I can do is have expectations of commitment during practice and meets, and provide them with the best coaching I am able at practice and meets. I can try to inspire my athletes to make good choices outside of the swimming pool, but I can't require them to do these things. Their free time is their own.

This bill, if amended to include protection for the high school programs to establish their requirements for participation, poses no threat to high school team swimming in Nebraska and provides for the opportunity for coaches and athletes to explore opportunities to help each athlete achieve their individual goals. It is a win-win proposition as it has been throughout the country.

This bill, if amended to eliminate wording involving National Governing Bodies and Olympic Development, sends a message to our athletes that we value the pursuit of athletic achievement at all levels without compromising the integrity and traditions of both participation and excellence of high school team competition.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeanie Neal

Jeanie Neal
900 Farnam Street #815
Omaha, NE 68132
402.505.2438

Missouri

SCS/SB 1366 - This substitute prohibits any public school district from creating a regulation, engaging in discriminatory behavior relating to, or entering into any agreement or contract with any entity that:
(1) Infringes in any manner on the opportunity of a student athlete to compete in or train for any sport, provided that the student athlete meets the requirements for participation in the high school program; and
(2) Levies any form of punishment or sanction against any student athlete for competing in or training for any sport, provided that the student athlete meets the requirements for participation in the high school program.


I've seen a copy of a letter sent to all the swim clubs, including the B-T Raiders. While I commend the author for taking action and trying to help get this bill passed, I do not agree with many statements made in the letter. It is my opinion that this bill is needed to allow for FULL participation, not just ELITE LEVEL participation.

I am a long time supporter of high school athletics. So, as much as I think it is needed, I wouldn't want to see this bill passed in it's present form. I have seen a draft of an amended bill that added wording about meeting requirements of the high school before participating outside of school. I think that's great. I've been told recently that the words "Olympic Sports" will be struck from the bill, but I haven't seen a completed draft. Hopefully a compromise can be reached.

For what it's worth, that's my opinion on LB1135. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the pool. I would also encourage you to post a comment.