Comments about ‘Life lesson a tough one for Olympus senior’

Adults love telling kids what they can and cannot do. These men at the UHSAA find such joy in standing on their little pedestals over lording their teenage minions.
Another blown opportunity for humanity and common sense to prevail.
But then again, as Mr. Cuff says, "there are rules".

The problem is, there really isn't a "life lesson" here. There is the law of unintended consequences, and she was the victim. Imagine if those who participated in high school orchestras couldn't play their instruments outside of their school's organized orchestra? You could argue the point that those musicians were taking opportunities away from musicians who didn't make the cut to be in their school's group. Rigid adherence to the letter of the law doesn't make the world a better, more fair place, but common sense might.

Agree, sick of hearing about Cuff.

If these guys are getting the salaries that they are getting (which is quite substantial) then they should be able to on a case by case basis do what is best for the kids.

If there is something blatant, illegal, ect, I have no problem with them suspending kids. But, to repeatedly punish a bunch of innocent HS kids who have ONE opportunity to participate in HS sports and to be with their teammates/friends and to NOT do what is in their best interest misses the whole point of what high school sports SHOULD be about..

Shame on Cuff and his colleagues.

Ridiculous ruling, this should have never even been reported as a violation in the first place. This is akin to a brother asking a sister to go to the rec center to play a pickup basketball game with his buddies. If the UHSAA continues down this path sooner or later be hit with so many lawsuits that they will a legal team the size of OJ Simpsons' to defend all their rulings. Common sense should be used in all these cases. Right now, I believe that Cuff is precariously close to losing his job and the UHSAA will soon have no power to rule on anything. That will be a good day for Utah High School Sports.

It is easy for you to find fault with Cuff you who have limited view.

Question did the girl sign the tryout form? Did her parents sign it? YES
but as they and many other think in this world "I am an exception"

You who criticize are the real problem. If this girl followed the rules there would be no problem and the rules are there for good reason.
Her coach reported it for good reason, the team would have forfeited if they had been caught by an opposing team. It applies to all not just one. The good question is why the coach had not emphasized it at the beginning of the year like most good state coaches do, not just for the rule but to protect your player during the season. ( He would ask they not do any other sports period) If you want to get mad do it toward the addlepated father or short sighted coach.
Shame on all of you in your narrow unchallenged postings; Go get involved and make a real difference.

The life lesson I learned from all of this is "Why go to Olympus when Skyline is just up the road"? They have a fantastic academic record and teaches the importance of reading what you sign. (Just some good ole fashion fun with the Oly faithful) In all seriousness the life lesson learned here is that if you report any infraction no matter how small, the UHSAA will hammer you. I would imagine alot of schools will just keep this kind of information in house next time.

There are two separate issues here: (1) should this rule exist in the first place (or is it too broadly worded) and (2) given that the rule exists, should it be enforced?

This situation demonstrates that there are valid concerns that the rule either should not exist or the rule is to broadly worded. There are also leigitimate concerns that the penalty might not match the crime (or, that the penalty for other rule infractions should be more harsh).

That being said, given that the rule is in place, the UHSAA has the obligation to enforce the rule. The player knew what the rule was and signed a statement to that effect, yet the player did not abide by the rule. The coach (properly) reported the infraction. The price must be paid; the penalty must be borne.

Just as Darius was forced by his own decree to put Daniel in the lion's den (although he did not want to do so), the UHSAA was bound to uphold its own penalty when it became aware of the infraction.

Robinson - I think you do a great job writing.

The only question that I have is why this student? Are the family friends of yours? This has happened (breaking of this rule) so many times, maybe not at the state level always, coaches will take care of it on their own. I removed a student from my team after he played a whole season of indoor because I had made it part of my team rules (no other sports, especially skateboarding). How did I find out? His teammates reported it to me! This is a good rule (for many reasons) and the only ones that ever complain about it are the ones who always seek exceptions or are above the rules.
The day every rule is ignored and/or not inforced is the day High School sports really lose. Those are the real lessons. When you sign a paper it means commitment, like a mortgage... oh wait no it doesn't we will just get bailed out, yeah you all are right inforcing this rule is stupid. (that was being facetious for the illeterate unthinking ones)

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

Kudos to the UHSAA for enforcing the rules. There are rights AND responsibilities, along with consquences. A good life lesson. If you don't like it, go occupy Olympus.

I'm sorry, but she broke the rules and she suffered the consequences. Bummer for her, but she did break the rules. Fair is Fair. I support the decision of the UHSAA. Those who don't remind of of some of the parents of my school students who complained about the consequences for their child when they broke behavior rules. These rules had been included in the classroom packet at the beginning of the year and were posted in the classroom. Parents need to allow their children to suffer the consequences of their behavior. Better early than when they are adults.

"Olympus coach Chris Madsen reported the violation to Olympus administrators, who then reported it to the UHSAA. Madsen happened to attend the indoor game in question and saw Lisa's participation. Who knows why he didn't stop her."

That is the big question. You are the coach! Did he have some kind of "thing" against her? This is indeed, very weird.

"We're all about participation," says Cuff. Really ... or is it play when you say. I love to explain to those out of Utah that kids have time periods that they can not practice their sport with their H.S. team because of the moratorium rule. Maybe if the schools still paid for the sports they should get to make some reasonable rules. The kids don't need to be told when to play, or maybe they should sit at home and get fat.

Typical, go after the student that is actually trying to be part of the school who goes out and plays a pick up game, for fun then penalize her by kicking her off the team. While bending over backwards for students who could care less about the school, care less about any participation and could care less about even graduating from high school. This is the only country on earth that has high school for people who won't go to high school. Its called alternative school. Yet you crush this student for basicly nothing. You letter of the law guys make me sick.

Blame the coach in the first place for not preventing her play in that game, and for reporting it. It's the old church basketball rule, which is inherently stupid in the first place.

By the way, indoor soccer has less players on the field and a smaller field of play, so it is not the same as a regular soccer game and can not be construed as such.

Cuff needs to lighten up on this and many other matters (the least of which is black referee pants during football games). He should sanction Logan high for using the three suspected thiefs in any game. They should have been kicked off of the team and out of school. But the principle and the Logan coach have no courage to do what is right.

Socialism at it's best. the rule is to prevent high school athletics from taking spots away from other teen agers in rec leagues? Huh?! How does UHSAA have say over what other kids (non high school athletes) opportunities should be? This is baffling. And the amount of money Cuff and Van Wagoner make is enough that they should manage and lead with appropriate discretion. someone needs to replace them and run it like functional, thoughtful leaders would.

what a shame. how silly. an honest mistake, but breaking the rules?! hardly...

Bankers stealing billions,Politicians telling blatant lies, billions lost in useless wars, millions of adults cheating on their taxes. Cases like OJ and Casey Anthoney getting off scott free, but lets make sure this girl learns her life lesson for playing in a pick up indoor soccer game!...Amazing

Flashback, your post included "He should sanction Logan high for using the three suspected thiefs in any game." The key word in that sentence is SUSPECTED. It seems that you think Logan High School should forfeit every game any of those players participated in, before as well as after they were charged.
It's sad that the UHSAA was so tough on her when they turn a blind eye to blatant efforts to circumvent the rules on transfers. A family that can afford to begin payments on a second house and "move" 3 blocks IS NOT suffering a financial hardship. The UHSAA's initial ruling in that case, sitting out a year, was the right one.

Seems like some of the commenters here only read what they want to read into the story, and have already formed an opinion on how unfair the UHSAA rulings have been. Some make it sound like it was a neighborhood pickup soccer game at the park. It was a coed league game. Why do you think the coach knew it was in violation of the rules? The entitled kids of this generation and their parents would love to have no rules to govern them, or only have rules when it is in their favor. Try going to some of the surrounding states and see how strict their high school athletic rules are. Utah is much more forgiving than what you will find in most other states.

RD1025 you don't know Lisa, do you? I do. You talk about other commentators reading "what they want to read into the story", yet you do the same. You've suggested that Lisa is an "entitled" kid. She's as fine a girl as you will ever meet, and is not by any stretch of the imagination an entitled kid. She's worked hard to pay her own soccer expenses. She doesn't look for shortcuts or loopholes. She's honest to a fault. She simply didn't know the rule.

I think Mr. Robinson was simply asking a question about whether the rule is a silly rule, and whether the penalty was appropriate relative to breaking other rules. I think anyone with a heart would be sad to see a girl's high school soccer career end the way Lisa's did, particularly if you know the type of girl she is.

For every good kid like Lisa there is one who is not. That is why we have rules to govern those who would take advantage of the system. It is too bad that a good kid gets caught up in something like this, but you can't bend the rules because in someone's opinion a kid like Lisa shouldn't have to pay the consequences for an inadvertant mistake. The question still has to be raised - why didn't the coach say something to her at the game? Or why didn't he warn his players about playing in non-sanctioned games? Or did he?