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STUDENT ATHLETE RIGHTS IN VIRGINIA - Independent Team Rule 28-11-1

From the Fairfax County Public Schools, Student Activities and Athletic Programs Website:

Dual Participation
According to the VHSL Handbook, students have the right to simultaneously participate on a school team and a community team. However, in the event of a scheduling conflict, the school team commitment must come first. A high school coach may not have a rule about this matter, or suggest to athletes that they not participate on an independent team.

From the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Website: VHSL Handbook & Policy Manual, Page 69

28-11-1 INDEPENDENT TEAM RULE- Student responsibility for sports participation.
During the sports season for the relevant sport, a student may, while a member of a school squad or team engaged in interscholastic sports become a member of or participate with an organized team in the same sport which is independent of the school's control so long as such participation does not conflict with the scheduled activities of the school squad or team. No school or student shall be declared ineligible for participation in interscholastic sports because of participation by a student as a member of an organized team in the same sport which is independent of the school's control during the sports season for the relevant sport.

Sportsmanship, ethics and integrity are the foundation of scholastic sports programs. The adult coaches in leadership roles on high school athletic teams serve as important role models for student athletes. Any coach that willingly and wantonly violates the rights of a student athlete ... should not be in a position of control or influence of high school aged children.

As founder and President of FAIR (Fairfax Athletic Inequities Reform), an organization which was created in 1997 with the sole purpose to procure, protect and promote the rights of female athletes ... I was asked in May 1998 by the parents of 3 student athletes to seek their daughter's high school softball coach's full compliance with VHSL Rule 28-11-1. In this 1998 case, the high school softball coach had an illegal team policy that no varsity softball player was allowed to participate with a team independent of the school's control during the high school softball season.

Between May 1998 and the present, my direct assistance and involvement has been requested (by parents of high school players who were having their rights violated by high school coaching staffs) on several occasions to advocate for compliance with VHSL Rule 28-11-1. In addition to specific requests for assistance ... I have routinely reported to the appropriate authorities, alleged/possible violations of VHSL Rule 28-11-1 which have come to my attention without a direct (parent/player) request for intervention.

My nearly 10 years experience reporting and resolving non-compliance with the Independent Team Rule has resulted in the restoration of the rights of many girls softball players being able to participate (as they wish) with their Independent Teams during the scholastic softball season. Student athletes have many rules and policies that they must observe and obey in order to earn and maintain their athletic eligibility. Their coaching staffs should be held to the same standards of conduct ... play by the rules ... or don't play!

John Thompson
FAIR, President

TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Note: Fairfax Athletic Inequities Reform: FAIR's advocacy for girls softball players and civil rights representation for female athletic programs in Fairfax County was officially approved and sanctioned by 13 local softball leagues providing playing opportunities for over 10,000 girls and women aged 6 to adult. In addition, numerous organizations, teams, players, softball parents and girls softball supporters paid nominal fees to become official members of FAIR. FAIR has been recognized by the Fairfax County Public Schools and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors as a legitimate voice for girls softball issues and the Board of Supervisors created 2 seats for FAIR on the Board appointed Girls Softball Equity Action Plan Review Team which includes representatives from the Commission For Women, The Fairfax County Athletic Council, the Department of Community and Recreation Services, The Fairfax County Park Authority and the Fairfax County Public Schools.

   Title IX Time Machine: James Madison High School Varsity Softball Field in the Fall of 1996:

The 1996 photographs above were taken after weeks of daily part time work by John and Maggie Thompson removing grass from the skinned infield with rakes and shovels and mowing and weeding the grass areas by hand and with a push lawnmower.

   Title IX Time Machine: James Madison High School Varsity Softball Field in the Spring of 2003:

The aerial photo above is from April 2003. Home and Visitor pitching warm-up stations were constructed in 1997. Dugout roofs were constructed by parent volunteers and permanent player benches were installed in the dugouts. In 1998, Field lights and electronic scoreboard were installed and electricity was provided to the field for the Scorebox/Concession Stand building and for use of a pitching machine at the Batting Cage. In 1999, water lines to the field were installed, initially with an infield sprinkler and quick-connect hose ... at a later date the entire field was irrigated with an automatic sprinkler system. The small rusted backstop was replaced with a college-style backstop in 2001. Temporary outfield fencing was acquired in 1999 and chainlink outfield fencing has been in use since 2005. Spectator bleachers and a retaining wall were constructed by FCPS. in 2002, a handicap access ramp was installed as part of the JMHS renovation/renewal project.

The Thompson family was the official "volunteer" groundskeeper of the Madison HS/Louise Archer ES softball complex from 1996 to 2002.