Just Preps : Open Season : California Has Made It Easier for Athletes to Transfer Within School Districts, Enabling Them to Choose Where They Play Without Establishing a New Residence

Carson High’s Patrick McCall became the first sophomore in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season, but when the Colts decided to change coaches last spring, McCall was quick to run away.

“I couldn’t wait for the school to make up their minds and name a coach,” McCall said. “I wanted to compete for a good sports program, with an established football and track coach.”

Trying to accommodate their son’s athletic desires, the McCall family moved to Long Beach so he could attend Poly. But McCall’s stay there was a short one, and he transferred back to Carson and was eligible to play after establishing yet another new residence.

The scenario is typical of athletes who move from school to school to try to find athletic programs they believe are better suited to their needs. The most noted transfers this year include basketball player Schea Cotton, who returned to St. John Bosco from Mater Dei; and running back Michael Graham, who is at Pasadena Muir, his fourth school in as many years.

But not all parents can pack their bags and move, and so other athletes who are disenchanted with their schools’ inability to field competitive teams--or who simply don’t find a good athletic fit at their school--are using the open-enrollment policy to transfer without changing their address.

Where once athletes could change schools and maintain eligibility only after establishing a new residence or by receiving a hardship permit from their school district, under the new open-enrollment program a student can attend any school within the district, regardless of residence.

One athlete called it the “Get Out of Jail Free Card.”

“The open-enrollment rule allows student athletes the opportunity to play for a competitive team,” said receiver Anthony White, who transferred to Dorsey from Los Angeles High before the 1995 football season. “Athletes shouldn’t be stuck playing for one school where sports is not a priority or where a school’s athletic program is going downhill.”

The open-enrollment policy was created in 1993 when the State Assembly passed Choice of School Legislation.

One law required all districts that have two or more high schools to establish open-enrollment policies that would allow students to choose their school. That rule became applicable to public schools in 1994.

In response, the California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for high school sports in California, established guidelines for athletes wanting to transfer under open-enrollment policies.

The guidelines included:

a) One transfer per athlete per career.

b) The transfer must be completed by the 15th day of the new school year.

c) The transfer cannot be made for disciplinary reasons.

d) Acceptance must be based on reasons other than athletic performance, and the athlete cannot have been recruited.

Part “d)” is the source of real potential problems and the primary reason that Barbara Fiege, the City Section athletic director, has a pile of complaints and charges on her desk.

Open-enrollment transfers have not been a real problem within the Southern Section because it is made up of 100 public school districts and few allow transfers across boundary lines. Most Southern Section transfers have been from public to private schools.

The City Section, the nation’s second largest school district, is another story.

It has been a summer of open-enrollment transfers. Most haven’t involved athletes, but they have gotten the most attention--and most of the criticism.

Granada Hills first-year Coach Brad Ratcliff lost six potential starters, including Division I prospect Jason Ascencio, a tight end/defensive back, during his first month on the job. Four of the losses were because of open enrollment.

“I’m not in favor of the open-enrollment policy,” Ratcliff said. “Our school has suffered the most from it. We had a lumpy, bumpy start because we missed spring football and I wasn’t hired until the summer.

“Excuse the cliche, but I think the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer because of open enrollment,” Ratcliff said.

At Carson, several skilled players--including talented tailbacks Trayvon Thomas and Arthur Armstrong--transferred to cross-town rival Banning.

The biggest beneficiaries were Dorsey and Granada Hills Kennedy, two perennial 4-A Division powers who gained outstanding offensive players through open-enrollment transfers.

In addition to White--the cousin of USC and former Dorsey standout Keyshawn Johnson--the Dons received Washington High’s top running back, Dennis Northcutt, and White’s stepbrother, Trravon Kitchen. Former Fremont speedster Clarence Scott also transferred to Dorsey, but quit the football team to concentrate on track. Scott won the state and city long jump championships.

Kennedy gained Ascencio and running back Eric Richardson from Granada Hills.

“I couldn’t play for a losing team and risk not getting a scholarship,” Ascencio said.

Dorsey Coach Paul Knox, however, does not believe there will be a tremendous change of power because of open enrollment.

“Before there was open enrollment, kids kind of went wherever they wanted to go through the busing program or to magnet programs,” he said. “Some transfer to schools illegally.

“I don’t think coaches recruit as much as parents or kids seek out a program that they want to go to. Open enrollment makes things easier for athletes who want to make a move.”

For whatever reason.