Litigation: Lawsuit settled

CERRITOS - A lawsuit by USA Water Polo contesting a prohibition of

high school coaches from working with prep athletes on Olympic

development teams has been settled by mutual agreement with the CIF

Southern Section.

Section officials have agreed to let prep coaches coach national

junior and national youth teams, even if athletes from their high schools

are participating. This is a waiver of the “Association rule” which has

also drawn criticism from coaches in boys and girls volleyball and boys

and girls soccer, among others. The rule is designed to prevent

year-round high school programs.

In return, USA Water Polo has agreed to keep the section informed of

the makeup of such teams, to insure coaches are not abusing the system to

give their schools a competitive edge.

It remains uncertain how this compromise will affect the strength of

the rule in other sports.

-- by Barry Faulkner