The lower classification should just play anyways no matter what happens with this. They can't afford to have a delay, it will wreck their winter sports, the football players make up the basketball, wrestling and indoor track teams. Most schools can't field the other teams without the football players. Doesn't affect them one way so, who cares what is going on in NoVa. I still don't understand the fussing over a private school playing with the public schools. Just about every other state has multi private schools competiting against the publics. Va is just late to the party, but no need to get panties all in a wad. As long as the kids live in the school district it doesn't matter where they came from. Nobody is commuting from New York to Lynchburg so that has nothing to do with any of it. Things most be much different in NoVa and the tidewater with non moving transfers. Mass majority of the rest of the state doesn't even have those options or even concerns. But the local school system should never be allowed to conduct the final says investigation and never has before. The vhsl always conducts the deciding investigation. If these other past coaches got away with it, it is because nobody ever reported them to the vhsl. The vhsl doesn't go out actively looking for any of this, it has to be reported to them from a member institution. But it falls on the head coach and AD, they are responsible for the master eligibility list for their teams, it is their job to verify residency. If all the players live in the school district then there is no need for concern. But if they don't, then they are 365'd until that year is up. Only way around that would be open enrollment, but that only works if you live inside the county or city of that school system, can't come from different counties and cities and commute. It's where you lay your head at night 3 days a week. Not where you get mail or say you live. Should be pretty open and closed, they either all live in the district or they don't and then it is simple. But, it wasn't the vhsl that seeked hayfield out. Somebody in your own house turned it in or a neighboring school. That's the only way vhsl ever catches wind. What will be interesting is what attorney's in other parts of the state do, could see some lawsuits from other parts field against Hatfield. Definitely getting my popcorn out, but more than like won't be 💩.
