ERIE, Pa. – The new two-game suspension rule has the Grove City boys soccer team in some potential hot water.
During Tuesday’s District 10 Committee Zoom meeting, the situation came up regarding a Grove City player and its coach.
Both served suspensions after being ejected during a game this season, but because they didn’t complete the required National Federation of State High School Associations courses required – a sportsmanship course for the player and a leadership course for the coach – they did not fulfill all of the new requirements.
Grove City Athletic Director Casey Young said via email that the Eagles, who went 7-3 during the final 10 matches of which the coach and player participated in but technically weren’t eligible for, were unaware of the course requirements.
“The bottom line, they didn’t follow the guidelines to be reinstated,” said District 10 Chariman Pete Iacino. “Ignorance as an excuse does nothing here.”
The first motion by District 10 was to have Grove City forfeit the wins during the 10-match period and be placed on probation for one year, but that motion failed by a 12-3 vote.
The second motion, which passed 11-4, was to ask Grove City for time-stamped emails regarding the situation to make sure they took the proper steps.
District 10 said they are likely to address that at their next meeting.
Other non-winter sports COVID-19 related items at the meeting included:
- No girls basketball at Tidioute Charter for the 2020-21 season, it was announced. The situation is non-Covid 19 related; it is due to the fact that Tidioute doesn’t have enough girls to participate.
- Fairview has a new co-op in lacrosse. Instead of Girard and North East, General McLane will now replace North East. The PIAA has approved of the change and District 10 approved it at the Tuesday meeting.
