CIF Ruling Leaves 4 Girls Ineligible for Remainder of Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An unfortunate ruling by CIF (California's governing body of High School Sports) left four girls unable to play for the remainder of the season. The only thing [player_tooltip player_id='82414' first='Zamorah' last='Malinoski'], Kai Tsakaris, [player_tooltip player_id='20057' first='Peyton' last='Trayer'], and [player_tooltip player_id='19499' first='Ireland' last='Churchill'] are guilty of is pursuing an incredible opportunity. The Kansas City Current of the NWSL put on a camp in Brazil during High School Season where the main objective was to identify talented young players. This is an opportunity that any young female soccer player would relish to be a part of. All of these young women are committed to colleges post high school. Churchill (Texas A&amp;M), Trayer (University of North Carolina), Tsakaris (University of Florida) and Malinoski (University of Alabama) are all looking forward to their collegiate careers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is an archaic rule in CIF stating that kids are not allowed to attend professional try-outs during the high school season. My first argument is that this law should be taken out of the CIF rule book entirely. You're restricting young players of further opportunities not only to become a professional but to expose themselves to better training enviornments. Professional opportunities come around year round in the soccer world. High school kids are aged 14-18 professional opportunities get presented to talented players in this age bracket. An ECNL, or Girls Academy club would never restrict a professional opportunity for a player and would even celebrate it. Why is high school soccer any different? </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My second major dispute I have with this ruling is that I think it's wrong to say this camp was a tryout or trial. A trial with a professional club is with the intention of possibly signing with that club. I don't believe there was any intention from any of these four players to sign with the Current in the immediate future. This was a winter camp or I guess summer camp as it was in Brazil to help develop their game's by exposing them to a higher level. Nothing more. None of them were signed to professional contract so all 4 of them have every right to pursue their High School careers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking these 4 players off of the high school circuit is incredibly damaging and disappointing. High School Soccer is already losing a ton of talent on the boy's side due to MLSNext clubs not letting them play high school soccer (which is also ridiculous don't get me started). However, the girls high school scene remains somewhat in tact as ECNL and Girl's Academy clubs mostly let their players participate in one of the USA's oldest soccer competitions. This ruling will affect High School soccer in a major and negative way. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These youngsters are not the only one's who have pursued opportunities like this, male or female during a high school soccer season. It is unfair that the hundreds of unreported ones are allowed to play and these four young women are not. The rule itself needs to altered or preferably taken out completely of the CIF rule book. Why would you even want to play high school soccer if you are a professional soccer player? You don't see Mel Barcenas or Cavan Sullivan playing high school soccer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you're the Kansas City Current in this situation I really feel bad for the organization. You are trying to provide these young women an opportunity to compete at a higher level during a time that happened to be during high school season. You were providing these kids an incredible experience and now they can't play because of it. I think the Current should do something to try and remedy this situation. As of right now these young women are on their own. If a major power like the Current got involved to try and reverse this ruling the chances of success become a lot higher and more timely.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The landscape in not only the soccer world but the entire youth sports landscape is changing so quickly. Opportunities like the ones provided for these four young people don't grow on trees. They are rare and they should be celebrated not reprimanded for it. Punishing them for pursuing their dreams and developing their game is wrong. I am praying that they appeal this ruling and win, preferably in the next couple of days so they can continue their historic seasons and don't lose too many games in the process. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->