Supreme Court Rules in Favor of TSSAA in Brentwood Case
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bruce Howard
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (June 22, 2007) - On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme
Court ruled in favor of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic
Association (TSSAA) in its case against Brentwood Academy, which
supports the ability of state athletic/activities associations to
restrict recruiting of high school student-athletes.
The TSSAA is a member of the National Federation of State High
School Associations, which is the national leadership organization for
high school sports and fine arts activities comprised of state
athletic/activity associations in the 50 states plus the District of
Columbia.
Following is a statement from Bob Kanaby, executive director of the
NFHS, regarding the Supreme Court's ruling in the Brentwood case:
"The NFHS enthusiastically welcomes the Supreme Court's decision
in Brentwood Academy vs. TSSAA," Kanaby said. "The Court has recognized
that athletic recruiting has no place at the high school level. Such
recruiting has been prohibited by state high school associations in all
50 states plus the District of Columbia. The educators who oversee such
associations have determined that the best interests of young people are
served if athletics are kept in proper balance. College-bound
student-athletes may be able to maintain perspective in the face of
athletic recruiting, but younger children are at greater risk. The
Supreme Court's decision will let rules stay in place that enhance the
primacy of academics over athletics. The nation's young people are well
served by the decision, which reinforces the role and supports the core
mission of education-based athletics at the secondary school level."
About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership
organization for high school sports and fine arts activities. Since
1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based
interscholastic sports and fine arts activities that help students
succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by
building awareness and support, improving the participation experience,
establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping
those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes
playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level.
Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia,
the NFHS reaches more than 18,500 high schools and 11 million
participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7
million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on
interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings;
sanctions interstate events; produces publications for high school
coaches, officials and athletic directors; sponsors professional
organizations for high school coaches, officials, spirit coaches, speech
and debate coaches and music adjudicators; and serves as a national
information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For
more information, visit the NFHS Web site at www.nfhs.org.