As the controversial House Bill moves forward, high school coaches stand nervous. Nicknamed the “Free Agency” Bill, it moves forward and one step closer to passing and becoming instituted. 

FHSAA Executive Director Dr. Roger Dearing issued a statement today in regards to the current status of House Bill 7137

“The For over 95 years, the FHSAA has enabled student-athletes to participate on an equitable basis and receive vital educational benefits through sports.  This bill ‘trumps’ academics with athletics and tosses good sense and fair play to the side. We should be focusing on how athletics supplement education, not determine it.

Special interest groups focused on ‘Athletics First – No Matter What the Cost’ have prevailed in their influence on the Florida House.  Instead of focusing on far more important issues in education, lawmakers are choosing to meddle in the business of a not-for-profit organization once again in an attempt to create “free agency” in high school sports.

As the umbrella organization for interscholastic sports, the FHSAA has established a track record of developing rules of sportsmanship and fair play for all those who enter the sports arena.  High School free agency is something we should all oppose.  

Our next step is to attempt to stop a similar bill in the Senate, which might be taken up this week.”