‘It makes no sense’

WHILE MANY stakeholders believe the new Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association’s (ISSA) rule, which allows schoolboy players to participate in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) and parish Major Leagues during the schoolboy football season is a step in the right direction, sporting director of Cavalier, Rudolph Speid, is of the view that it will cause a divide between clubs and school teams as well as hinder the development of promising young talent.

The rule states that players who participate in senior club competitions (Premier League or parish Major League) during the schoolboy season must take a rest period of six days before they are eligible to play in the Manning or daCosta Cup competitions again.

ISSA’s competitions officer, Ewan Scott, said the rule is meant to protect the health of players, prevent overexertion from condensed fixtures, and avoid conflicts between schools and clubs.

However, Speid scoffed at the suggestion, saying instead that through modern science, players can recover in 48 hours. According to Speid, ISSA is also taking a hypocritical position as sometimes schools are forced to play up to three games in one week.

“In modern times when clubs and schools have technology, as it relates to recovery, where did six days come from? Was it medically recommended?

“I have seen ISSA make schools play three matches in one week. So the hypocrisy is that they put three matches in one week, but they do not want the players to play for their club and their school as the rule is once you are on the match card, technically, you have played,” he reasoned.

Speid pointed to the unfairness of the rule, saying that if a player was benched or played just a few minutes in a JPL game, he would be restricted from playing for six days even though there would have been far less strain on his person.

“There is no thought put behind the six days. It makes no sense in modern times. That six-day ruling, there is no basis to make it and without consultation.”

Speid believes the biggest losers would be the elite players, who can garner professional experience from playing in the country’s top flight.

“The normal player, it does not affect. Who it affects is the elite youth players. So what they are doing is stiffling the development of elite youth players who can play for their school and club interchangeably. So all they are doing is penalising the elite youth players with this rule,” he said.

NO DIALOGUES WITH AFFILIATES

He strongly believes that ISSA should have consulted the clubs before finalising their decision.

“You have included another affiliate without any dialogue with the affiliates. You cannot make a ruling that affects somebody else without consulting the parties,” he argued.

“You talk about Major League and Premier League clubs in your ruling, and you show no respect by having dialogue with them first and see how we can come to some agreement. That was the first disrespect that let me part company with it (rule) right away.”

Although he believes that with proper communication and cooperation the schools and clubs can work out how best to utilise the players during that period of the season, Speid believes that ISSA created a bigger divide between schools and clubs with this rule.

“The better solution was to leave the rule alone and allow schools and the clubs to come to some agreement. This is what happens between national teams and clubs.

“So those corporations are in football, but now you come with a rule that is divisive. You are going to force a youth to choose between school and club when that was not necessarily the case in the first place.

“They have put the war of school versus clubs right on the front burner, and the only person who is going to get hurt is the elite youth player.

“So ISSA, the affiliates, and the JFF, all parties, need to sit down and come up with a solution that works for all three,” he said.

Coach of Clarendon College, Lenworth Hyde, said the rule has its pros and cons and that it just requires cooperation between schools and clubs to make it work.

“It’s twofold. In one aspect you are giving the player exposure in the Premier League. On the next end, it will compromise the D’Cup (daCosta Cup) and Manning Cup,” he said.

Hyde said in the first round when the competition is not that strong, schools can allow players to play senior football.

However, when it comes down to crunch time, he is convinced that most schools will be apprehensive about letting their best players go.

“I don’t want to knock it because it gives some exposure to the players at an early stage. But as the coach of CC, I won’t be giving up my players for the second round,” he insisted.

“But it is a consequence towards them and their careers going forward. So it’s what you choose. Do you want to play Premier League, or you want to play daCosta or Manning Cup?”

He added that if he allows his school players to play in the JPL or any other senior football competition, it will largely depend on if they are being played when released.

“I don’t want them to put him on the bench. I expect him to start in that (JPL) team. It makes no sense to have him on the bench when he could be playing with his school.

“Schools with a big squad or those who have more than one quality player, they can sacrifice a player because the Premier League team might need him.

“But a lot of the schools’ coaches and managers will not allow their players to go. Certain coaches, like Craig Butler, will do it because he wants to expose his players. Some will not do it. But I think I will do it sometimes,” he said.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com