Recruiting Violation: RDC MVB |
(
Commissioner's Rulings
) |
2017-18 SeasonMarch 20, 2018Facts: Lethbridge College has requested an investigation into a possible Men’s Volleyball recruiting violation by Red Deer College. RDC Men’s Volleyball player Adam Turlejeski reached out to Lethbridge College’s Dax Whitehead, in an attempt to convince Mr. Whitehead to transfer to RDC for the 2018-19 season. The texts in question were sent between February 28- March 1, 2018. Of note, one of the texts sent by Mr. Turlejeski was worded as follows (referring to RDC Head Coach Aaron Schulha): “I mentioned to Schulha that I had messaged you and he encourages you to contact him.” In addition to the texts sent by Mr. Turlejeski, former (and future) RDC player Regan Fathers also texted Mr. Whitehead during the same time period as follows: “I’m heading back to RDC next year and we are looking for left sides. Schulha had you in mind as a potential recruit.” Ruling: Article I Section 7 Rule 1.6 of the ACAC Operating Code states the following: 1.6. Athletes Registered at Another Collegiate Institution: No member of an athletic staff or other delegate of athletic interest shall contact, directly or indirectly, the student of another collegiate institution to discuss the possible attendance of the athlete at their collegiate institution unless that student makes the initial contact with the delegate of the institution. It is Lethbridge College’s suggestion that the actions of Mr. Turlejeski and/or Mr. Fathers constitute a violation of Rule 1.6. As neither of these individuals is an athletic staff member their contact with Mr. Whitehead would have to be deemed to have been as a “delegate of athletic interest’ in order for me to find a violation of the rule. In response to a request for particulars, both Coach Schulha and Adam Turlejeski provided detailed written responses, which are attached to this ruling. In short, Mr. Turlejeski states that, knowing the team’s potential areas of need for next season, he chose to reach out to Mr. Whitehead of his own accord and without any prior discussion with Coach Schulha about Mr. Whitehead as a possible recruit. According to Mr. Turlejeski, the day after reaching out to Mr. Whitehead, Mr. Turlejeski mentioned to Coach Schulha that Mr. Whitehead had shown some interest in transferring to RDC but Coach Schulha indicated to Mr. Turlejeski that he was unable to contact Mr. Whitehead but that he would be interested if Mr. Whitehead contacted him. Mr. Turlejeski states that the subsequent contact by Regan Fathers arose out of his discussions with Mr. Fathers about the makeup of next year’s team, which led Mr. Fathers to also contact Mr. Whitehead. Mr. Turlejeski indicates that Mr. Fathers’ comment to Mr. Whitehead that “Schulha had him in mind” was misplaced and was clearly intended to show Mr. Whitehead that there was interest in him transferring to RDC. In his own response, Coach Schulha essentially echoes Mr. Turlejeski’s submissions, indicating that when Mr. Turlejeski mentioned to him on March 1 that he had been talking to Mr. Whitehead, Coach Schulha stated that he would be interested in Mr. Whitehead but that “obviously there is nothing I can do unless he contacts me directly.” Coach Schulha adds that he assumed the conversation between Mr. Turlejeski and Mr. Whitehead arose because they had a connection within the close knit volleyball community. In hindsight, Coach Schulha indicates that he should have made it clear to Mr. Turlejeski that he should stop communicating with Mr. Whitehead immediately. Finally, Coach Schulha indicates that he did not have any discussions at all with Mr. Fathers regarding Mr. Whitehead. There is no rule forbidding athletes from competing institutions from speaking with each other, including discussions related to transferring from one ACAC institution to another. Therefore, as stated above, in order to find a violation of Rule 1.6 it must be established that Mr. Turlejeski and/or Mr. Fathers were essentially acting as agents of the RDC athletic staff. While it likely would have been preferable had Coach Schulha instructed Mr. Turlejeski to break off contact with Mr. Whitehead immediately upon becoming aware of Mr. Turlejeski’s “recruitment” efforts, there is no evidence that either Mr. Turlejeski or Mr. Fathers were acting as agents of the RDC athletic staff. Accordingly, I do not find there to have been a violation of Rule 1.6. Sincerely, |