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Let them play

Herzl/RMHA shouldn't have to skip state basketball tourney

The Rocky

Published February 28, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Updated February 28, 2008 at 2:03 a.m.

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Tournament time. It's supposed to be that special occasion when months and years of hard work culminate in the opportunity to compete for a state championship. It's supposed to be that moment when every high school basketball player has at least the chance to realize the dream of winning it all.

That's why it's so regrettable that the boys and girls basketball teams from Herzl/Rocky Mountain Hebrew Academy may face the impossible choice between following a tenet of their faith - observance of the Sabbath - and participating in tournament games scheduled between dusk Fridays and dusk Saturdays the next three weekends.

The Colorado High School Activities Association has some undeniable practical arguments why it is reluctant to enable Herzl/RMHA's boys and girls to take part in the Class 1A state basketball tournament. Its blueprint for conducting 10 simultaneous tournaments (for boys and girls in five classifications) in the short span of 16 days is a 57-page book that lays out all of the logistical issues - from arenas to schedules to motel availability to assignments for officials, scorers, timekeepers and all of the other people engaged to help operate more than 50 sites involving hundreds of games.

As complicated as the tournament is, though, we still subscribe to the adage, "Where there's a will, there's a way." Having examined the schedules, we're convinced that reasonable accommodations could have been made - and should still be made if Herzl/RMHA wins this weekend - so that players wouldn't have to choose between their faith and their basketball dreams.

Herzl/RMHA contacted CHSAA months ago, asking the school activities association to find a way to accommodate its school's girls and boys teams if they were as successful as it appeared they could be. School CEO Avi Halzel even made a personal visit to assistant commissioner Chuck Howell to follow up on the request. But he was too late.

Halzel was informed that CHSAA's 13-person executive committee, which includes a state legislator and a representative of the Colorado commissioner of education, had met the night before and concluded there was no way to work around the Sabbath. Understandably, some see a contradiction when the same organization prohibits games, practices and any type of coach-athlete contact on Sundays.

Admittedly, it's getting late for adjustments. But not too late. Where there's a will, there's a way.

The scheduling problems for Herzl/RMHA reportedly begin if one of the teams reaches the North Regional, which is in Sterling on March 8, a Saturday. CHSAA refuses to reschedule a game to evening hours. Why? Would it reschedule games if a blizzard hit? Then why not to protect the free exercise of religion? A 7 p.m. start would work for the school on that day.

Scheduling would be more complicated at the three-day state finals the following week at the Air Force Academy's Clune Arena, where even the first-round losers continue to play in a consolation bracket. Two of six Friday games are now scheduled for after dusk, and all six games Saturday are currently before nightfall. Were one Herzl/RMHA team to advance to the finals, it would be a fairly simple matter of rescheduling one (most likely) or two games. The presence of both girls and boys teams would create additional complications - which is why CHSAA should have been working on this issue for months instead of essentially dismissing it out of hand. It's not as if night games are out of the question on the last day of the state finals. Classes 2A, 3A and 5A have them.

Herzl/RMHA's players deserve the chance to chase their dreams.

Comments

  • February 28, 2008

    8:26 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    leftside writes:

    They knew the rules when they joined the league and if not they knew the possibility could exist. They have been a CHSAA school for many years and now that they are in the hunt they want everyone to accomidate them. Absolutely not. I'm sure most teams, if they had their say, would want something changed in the schedule but they can't so they make adjustments. The Hebrew Academy will have to do the same or opt out.

    CHSAA is inflexible to everyone. They have to be or they would never get anything done.

  • February 28, 2008

    8:29 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Spencer writes:

    Isn't it their religion that is not "letting" them play?

  • February 28, 2008

    10:54 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jay writes:

    They are more than welcome to play. No one is stopping them but themselves.

  • February 28, 2008

    1:41 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Brain writes:

    Has hell froze over? I agree with all three posts from leftside, Spencer and OMG jay.

  • February 28, 2008

    4:25 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gs writes:

    Pretty un-Christian comments there. WWJD? Is that how to put it? Sorry but for your neighbor if you wear the Cross then you make an exception.

  • February 28, 2008

    4:38 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    3rdGenerationNative writes:

    watch Chariots of Fire. See how Anglicans (Brits) changed the IOC's ruling on Sunday Olympic Track & Field competition. If it's no biggie to CHSAA (they claim it's not a religious issue), let em continue the tourney on Sunday.

  • February 29, 2008

    9:50 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Oh_Wise_One writes:

    3rdGenerationImmigrant- When was Chariots of Fire? It's 2008, try to keep up.
    It's not a religious issue, it's an issue of "show up and play' at your scheduled time. It's their choice to sit out.