Jonathan Simmons delivered an impassioned message at SoMeck football media day on Saturday. High school transfers are on the rise in the Charlotte area. With the increased use of the NCAA transfer portal at the collegiate level, high school athletes aren’t being recruited nearly as much anymore.
Simmons, the head coach at Palisades High, explained that he feels there now exists a negative connotation when players move to different schools. Kids and their families make decisions to change schools and/or relocate for a variety of reasons. And with this advent of some nationally-ranked high schoolers changing uniforms, it’s always important to remember that there are things in life that are much bigger than sports. He noted that the mother of a young player at Palisades recently took a job in Raleigh — thus moving him to Rolesville High.
Simmons said he was immediately asked by a media member if Rolesville had recruited the player. “It’s a little bit of a negative connotation — being put on kids, families and coaches — regarding players and families moving to different schools,” Simmons said. “Kids’ families are going to move for the best interest of their child. Maybe have to move because of a re-home, because of a new job, shorter commute home, whatever the reason is. TOP VIDEOS “They need sports — we do a great job with it. We get kids to school. People win championships. But right now, it’s starting to become a witch hunt. Where every time a kid moves, it’s something negative.
I think it’s disrespectful to the kid. It’s disrespect to the family. And it’s disrespecting the coaches and administrators who do a thankless job.”
Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article290577499.html#storylink=cpy
Simmons, the head coach at Palisades High, explained that he feels there now exists a negative connotation when players move to different schools. Kids and their families make decisions to change schools and/or relocate for a variety of reasons. And with this advent of some nationally-ranked high schoolers changing uniforms, it’s always important to remember that there are things in life that are much bigger than sports. He noted that the mother of a young player at Palisades recently took a job in Raleigh — thus moving him to Rolesville High.
Simmons said he was immediately asked by a media member if Rolesville had recruited the player. “It’s a little bit of a negative connotation — being put on kids, families and coaches — regarding players and families moving to different schools,” Simmons said. “Kids’ families are going to move for the best interest of their child. Maybe have to move because of a re-home, because of a new job, shorter commute home, whatever the reason is. TOP VIDEOS “They need sports — we do a great job with it. We get kids to school. People win championships. But right now, it’s starting to become a witch hunt. Where every time a kid moves, it’s something negative.
I think it’s disrespectful to the kid. It’s disrespect to the family. And it’s disrespecting the coaches and administrators who do a thankless job.”
Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article290577499.html#storylink=cpy
