A Port Moody father is suing BC School Sports after the organization ruled his son ineligible for this year's AAAA high school basketball season.
Andras Szigeti alleged in a statement of claim that his son, Grade 12 student Abel Szigeti, should be allowed to play for the Terry Fox Ravens after he switched from Heritage Woods at the beginning of this school year.
The family did not move residences but Szigeti told The Tri-City News that both schools agreed to allow Abel to make the move and continue playing basketball. Szigeti said Abel wanted the switch because of issues between the 17-year-old and the coach at Heritage Woods.
"It just didn't work out," he said. "After three years of unhappiness and dissatisfaction, we said we are not going to take this anymore and we left."
Abel joined the Kodiaks' junior basketball program in 2009 as a Grade 9 player. But the statement of claim said he did not receive support from the program's coaches and felt there was not enough done to make him feel included on the team. As a result, the court document alleges that Abel suffered from depression.
He withdrew from school between 2010 and 2011 and completed Grade 10 in June 2012. During that year, he rejoined the basketball team but said problems began to again arise when his former junior coach took over the team.
None of the claims made in Szigeti's statement have been proven in court and BC School Sports has not yet filed a statement of defence.
Heritage Woods Kodiaks basketball coach Chris Martin told The Tri-City News that he could not comment on the issue.
Abel began attending Terry Fox secondary in September 2013 and expected to play on the Ravens' basketball team.
But after the end of the exhibition season in October, the Szigetis were informed he would no longer be allowed to continue playing basketball.
So far, Szigeti said the court proceedings have cost him more than $11,000.
BC School Sports executive director Christine Bradstock would not comment directly on the case but said the organization has rules that must be followed regarding students who change schools.
"Just because the leaving school gives permission doesn't mean a player is eligible," she said. "You still have to follow our rules and regulations."
BCSS bylaws state that a student who switches schools must wait a year to join the new school's sports team if the student was a player in the same sport at the previous school. That means because Abel played basketball at Heritage Woods, he has to wait a year before joining the Ravens.
Some exceptions can be made, Bradstock said. For example, if a student moves from the Interior to the Lower Mainland, BCSS has the ability to allow the athlete to join their new team immediately. She also noted that the organization receives more than 200 applications for transfers each year and has not had an issue go to court in more than six years.
The issue will be back in court on Tuesday but it may be too late to salvage Abel's basketball season.
Terry Fox played Heritage Woods in a do-or-die game last night (after The Tri-City News' press deadline). If the Ravens managed a win, they would need another victory tonight (Friday) to earn a berth in the B.C. AAAA High School Basketball Provincial Championships in Langley in March.
