HOW BC SCHOOL SPORTS TOOK AWAY 2019 PROVINCIAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS FROM BURNABY SOUTH SECONDARY SCHOOL?!

Krupic Family public statement

BC School Sports bending own rules are one main reason why British Columbia has experienced little or no progress in High School Basketball.

As parents of Emir Krupic who is currently and has been in previous years, a student at Burnaby South Secondary, we want to raise public awareness about the recent injustices that BC School Sports had made against our son Emir. That meant ruling our son Emir, ineligible to play basketball this year for his own High School in which negatively affected his team and the community around him specifically when he did not break any of the rules on the BC School Sports rule-book. This awful and unjust decision potentially took away the best shot Emir and his Burnaby South team had at winning provincials.  

When Emir came back from his program in Seattle called Elite Sports Academy, we followed all the guidelines seeking eligibility through BC School Sports. We truthfully presented all documents and evidence to BC School Sports in order to make Emir eligible and to add him to the team roster. Emir was eventually approved by the BC School Sports coordinator Karen Hum stating that Emir was eligible to play. Emir’s first game back was against Killarney and it was an important qualifying round for the lower mainland tournament. Emir’s coach checked him in the game against Killarney where he played small minutes that game, nonetheless it would’ve been won with or without him. Burnaby South easily won that game by a large margin. By our surprise, within 24 hours the BC School Sports director Jordan Abney ruled Emir ineligible without a single word said to us. The reason why was because the parents and coaches from a dozen schools in the province were complaining about Emir when they had no idea about anything he did and only had second hand information about Emir. Burnaby South was forced to forfeit the game which gave them a much harder path to the provincials.

 Mr. Abney’s explanation was that the our family and Burnaby South was not disclosing enough information about Elite Sports Academy when in fact, we had gave every last bit of information needed of everything Emir was doing down in Seattle. Not a single rule or guideline was broken. It wouldn’t be logical anyways for the school to hide information about Emir and risk his team.

After this decision, we had 3 meetings with Mr. Abney in hopes to appeal this decision, presenting him once again, all the documents that clearly show that not one rule from the BC School Sports Handbook has been broken. Mr. Abney’s explanation was based on the fact that Elite Sports Academy had the INTENT of prep school. We came to the realization that some of the claims Mr. Abney about the rules made most definitely wasn’t represented and evident in the BCSS 2018/2019 rulebook. Mr. Abney said that Elite Sports Academy was equivalent to a prep school when that isn’t true because a true prep school has to be registered or affiliated with an actual school in order for it to be a proper prepatory/post graduate school along with having a basketball program within it. A good example of a true prep school would be Brewster Academy out of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, USA. Players there are enrolled full time at a school along with having the proper and full prep experience and schedule. Basically, Mr. Abney based his ruling off the INTENT that Elite Sports Academy had, in which deep down everyone knows is completely unfair and clearly doesn’t make sense. 

Mr. Abney’s called this a “Prep Environment” which clearly doesn’t hold any significant value. He also stated Emir was ineligible because of the “prep environment” and schedule he played in. This is simply ridiculous because the schedule and games E.S.A. played should not come into play when deciding whether or not, E.S.A. is a prep school. E.S.A. had a very open and non-concrete schedule in which all real prep schools do have otherwise. Emir played against teams ranging from men’s league teams to teams overseas as well as other prep schools all in open exhibitions. It could be considered the same thing as club basketball since club basketball also known as AAU, is very open and has no concrete schedule when it comes to who you play because it could be against anyone and any team.  Some prep teams play all year round even in AAU tournaments therefore there is no such thing as a “Prep Environment” because you’re either enrolled full time at a school playing for a prep team with a proper schedule or you aren’t. There is no in between.

Since there was never any schooling at E.S.A, and Emir wasn’t enrolled anywhere other than his Online school out of British Columbia. Means that he technically was not playing prep and if it wasn’t proper prep basketball what else could it be other than club team.

Mr. Abney also falsely stated to us and to the news, that Emir was ineligible because his “prep environment” counted towards his 13 weeks of play when those rules clearly only apply to students who are registered and competing for a MEMBER SCHOOL as stated in section 31.1.0. The only sanctioning rules there are in the rulebook under section 62.0.0  is the rules ensuring that TEAMS, not individual players, are playing under similar conditions and ruling structures and are competing fairly against one another, within the spirit and intent of interscholastic athletics. Mr. Abney stated that “there’s a prep school rule”. The only prep school rule there is only applies to players who have been at prep/elite teams REGISTERED or AFFILIATED with actual member schools in which otherwise, our son Emir never was. Mr. Abney also said that in the rulebook it says that “if you’ve played in a prep environment, it considered to have played for the purposes of transfer rules therefore one is subject to transfer rules and subject to season of play.” Once again, Mr. Abney was false claiming since is no evidence to support his words as the only “prep school rule”, would be the one falling under section 39.5.0. 

39.5.0 STUDENT-ATHLETE TRANSFER TO PREP/ELITE SCHOOL PROGRAMS – A student-athlete who transfers from their home school to a prep/ elite team within or affiliated with a school, and returns to his/her home school, or any other BCSS member school, is considered to have participated in that sport and must seek eligibility through 40.0.0. as a transfer student. Members of a school prep/elite team are considered to have participated in competition of a BCSS activity.

- BC School Sports Handbook 2018-2019   

It is very interesting that Mr. Abney has made his ruling by using the word “Intent” which in reality, means nothing and does not apply to any of their own rules they have written in their own book. His decision was absolutely wrong and needs to be held accountable.  There must be a reason why this has been happening for years, not just for our son, but for other young and talented high school basketball players who have constantly been targeted year in and year out. 

It almost may seem BC School Sports officials are heavily influenced and have close relations with the schools that make most complaints. They continue to bend their own rules and do anything they can to rule talented players ineligible as opposed to doing whatever they can to resolve issues like these and help the players out.  These constant complaints against these talented players have nothing to do with opposing players as they enjoy competing against one another. But on the other hand this is the work of apprehensive parents and coaches that are afraid of competition and who don’t want to see certain kids succeed for their own schools.

Emir is the youngest of 4 sons that we have and has already at his age, built a huge basketball resume but for some unknown reason, he isn’t eligible to play basketball for the only high school he’s ever attended. Cases like these give you a perspective as to why British Columbia has a hard time making a name for itself in basketball and is the least respected province in the Canada basketball scene simply because of politics like this.  There are other schools that are recruiting players across the country but on the other hand, BC School Sports will make poor decisions ruling talented players ineligible because someone gave them poor information. They know what they are doing wrong but at the end of the day, it doesn’t bother them.

We are extremely hurt and heartbroken to have seen our son go through this stressful situation as would any parent be. However this isn’t just about our son Emir anymore, it is about the fair and just treatment of players who may face a similar situation in the future. BC School Sports main goal should be to help student athletes the best they can and not look for every reason or excuse as to why they cannot participate. That is exactly what they have been doing for many years now and it needs to come to an end in order for our community to grow and for our young players to progress in the basketball scene and make a name for themselves. Sooner or later, this unjust treatment of players needs to come to an end. It cannot continue any longer as it is hurting the progress of high school basketball here in B.C.

Sincerly,

Melina and Nihad Krupic

Burnaby, Canada

March 12, 2019