This is absolutely ludicrous. To forfeit an entire game as a penalty for ONE 7 on 7 PRACTICE, that was inadvertently held 1 week too early...seriously????? Take away a practice or two, or if they feel the need to impose a suspension, suspend the coach...dont hurt the kids that had nothing to do with this. In a county where a certain school that shall remain nameless has committed violations for years with no penalty, this is absolutely absurd!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was a coach for 35 years and knew the rules - the coach was correct in reporting the violation and the punishment fits the crime - Jeff must not believe that rules exist to prevent the abuse of kids - and if he knows of violations he is as guilty of the cheaters for not reporting it to competent authorities - it was his kind that caused most of the problems we had - see what you can get away with and then get a lawyer to bail you out - good for Atholton for dealing with this like they should have done - Geoff Smoot retired coach

Mr Plotkin...every school in the state plays by the same rules. if, as you cliam, a "certain school" commits, or has comitted violations for years...prove it..report them..don't go by hearsay... prove it..i am not from howard county, so i don't know who you are referring to, but i am sick and tired of people making claims on public forums like you just did and not backing it up...sounds like petty jealousy....

Coach Smoot...so I guess the "outsiders" running 7 on 7 allstar leagues (AAU basketball like), then profiting off the kids as they "sell" their kids to big time college programs...all completely "legal"...is OK in your mind and doesn't "abuse" the kids??? There was an entire forum on ESPN on this which involved college coaches like Nick Saban, Bob Stoops, etc., not to mention an article in the Baltimore Sun that not only slammed these 7 on 7 allstar teams and the actions of these "coaches", but also stated that high school coaches should be allowed more time with their kids to avoid contact with these predators!!!! In additon, there is no limit on how many 7 on 7 events high school teams may participate in, just when they can start. This was ONE 7 on 7 practice that INADVERTENTLY occurred 1 week early by a coach that is beyond reproach and that I trust my kids to implicitly!! Let the punishment fit the crime and don't take a game away from the kids that work as hard as they do!!!!!

My question is the adult broke the rule but the kids have to pay for it? Punish the coach. Suspend him for a game or two!

This is a 7 on 7 practice violation of the 80% rule. Had they waited until the state finals of track and field were finished (3 days later) it would not have been a violation. But does violation of the 80% rule on a 7 on 7 team warrant a real game forfeiture? If so I'd love to see the precedent for that.

This corruption of justice is a knee jerk, simplistic example of how not to apply proportional justice to fit a rule violation. The advantage gained by 1 7 on 7 practice was the violation. Collective punishment of forfeiture of the game for the student athlete, their coaches and their families was the judgement. EVERYONE should be asking; if this could happen for THIS rule violation, is my kid's high school next? And for WHAT violation? Is this a blanket punishment for most or all rule violations NOW?