"The penalty is in our handbook," Sparks said, of the rule that stipulates the No. 1 penalty for a rules violation as forfeit.

"There’s always a penalty against a school," Sparks explained. "The first penalty is 'Declare forfeit of all games in which the violation occurred.' The thinking on [the Atholton situation] is that they had an unfair advantage by practicing out of season. Then, they probably would have an unfair advantage in the first game and probably in more than that.”

Sparks said that Howard County coordinator of athletics Mike Williams conducted an investigation after Schmitt and Atholton athletic director Mike Senisi reported the violation to him.

"They concluded that there was a violation and what they have to do is apply the penalties that are there. They can’t make them up," Sparks said. "The school determines whether or not this was a penalty. Secondly, they apply the penalties according to what’s prescribed [in the MPSSAA Handbook.] It’s like mandatory sentencing. The severity of it, they make the recommendations.

"They send it to me and my job is just to make sure they followed this procedure. For example, if they said, 'Well the coach made a mistake. The team shouldn’t have to be penalized, so we’re not going to forfeit any games,' Then, it would be my job to say, 'No, you can’t do that.' They realize that. After they’ve made their investigation, they’ve determined a penalty, they’ve imposed it and we’ve supported it because it’s in accordance with our procedures, then they have an opportunity to appeal, but I don’t think they’re going to appeal, because they’ve self-admitted it and they’re taking their medicine."

Williams said Wednesday that he would not appeal.

"The rule was broken and they self-reported it. It was inadvertent," Williams said. "It is a shame, but we're not going to appeal."

Sparks said the dilemma that players have to pay for mistakes made by coaches -- whether on purpose or inadvertent -- is not a new one.

"It’s not pleasant. It never is," Sparks said. "I guess for years people have tried to figure out how in the world can you address this fairly. Did the team get an advantage? Did they do something that other teams aren’t allowed to do? At what point is the penalty? We don’t only wrestle with it. Look at the colleges. The team – Ohio State or whoever – they’re facing penalties for the team and the school and they may affect kids who might not have even been students there at the time, being freshmen this year. It’s always tough. There’s never an easy way, but somehow, some way the school – it’s a school team – is ultimately responsible. No one has ever figured a way to do it fairly."

To read the rule in its entirety, visit the MPSSAA website, where the 2011-2012 Hanbook is included in full. Go to page 28 for the section on "Violations, Penalties, and Appeals."