Double Trouble for a Star Athlete
Last year, a standout athlete from Long Island, who played a key role in leading his school to the state football championships, faced a ban from participating in two sports this fall.
Ryan Leary, a senior, initially hoped to join both the Carl Place youth soccer team and the school’s varsity soccer team after getting the green light from the coach. However, district officials stepped in and squashed those plans, as reported by a Wednesday article.
Before the school year kicked off in September, Leary raised the idea of being a dual-sport athlete with the Carl Place football coach, Paul Selhorn. “I mentioned it to Coach Selhorn over the summer. We really wanted him on the team,” Leary explained.
Selhorn seemed supportive, discussing the situation with the athletic director, Justin Brock, who told Leary he could pursue both sports if that was his choice.
Leary was gearing up to commit to both sports, especially eager to defend Carl Place’s Class B Boys Soccer State Championship and also stepping in as a wide receiver and kicker for the football team.
But from the school’s perspective, things were different.
In the first week of soccer practice, Principal Ted Canon delivered the disappointing news that high school athletes couldn’t compete on two teams simultaneously.
Faced with an ultimatum regarding which sport to prioritize, Leary opted for football. “I decided I’d focus on football for now and work out the rest later,” he shared, still reeling from the abrupt change in plans. “It broke my heart,” he admitted. “I felt like it was all so unfair since I’d been told I could do both.”
The district clarified that Leary could be a full member of either the varsity soccer or varsity football team, but not both at the same time.
According to reports, while classified as a “full” member of the soccer team, he could still retain some connection to the football team, complicating his situation further.
Canon stated that the school imposed these rules with student safety as a priority. “Our focus is on ensuring safety and fairness for all student-athletes. It’s uncommon for students to participate in two high-contact sports during the same season,” he commented.
Nassau County’s NYS Section 8, which oversees athletics in the area, does allow students to compete in two sports, provided they meet certain practice requirements and select a primary sport if scheduling conflicts arise.
Patrick Pizzarelli, the executive director of Section 8, remarked, “I’ve been in this county for 40 years and haven’t encountered schools blocking students from playing two sports in the same season.”
Last winter, after reaching the milestone of 1,000 points in basketball, Leary chose to focus solely on football for his final year. This season, the Frogs started with a 1-1 record, with Leary scoring three touchdowns on 11 receptions for 207 yards, while the Carl Place soccer team struggled, starting their season with a record of 0-3-1.
