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Ralston Suspends Swimming Coach Hartfield He Encouraged Athletes to Do Workouts During the State's Five-Day Moratorium on High School Practices and Competition.

Posted on: Monday, 10 January 2005, 18:00 CST

Ralston High School Swimming Coach Docker Hartfield was suspended for encouraging his athletes to take part in voluntary workouts over Christmas break, during the state's five-day moratorium on high school practices and competition.

Ralston Athletic Director Dan Mussmann suspended Hartfield for violating the spirit of the Nebraska School Activities Association rule. The suspension has been completed, and Hartfield will coach the Ralston boys at today's Larry Hill Ram Relays.

Hartfield told his athletes that a pool in Council Bluffs would be available during the Dec. 23 to 27 moratorium. He said his goal was to help kids who wanted to maintain the momentum they'd built during the first month of the season.

"I don't want to be defensive, but just like anybody else, I told them where pools were available and told them to get themselves together and organize voluntary workouts," Hartfield said. "Some athletes thought the team leaders were putting too much pressure on them to go and swim.

"I certainly didn't want to go against the spirit of the rule, and I certainly tried to meet all of the criteria laid out by the NSAA. I'm an employee of a district that respects the spirit of the rule and will abide by that."

Mussmann had discussions with NSAA Executive Director Jim Tenopir about Ralston's enforcement of the rule. No NSAA sanctions are expected.

"The rule might not have been violated," Mussmann said. "But the intent was definitely violated, and that's our stand. We took a fairly harsh stand because the moratorium, sportsmanship and following the spirit of the rules is important to us."

Mussmann said he received some feedback that other districts do the same kinds of things Hartfield tried to do, but that carries no weight with him.

"I don't care what other schools are doing," Mussmann said. "Ralston's not going to do this, period. I think our kids and parents, deep down, appreciate that. There shouldn't be any pressure to go to a practice, even an optional one, if it means missing out on time with your family during that period.

"A coach can say you need to stay in shape, do it on your own, that's fine with me."

Hartfield said the rule may need to be re-examined.

"I'm not usually this vocal, but certainly we want to give the opportunity for committed kids to work out," Hartfield said. "Everybody is doing it; I just happened to walk up to my administrator and told him what I was doing."

Source: Omaha World - Herald

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