Conflict of Interest

[BillyMac]

It's always a good policy to block teams/schools due to a conflict of interest, or even a perceived conflict of interest.

That said, there may not be any cut and dry rules regarding such.

Attending a school and/or playing on that school's team should not be an automatic block. How much time has passed by? Is the coaching staff the same? Is the athletic director the same?

Familial relationships should almost always be blocked. Daughter attends the school? Nephew plays on the team? Brother-in-law coaches the team?

Close relationships and business relationships should almost always be blocked. College roommate coaches? Official is teacher in school system?

I taught and coached at the middle school in my hometown. My three kids played sports, including basketball, at the high school. For years I blocked out my hometown high school. I retired from teaching and coaching about a dozen years ago. My kids are now adults. New athletic director at the high school, new coaching staffs for both boys and girls. I stopped blocking the high school a few years ago.

I had a few of my former players move onto high school coaching positions in other towns. It was a difficult decision for me, but I never blocked those schools. Right, or wrong, I didn't lose any sleep over these former player decisions, it was something that I felt in my gut wasn't going to be a problem.