By Julia Sheth
Arts Editor
Although the requirements necessary to be in Independent Study Athletics are not unreasonable, the limitations the program places on the amount of classes a student can take are.
To be enrolled in ISA at Mira Costa, students must be elite athletes in sports that are not offered by the school, such as crew, fencing and figure skating. Participants must practice the sport for at least 15 hours a week, counting weekend games and competitions as a maximum of two hours, and be regionally or nationally ranked for their sport.
Students must fill out a yearly application in May or June, which the ISA selection committee has to approve, and they must complete quarterly activity logs and coach evaluations. However, once students are admitted to the program, they are not allowed to take six periods in addition to ISA.
Sophomore Abby Blair is currently enrolled in ISA for crew. Practicing 15 hours a week is a natural amount for her as a competitive athlete. Although the weekly hour requirements may seem like a lot to those outside of the program, because students voluntarily participate in the program, they are evidently not difficult to meet for high achieving athletes. The overall expectations ISA has for its student-athletes are completely feasible.
According to ISA supervisor Denise Anderson, the administration does not want to limit ISA participation as long as the students who are applying are truly elite athletes. Anderson stated that of the 79 students who applied for ISA last year, only four were denied. The process of gaining entrance to the program is fair as long as students maintain a high-quality of athleticism and apply at the appropriate time.
However, it is difficult for students to manage their sports schedule and academics under the current ISA regulations. This problem happens to many students. For example, junior Rachel Kay is not able to participate in ISA this year because her class schedule goes from zero to fifth period. Even though she is a competitive dancer, practicing at least 20 hours a week, the fact that she wishes to take six periods in addition to ISA prohibited her from joining the program. The limit of a five-period class day for students in the ISA program complicates students’ schedules unfairly and should be removed.
Students should be able to have a choice if they want to juggle their sport and six classes. CIF’s regulations for all high school sports teams allow them to practice 18 hours, as well as taking six other classes. However, the students participating in ISA, which only requires 15 hours, are only allowed to take five classes. Costa should give students more scheduling opportunities by removing the class limitations for ISA.
Although the weekly and quarterly expectations of ISA students are practical for ambitious athletes, the class schedule restrictions only make their schedules more stressful and should be revised.
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