Does this young man fall under the protection of the Americans with disability act?

My son is Autistic and I agree with the decision. We want our kids treated like everyone else do he shouldn't get special treatment because of his disability. Let him go down in history with a great football record and be happy.

Best news I heard all day

The rules and laws cannot have a spin for special circumstances. While we are all compassionate to his condition some other parent will try and test the system in the future if we do not uphold the rules of law as written. Part of growing process is disappointment as we all must move on. Hopefully in some way Anthony will grow to understand and move on.

Absolutely amazing, NJSIAA. You've got kids transferring because they don't like the coach with no penalty winning state championships, entire teams made up of tuition students and this is where you focus to make sure there isn't an "athletic advantage".
Maybe it's time that someone looked into the NJSIAA and the rulings they've made. Never seen a group in charge use such random judgement when applying their own rules. Shameful...

I do feel sorry for this young man, having a child with disabilities myself, and kind of the same situation. But rules are rules and need to be followed. My son loves baseball but is too old to play little league any more. So now he has a group of friends that go to one of the school fields on nice weekends and hold their own ball game.

Too bad our rec dept couldnt come up with a sports program for these kids when they are no longer able to play on school or little league teams. Would be wonderful to see a baseball and football league for children with disabilities in town.

@clamdigger...so because of his physical attributes he's shouldn't play either? My son is 15 and is the same size. Guess he can't play next year either wouldn't want the "little players" to feel little.

I say start there own league then, not specail olympics , football /baseball/soccer or involve these children who love the sport.. our kids can move up to college these kids can't ( in sports) so as a community lets do something!! how about tht big parking lot (once foodtown) instead of housing put a HUGE sport facility there feilds, indoor dome, a big rec area , bb courts do something for the kids!!!

@dee - why can't they go to college? This particular boy has autism. Sure, he needs extra help, but he's probably smarter than the majority of kids without disabilities. The ruling was that he's already played the max amount allowed. That would also go for a student who was held back because he/she failed and had to repeat a year.

And I am in agreement with having him on the team as a coach. This way he can help out and still be part of the team and game he loves.

They have programs for special needs children. We tried to put our son in basketball but the township tried to put him on a regular team due to his size. It's not about what's best for the children it's about how many games this town can win. So pathetic.

The NJSIAA has always been strict in this type of situation. There have been cases where a kid missed an entire year of school due to injuries in an auto accident, or illness, and wanted to play a 5th year. They were always denied. They cannot open a can of worms. I think the Brick Staff can find a place for Anthony such as an honorary assistant coach(why not the kicking coach?). He would still be part of the Dragon family and I'm sure all the players would support him.

As far as the food town parking lot I have blue prints in my house for the proposed building ideas. If the project goes thru they won't be able to utilize that property.

If the best argument as to why he should have another year is "Because he's autistic"
then I agree with the decision.
Onward and upward!

Just a question, If he's eligible to stay in school a extra ye( or until he's 21) as many children with disabilities shouldn't he be able to still participate the school sports or any other activities??? Is this only a issue because he good at what he's doing?? wonder if it would even be a issue if he want all that good?

I feel for Anthony and his family. It is so frustrating as a parent of a special needs/ autistic child and they find something they love that makes them inclusive instead of in their own world and the system seems to fail them at a certain point. I do hope that the school asks him to particiate as a honorary coach etc as that would lessen the blow a bit. When you have students who qualify for the program to stay in High School until the age of 21, you need to have the activities for them just like the other students. I applaud his family for getting him involved in football and showing their son he can do anything!! That is so important. I wish them luck and think Anthony will thrive, he has great support from his family and he is quite amazing in opinion. I understand the rules and the importance of not opening Pandoras box and setting precadent but as a Mom of 2 autistic kids, one now adult, I empathize. It is always a struggle to fifjt when you find the one thing that brings your child to life and to the present and makes the included and bonded to a team. That is miraculous and gives a feeling that only a parent of an autistic or special needs child can fully grasp. I hope there can be a compromise where Anthony still has that fulfillment and the rules are not broken so no one else's football career is affected.

I understand the unfair advantage thing due to size and weight, but he is a kicker, not a position that requires the use of brute force like a defensive back. They should let this young man play that only position due to he can't hurt anyone. I understand rules are rules but this is something that he is living for,looking foward to. Taking this away from him while he is still in HS is just plain inconsiderate. It's just 1 more season, give this young man a chance to graduate with his head held high. This can be something he can build on to become a pillar of the community, don't pull the rug out from under his feet, he already has the deck stacked against him.

This is a tremendous growth opportunity for the young man to assist and mentor. I hope someone has the sense to see that.

Tough situation, but all of the accomodations that we make for kids with disabilities at times can infringe on others. If we go with our hearts and let him keep playing, its not fair to other students. They should totally let him be like a coach and help the team out...not exlude him entirely.

After reading the posts there are pro's and con's. I disagree with the decision, and think certain "rules" can be bent due to Anthony's autism, I'm not saying he should take away someone else's spot as kicker, but at least let him play in some of the games and watch the other kickers on the team and ween him into helping coach. I do think that the NJSIAA's commitee has a few good points and reasons ( if the team had an unbeatable team this past year and the upcoming year was looking as good, and it was because of Anthony's winning field goals I'd say the NJSIAA's point is well taken) but I also think they missed the point, or the big picture. Like his father said: personal development and progress as a disabled student is the main factor. Putting athletics above learning in any situation should not be their mission. We are in a sad state because of this, we've seen coaches in schools push their champions passed their failing academics just to win games when it should be about learing. Remember, it's a game win or loose, it's just a GAME !!!

i really don't know where i stand on this...i am so tired of rules being broken because everyone has a cause but this is special....

This decision is the correct one. That would mean if it took someone 10 years to complete high school that they can play football for 10 yrs. No Way

He can be enrolled in 1 class at OCC and play there

With this kid being autistic, I think to tell him that he can't play because of some committee is ridiculous. Can you imagine the impact on this child that has found something he's good at and I'm sure completely focused on and then tell him you can't be good at what you're good at anymore because of your disability, meaning that you can't stay here and play, and you can't move on and play, you're stuck...there has to be some way to continue to involve him in some capacity. The repercussions may be devastating on this child, and for what purpose? My opinion, to deny him involvement is completely contrary to educating this child and assisting him with his disability. That's a damn shame.

This isn't the NFL for crying out loud, it's a high school sport! The way this is being treated you would think it involves millions of dollars and contracts, it's high school and that's it. What most kids experience with high school football is a great time with buddies but doesn't lead to an NFL contract, what high school football is good for, is stories to tell at class reunions and those stories get to be bigger and badder every year and by the 40th reunion do not resemble in any sense of the word what really went on. Say this kid had a natural acting and singing ability would he be banned from high school plays because he was older and sang better than the rest of the school? I don't think so. Get real people, it's just a high school game. I know thems fighting words in Brick, but it's true.

@ Donna: his size does matter otherwise there wouldn't have been mention of it. A 21 year old would be physically more mature than a 14 or 15 year old most of which play on JV. Again, it's going back to size. Anthony is a kicker, not tackle, he has limited physical interactions with other players on the field. I hope he helps with coaching and still practices with the team. He deserves that much.

Time to change the rules its JUST A GAME PEOPLE !

Wow, this is a tough call, but the eight semester rule should prevail, if you held a kid back for three years, he can't play, and unfortunately, this is the same scenario, he's being held back for up to three years

This matter should be brought to the attention of the person who has negotiated player trades and housing for years. And you know who that is.

As I stated above my is Autistic as well. Our children need to learn that they don't get special treatment for their disability. He played like everyone else and he should be done. His disability doesn't give him a free pass to use the system to his liking. That is unfair to the children without disabilities. I understand about personal development but his parents need to teach him that he won't be a kicker for the rest of his life. What happens when school is over and he is no longer on the team? I am sorry but his parent should get him involved with something else that sparks his interest. Our children being Autistic does make it hard to move on from something that they like BUT we have to so they develop as much as they can. This is not an issue of being Autistic or not...this is an issue about sports. The rules are the same for everyone. People need to move on and accept that.

Oh... as far as the title goes. He isn't DISABLED... he's Autistic...

Your right Daniel.........

My son is Autistic and no one including school has ever used that terminology. We use the word Autism... We don't call our children disabled. Maybe it's a matter of how we parents view our children.

I am getting REALLY FRUSTRATED at you posters! PLEASE read this link! The solution is at hand!!! http://www.poac.net/default.asp?pid=124

Join the soccer team

I may be 41 but if they can clear me I could be the OKC James Harden coming off the bench for the Memorial Mustangs as a redshirt senior

I'm not making a joke here, and I'm being totally serious, if Anthony is as good as they say he is, there has to be a program, in place, for him to play college ball in New Jersey.

If you want your kid to play HS football at 19, hold him back before you put him in kindergarten. All top athlete families do that. This way they are a year older and stand out against the rest of the team. That's how ya get the scholarships!

Let him play.....rules are ment to be broken...think outside the box...what else does he have.

The people in charge of this "eligibility subcommittee" are not unlike the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church when it comes to rules. There are no exceptions to rules because they view the world in black and white. There is no room for a grey area or unique/exceptional circumstance. It's all about power and not the least bit of compassion or concern for individual persons. No doubt the subcommittee members are appointed by the same close minded philosophy.

Football is stupid. It should be banned from all schools and as a youth activity. Too many young men have had their health and lives ruined by mental, physical, and social injuries suffered whilst playing this silly game. All of the so called life-lessons claimed by football proponents can be better learnt through a whole slew of other activities, including nearly any other sport.

Everyone should realize by now that majority of the kids finish last. The schools only care about certain kids. The administration, teachers, coaches and state of NJ does not care about anyone but themselves and that is the truth. i am sure if this was someone's kid that had clout they would be in their favor of their kid playing another year.

I forgot to add...Point Beach girls coach is "HORRIBLE"

Ken.....You are so right on you assessment. I have seen the patch do the same thing. Take off comments that really were not at all that bad and then keep others cursing out another post...very strange. I guess someone makes complaints, such as school officials, parents and coaches and off it goes. Does not matter if it is the truth or how a post see's it. I heard the same thing as CH. It came from a school official. They were allowed to play because they moved in to the town. If they enrolled as a tuition student like the girl on Saint Rose's team living in another town they would have had to wait. These two girls wanted to score all the points, they did not have to drive in with 3 people on them. They chose to play like that. Other girls on the team can shoot. They purposely would pretend like they didn't see them. Even though all the fans seen it. My 90 year old mother who is blind in one eye could see it and pass the ball better. They would pass late, or throw a horrible pass but had no problem passing to each other. All of a sudden they can pass very well. Josh& Sherlon was very bad reporting a the games as well as the point beach coach. It was all about two players, rarely gave credit to the other girls. One of the girls, don't know her name, was awesome at defense, if it wasn't for her they would have lost more of the games and never given credit. She had a great shot too. I was told after she got 5 3pts. in one of the games these two girls stop passing to her.

Ken, Needless to say, you are right about the sister too. Three of the starters on that team is seniors I am sure they will not be missing the game of basketball under the beach coach. But I do feel for the remaining girls because they barley got to play and this coach will not try to teach them anything like he never did all the prior years. Don't worry I am sure they will be getting some new tuition kids or players to over step the remaining girls in experience girls. This coach has done a lot of girls dirty with his politics so it would not surprise me one bit. If you have a school that lets the coaches do what ever they want they have the power to overlook a girl that has been waiting and promised. I am sure these girls will try to recruit new girls to the Beach. The girls that actually live there never get the right opportunity between his dirty politics and bringing in tuition kids.

I left out the point here. They should just let him play one more year. They let a lot of other things go...Just give him one more year. It would be no different then all these parents who keep their kid back a year to have the athletic advantage. I am sure if these parents knew this trick they might have done that too.