A revision of bylaw P-9 F-13, brought out by the California Community College Athletic Association which will come into effect July 1, will now allow coaching staffs of the community college level to make direct first contact with athletes only through electronic forms of communication.

Originally, an athlete interested in a specific school would first have to contact the coach of the school’s athletic department and only then could the coach give information back to the student athlete.

The new law will allow a coach that is interested in a student athlete outside normal recruitment barriers the ability to either call the athlete or e-mail the athlete about inquiring his or her skills.

Athletic dean, Daniel Smith, was on the board that voted against the revision.

“What I think could happen, and it won’t be good for the state if this happens, is the really good programs will get better, and the really bad programs could get worse,” Smith said. “And so there would be a bigger gap.”

According to Smith, all out-of-area athletes will be contacting the schools with the best sporting programs leaving the weaker athletic departments in the dust.

“That’s my fear,” Smith said. “I don’t know if that will happen but I think the potential is there.”

Athletic director, Dan Clauss, also shares the same concern Smith has about having students go to specific sporting departments and leaving others behind.

“It gives an unfair recruiting advantage,” Clauss said.

The Cerritos College recruiting district touches El Camino Compton center district, Long Beach district, Los Angeles district, North Orange district and Rio Hondo district.

Clauss said that representatives from other school sports will keep a watchful eye to help regulate when coaches from outside recruitment districts attempt to make illegal physical contact.