Virginia lawmakers fumble bill to curb high school sports recruitment

Legislation aimed at cracking down on high school athletic recruitment tactics — specifically barring officials from using the “homeless” designation to lure student athletes — hit a roadblock Tuesday, failing to advance at the session’s midpoint.

Despite the setback, the fight isn’t over, according to Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, who sponsored House Bill 1656. The measure sought to prohibit school officials from accepting money or gifts intended to sway a student’s decision to transfer schools for athletic reasons.