Boca Raton fined 14K by FHSAA for illegal practice

Boca Raton High School has been fined $14,000 and placed on administrative probation by the FHSAA for holding an illegal boys basketball practice out of season.

The violation triggered the second major fine Boca Raton has received from the Florida High School Athletic Association in the past year. On May 30, the school was fined $10,000 and placed on administrative probation — also for an open-facilities violation.

On Sept. 20, coach Max Spinner held an open gym at the school, but only invited members of the basketball team to participate – a violation of FHSAA rules. The policy requires the facility must be open to all students who attend the school. Spinner later confirmed to school officials that he had not advertised the open gym publicly.

In addition, Spinner provided instruction during the practice, in which the players went through warmup drills and scrimmaged against each other. School officials are only allowed to be present in a supervisory role, per FHSAA bylaws.

Those two violations each garnered $2,500 fines. The school was fined an additional $9,000 for violating the same policy during its probationary period.

According to the FHSAA’s report, Spinner informed school officials later that day of the practice. The school then self-reported their findings to the state.

Spinner did not immediately return calls requesting comment.

Spinner has been reprimanded and could face “possible additional penalties” based on the report. The school, which also received a reprimand, was placed on administrative probation through June 30, 2019.

Spinner is entering his fifth season as the Bobcats’ boys basketball coach. The team, coming off a 16-10 season in which it failed to reach the regional playoffs, will open up the regular season on Dec. 1 against Boynton Beach.