Jacob Maiava of Crean Lutheran football was denied a temporary restraining order against the CIF by Orange County Superior Court judge David Hoffer. Maiava sought the order after being deemed ineligible for the season due to transferring to Crean Lutheran to follow a former coach, despite his claims of academic motivation. Hoffer acknowledged the challenges Maiava faces but upheld CIF's enforcement of eligibility rules, which ruled that his transfer was athletically motivated. Despite the setback, Maiava remains optimistic about his future in football and plans to contest the ruling further with his attorney.

By the Numbers
  • Maiava's transfer ruling was upheld by a CIF state appeal officer on October 3.
  • This marks Maiava's second attempt at obtaining a restraining order against the CIF.
Yes, But

Even though the judge sympathized with Maiava's situation, he chose to prioritize the CIF's established eligibility criteria over individual circumstances, highlighting issues of fairness in student-athlete transfers.

State of Play
  • Maiava is currently ineligible to play this season, following a ruling from CIF-SS.
  • Principal Daniel Moyer supports Maiava's independent appeal while clarifying the school's decision not to pursue its own appeal.
What's Next

Maiava's legal team plans to request a preliminary injunction hearing, with further proceedings scheduled to occur soon. The outcomes of these legal actions could significantly impact both his playing eligibility and future transfer cases.

Bottom Line

Maiava's struggle illustrates the complexities surrounding high school athlete transfers and eligibility rules, underscoring the tension between personal circumstances and regulatory frameworks in sports.