"We're not telling our boys they can't play for clubs but if they choose to play for them then they won't be considered for first XI and tournaments."
A meeting last week at HBHS with senior players and their parents tabled why the school is adopting such a radical philosophy.
"Everyone's bought into it but there's an exception to the rule - that if a boy has signed a deal to play Lotto Central League with Napier City Rovers then we don't expect them to play for school but Rovers have to make them available to play in the secondary schools' tournaments," says Hastings of the Napier club who are the flagship team in the most elite men's winter league in the Capital (Wellington) and Central Football regions.
"If they are not required for Central League at the weekend then they come back to play for the school and not necessarily play for the club in the afternoon," he says of the Computer Care HB Premiership, which is the most elite men's competition in the province.
He's reluctant to disclose the names of two HBHS players who are attending trials with the Rovers for fear of putting undue pressure on them.
Hastings says Central Football, which is the parent body, is only aware of the school's first XI team withdrawing from the premiership but not its stance on making club competitions out of bounds for their players.
"Boys can't train because they get burned out and they are tired so young boys end up with season-ending injuries because the 17-year-olds' bodies are worn out from playing too much," he says, labelling it "repair training" where duplication of school and club preparations are knocking the stuffing out of the youngsters.
He emphasises the breed of schoolboys these days is multi-talented therefore some of them engage in more than one code although football can become a year-long affair for those who make it into representative teams.
"We have some boys who are playing first XI cricket in school so when do they get a break for their bodies to recover."
Perhaps the most telling factor in their hectic schedules, he reckons, is losing the enjoyment factor because they are too lethargic to appreciate it.
"You know, it becomes a bit of a chore to front up for both the games. I think the parents have seen that in the past couple of years the lack of enjoyment their boys have had because of playing too many games, so I haven't had a negative response from any parent.
"Can you tell me, apart from the Tom Bisses and Ross Willoxes, any ex-Hawke's Bay youth team or secondary school player is playing at a higher level in the winter or summer throughout the country?"
He suspects the tired teenagers are sick of playing but the drive should be to keep them on the park.
"I wonder if part of the reason why Hawke's Bay United youth team struggles is because the boys have already played 50 games and, quite frankly, lack the enthusiasm required to be successful.
"Not every boy, but quite a few of them must feel I've had a gutsful of this."
Hastings says HBHS had the option of playing for the club competitions and dropping out of the school ones but didn't see the merit in it.
"I also believe for development you need to train before you build enough confidence to go and do what you've been working on for Saturday mornings against your peers rather than guys who have more physical strength than you."
It's essential youngsters train with the same enthusiasm and intensity that they are likely to reproduce on the park come game day.
That has drawn the school's focus on trying to establish a school platform that provides quality opposition to test their mettle.
"We're looking at a couple of fixtures from outside this region which will give them a taste of higher quality competition."
The school has plans to establish alternative fixtures with Palmerston North and Hamilton counterparts although Whanganui has already expressed interest.
Hastings hastens to add schools, such as Napier Boys' High, Lindisfarne College, Havelock North High, Central Hawke's Bay College and Taradale High, are at the forefront and developing to ensure the Bay offers quality competition.
"Napier have dominated competitions around here for a few years, Havelock are working on their development, CHB have come a long way in the last couple of years and I know Taradale have always run us close."
HBHS is hosting the three-day Super 8 tourney in early July.
It is encouraging its players to play in age-group rep teams but is mindful to ensure they avoid two games in a week.
"Playing school football on a Wednesday doesn't fix it because the boys will still end up too many hours spent training," he says, disclosing HBHS pupils train up to six hours a week before at least three for their clubs.
