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Shorter schedules for prep sports teams approved

Tribune file photo by MICHAEL SPOONEYBARGER

Monday's vote may be just the first of many cutbacks in high school athletics due to budgets

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 27, 2009

Updated: 04/27/2009 02:07 pm

TAMPA - The Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors voted Monday, 9-6, in favor of reducing the number of varsity games — except football — in a season by 20 percent and junior varsity games by 40 percent.

However, this may be just the first step in reduction to high school athletics due to budgets.

With the state legislature still working on the budget for the next school year, school districts are bracing to make cuts that could go deeper than today's game reductions.

Hillsborough County Public Schools assistant athletic director Jennifer Burchill said the county athletic department will have to make cuts regardless of the FHSAA board's decision.

"The budget is being worked on right now," she said. "We have to cut where we can keep the integrity of the programs and see what's cost effective for our county."

County athletic director Lanness Robinson previously said he's in the process of developing a plan to reduce spending, which could result in making athletes pay to participate and playing doubleheaders with girls and boys teams at the same site.

Varsity basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball and water polo will go from 25 contests in a season to 20; tennis, lacrosse, wrestling will go from 18 to 15; swimming and diving, weightlifting, track and field and cross country will go from 13 to 11; golf will go from 14 to 12; and flag football from 12 to 10.

Football and cheerleading will not be affected.

"It's controversial," Burchill said. "Many schools believed it should be a local decision, but the superintendants have taken a stance that the board supported."

With the loss of games, teams may no longer have the option to play in tournaments and/or schedule nondistrict games against neighborhood rivals.

The board itself was very divided on the issue. Some members said it would cause schools, especially those that don't have football, which typically generates the most money of any high school sport, to lose money, and others said the state needs to save money by any means necessary.

About a dozen people — coaches, parents, athletic directors and superintendants — spoke before the board in hopes of persuading them to vote in their favor.

Seminole County Public Schools Superintendant Bill Vogel was in favor of the reduction, stating it would "create equity in the state of Florida."

The Florida Athletic Coaches Association pleaded with the board not to cut games.

"A freshman would have missed a complete season by the time they are seniors," FACA Volleyball State Chairwoman Michele Faulk said.

"If a school can play more games and make more money, why can't they," FACA President Will Barnett said. "They don't have to play 25 games if they don't want to. They haven't added money to anybody's budget with this proposal. They won't save a single teacher's job. Some superintendents have already shortened [schedules] and they don't want to be the bad guys. They can say 'oh, the FHSAA did that.' It was a political pawn to get [the FHSAA] to pass it."

The policy will be in effect for two school years, from 2009 to 2011.

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851.

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