Florida high schools cutting games to save money

[JBHawkEye]

I think cuts in games will become more common.

A friend of mine is an AD at one of the area high schools. He said he's told the coaches to expect cuts in games, travel, etc., and they act like it shouldn't apply to them.

 

[Armchair_QB]

My state has seen an explosion of seven on seven summer passing leagues and teams. For now, they are all high school teams, but I can see a point where it progresses to teams that draw the best players from a region to play. And then, with the right financial support, teams could become regular football teams.
It isn't impossible that high school football becomes a thing of the past in some places.

Those teams are going to need someplace to play.

And it won't be on high school fields.

 

[zagoshe]

My state has seen an explosion of seven on seven summer passing leagues and teams. For now, they are all high school teams, but I can see a point where it progresses to teams that draw the best players from a region to play. And then, with the right financial support, teams could become regular football teams.
It isn't impossible that high school football becomes a thing of the past in some places.

Those teams are going to need someplace to play.

And it won't be on high school fields.

Well I don't know.

Ten years ago yes, but the now, with the number of field turf and astro turf surfaces being put in at high school stadiums -- maybe.

 

[Armchair_QB]

My state has seen an explosion of seven on seven summer passing leagues and teams. For now, they are all high school teams, but I can see a point where it progresses to teams that draw the best players from a region to play. And then, with the right financial support, teams could become regular football teams.
It isn't impossible that high school football becomes a thing of the past in some places.

Those teams are going to need someplace to play.

And it won't be on high school fields.

Well I don't know.

Ten years ago yes, but the now, with the number of field turf and astro turf surfaces being put in at high school stadiums -- maybe.

My point is high schools aren't going to rent out their fields to non-high school football teams.

 

[zagoshe]

My point is high schools aren't going to rent out their fields to non-high school football teams.

Why wouldn't they?

They rent out their gyms to non-high school basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams.

 

[Batman]

My point is high schools aren't going to rent out their fields to non-high school football teams.

Why wouldn't they?

They rent out their gyms to non-high school basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams.

You can play 10 games a day in those sports and not tear up the gym. You play more than one or two games a week on football fields, you're going to incur larger maintenance costs. And it ain't cheap to turn on those lights for a few hours, either.

 

[zagoshe]

My point is high schools aren't going to rent out their fields to non-high school football teams.

Why wouldn't they?

They rent out their gyms to non-high school basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams.

You can play 10 games a day in those sports and not tear up the gym. You play more than one or two games a week on football fields, you're going to incur larger maintenance costs. And it ain't cheap to turn on those lights for a few hours, either.

Yes, when they were grass fields.

These new turf fields can take a lot more wear and tear -- and the cost of the lights is figured into the cost of renting the place.

 

[Batman]

As for the original topic, my state did the same thing last year. Cut about a half-dozen games from every sport except football. The only coaches that seemed to get in a tizzy over it were the basketball coaches -- and that was because the state association made the decision in May, when their schedules had already been made. Everybody had to drop a few games, and wait and see if someone else dropped them, then hope they still had a full schedule. It was a big headache.

 

[Mark2010]

Here JV sports have already been eliminated, as have cheerleading and academic competitions (speech, drama, band, foreign language and what-not). Parents have been having everything from bake sales to charity test-drive programs at car dealerships¹ to make up the lost money.

This fall, most sports are going to be pay-to-play. Can't wait to see how <i>that</i> will go over.
¹We must emphasize that we are not making this up. I contributed to the the cause by test-driving a Scion xB.

That's not exactly new. I remember doing a story almost 20 years ago on that whole issue after some district in Pennsylvania instituted it (not saying they were the first to do so).

Given what's happening with school budgets, it wouldn't shock me in the least. I mean when the choice is laying off teachers or cutting classroom days vs. travel for the volleyball team, it's a no-brainer as a political issue.

 

[93Devil]

My point is high schools aren't going to rent out their fields to non-high school football teams.

Why wouldn't they?

They rent out their gyms to non-high school basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams.

You can play 10 games a day in those sports and not tear up the gym. You play more than one or two games a week on football fields, you're going to incur larger maintenance costs. And it ain't cheap to turn on those lights for a few hours, either.

Bermuda grass fields are becoming very popular. They can take a ton of wear and keep bouncing back. I think they came up with a hybrid seed that could take the cold winters about 8-9 years ago, and because of this, you can play a lot more on the same field.

Not sure how far north these fields reach, but I think DC has a handful now.

Oh, lights for a field are nothing compared with heating or cooling a school on the weekend for an indoor activity.

 

[Mark2010]

If all sports go the club route, there will be a lot of kids who don't play simply because they can't afford it and/or it's no longer a popularity thing.

Did a piece on one pretty darn good defensive lineman last fall who only came out for football because his friends talked him into it. Made all conference and honorable mention all state as a senior. Has zero interest in playing in college (already got an academic scholarship). For him, football was a social outlet.

I wonder how many kids that is true for and what would happen if it ceases to be a school-sponsored sport. I know a lot of the elite kids play club in the off-season, but it's still a small percentage compared to the school teams, especially if you factor in the sub-varsity levels.

 

[I Digress]

My point is high schools aren't going to rent out their fields to non-high school football teams.

Why wouldn't they?

They rent out their gyms to non-high school basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams.

You can play 10 games a day in those sports and not tear up the gym. You play more than one or two games a week on football fields, you're going to incur larger maintenance costs. And it ain't cheap to turn on those lights for a few hours, either.

Bermuda grass fields are becoming very popular. They can take a ton of wear and keep bouncing back. I think they came up with a hybrid seed that could take the cold winters about 8-9 years ago, and because of this, you can play a lot more on the same field.

Not sure how far north these fields reach, but I think DC has a handful now.

Oh, lights for a field are nothing compared with heating or cooling a school on the weekend for an indoor activity.

True that.. and folks renting gym these days have to pay those costs.