A trend?

Bob,
This happened to our school district last year and again this year. Many of the parents put together a booster group to fund sports. The problem is if the High Schools drop the sports
programs a great many of the players won't play on teams outside of the schools. The H.S. sports keep a lot of students out of trouble that they might get into with their free time. The problem that our district had was some of the schools that were able to donate more wanted the money to only go to their schools. After a lot of debate, all schools are now benefiting from the donations.

We got a clue that something was happening the year before when the leagues were realigned with all our district schools were put in the same league for the first time in years.

I think is is a trend that will be happening all over California in the years to come. I'm glad my son graduated two years ago.

What the school systems do not realize is that sports teach the kids how to budget their time---great preparation for college and their future life

Just the opposite, schools do realize that sports teach kids all kinds of life lessons. Schools are dropping sports and other programs not because they want to or because they don't understand their value, but because there's no money. Read any California paper and you'll see how bad it is. Schools are closing in districts all over the state.

There is virtually no cost to the school for our baseball program. (other than the land, which is fully depreciated) The athletes/families pay for their uniforms, transportation, and equipment. The booster clubs does all the facility improvements, maintenance, fieldwork, and pays coaches’ stipends. We are basically a public travel team.

Our local HS could lose frosh baseball in the furture due to not having other programs at that level to play. Our league is small and if a couple of district bail out it becomes difficult to justify.

I know a small private school that did not have the resources to run three teams, and they put all of their Freshmen in a Sr league. They got to play and continued developing. ABD and others are also starting non HS teams so their are avenues if you search them out.

Our school district voted to cut all "Extra Duty Stipends" for the coming year. That means coaches, department chairs, music, etc. They are not cutting sports. They are just asking the coaches to coach for free or be paid by the booster's clubs. Oh, by the way, Title IX can not be violated. Football gate, which is kept by the district, pays for many, many other sports. Mostly CIF fees, League fees, security and officals. Baseball has always been self funded. Donations and player fees cover it.

We are in our second year of the Spring League. Here is a link to our league.

http://www.abcleague.org

Here at my son's school the baseball program is self funded. We have a few fund raising things like a crab feed/raffle and sell space for signs on the outfield fence. Up until last year the baseball program would get $500 for baseballs, they even stopped that.

quote:

Originally posted by ABD Bulldogs:
We are in our second year of the Spring League. Here is a link to our league.

http://www.abcleague.org

That league looks interesting. Do you have to go in with a team or can you get placed on one? Is it pretty much for H.S Juniors and Senior? Thx.

You can be placed on a team. There are teams that have been holding tryouts for the 2011 Season. This year Glomar Bats will be an official sponsor of the league.

If you like more information on the league, send an email to info@abcleague.org.

We currently have openings for both Div 1 and Div 2 team playing in the ABCLeague. Limited rosters available so if you are looking at your options then get a hold of me.

Thanks, Doug
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