Will this help further along the spring club possibilities we have been discussing?
FHSAA proposes trimming schedules
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Makes you wonder what they are going to do to freshman teams. Make them go away?
How much can they possibly save? Is it just the light bill and 2 umpires? Everything else is paid for by parents and concession...It does not make sense to me.
The article is lacking enough content to truly understand their plan. I'm not defending the plan. I think its stupid as we should be encouraging athletics in today's fat society, but I actually do see how they might save some money with a reduced schedule.
I would imagine by reducing the schedule for all programs and teams, they could reduce the use of some facilities, which would reduce some fixed costs.
For example, if they drop from 25 baseball games per year to 20 in a county with 5 schools, they might be able to eliminate one facility from the game schedule. That would save those expenses to the counties for any work required to that unfortunate facility to make it tournament worthy.
Another example: It costs about $100,000 to resurface a track for Track&Field. If there are 5 schools with 5 tracks, the county could reduce the schedule and only use 4 tracks for track meets. If they eliminate one school as a tournament school due to a reduced schedule across the county, then the county will no longer resurface that track and save $100,000. That school kinda loses out cause now they have no home tournaments or track meets, but it does happen.
Just some examples of how a reduced schedule would cut some fixed costs.
I do agree this will drive athletes to the private sector (travel leagues). But honestly, its been like that for years for many of these sports: swimming, cross country, AAU track & field, tennis, golf. Kids in those sports are not looking to high school meets to get their exposure.
I would imagine by reducing the schedule for all programs and teams, they could reduce the use of some facilities, which would reduce some fixed costs.
For example, if they drop from 25 baseball games per year to 20 in a county with 5 schools, they might be able to eliminate one facility from the game schedule. That would save those expenses to the counties for any work required to that unfortunate facility to make it tournament worthy.
Another example: It costs about $100,000 to resurface a track for Track&Field. If there are 5 schools with 5 tracks, the county could reduce the schedule and only use 4 tracks for track meets. If they eliminate one school as a tournament school due to a reduced schedule across the county, then the county will no longer resurface that track and save $100,000. That school kinda loses out cause now they have no home tournaments or track meets, but it does happen.
Just some examples of how a reduced schedule would cut some fixed costs.
I do agree this will drive athletes to the private sector (travel leagues). But honestly, its been like that for years for many of these sports: swimming, cross country, AAU track & field, tennis, golf. Kids in those sports are not looking to high school meets to get their exposure.
I can not speak to other sports but as far as baseball in our neck of the woods goes; all field work is performed by the team, and the coaches. The cost associated with additional clay, or turfis, or baseballs, unpires and equipment comes directly from funds earned by the booster club, concession and parental fees.
The only fixed cost that I can see is electricity to run lights. And I would think that it would be possible to schedule the games they are intent on cutting to Saturday when lights would not be needed.
As far as resurfacing a track, I have never seen it done
. But track and field events are usually scheduled at a central location aren't they or does one school compete against the other? I thought that Track events were "meets" where several schools competed at the same time.
I know lights are expensive, but I believe that there would be support for assisting with the cost associated with running them.
The only fixed cost that I can see is electricity to run lights. And I would think that it would be possible to schedule the games they are intent on cutting to Saturday when lights would not be needed.
As far as resurfacing a track, I have never seen it done
. But track and field events are usually scheduled at a central location aren't they or does one school compete against the other? I thought that Track events were "meets" where several schools competed at the same time.I know lights are expensive, but I believe that there would be support for assisting with the cost associated with running them.