Effects of a Struggling Economy on High

School Sports

Effects of a Struggling Economy on High

School Sports

Jason BoydJason Boyd

Standards AddressedStandards Addressed

• Standard 3.0o Specifically: deploy financial and human

resources to promote student achievement

• Standard 4.0o Specifically: …mobilizing community

resources

• Standard 6.0o Specifically: describe economic factors and

their effects on the school

• Standard 3.0o Specifically: deploy financial and human

resources to promote student achievement

• Standard 4.0o Specifically: …mobilizing community

resources

• Standard 6.0o Specifically: describe economic factors and

their effects on the school

Athletics Cut Unproportionally

Athletics Cut Unproportionally

• One example from Edmonds, WAo Athletic budget accounts for

approximately 1% of district budget, yet athletic cuts totaled more than 5% of the district’s overall cuts

• One example from Edmonds, WAo Athletic budget accounts for

approximately 1% of district budget, yet athletic cuts totaled more than 5% of the district’s overall cuts

Athletic CutsAthletic Cuts

• Lower level teams like JV, sophomore, or freshman are being cut in some areas of the country

• The number of assistant coaches for teams are being cut

• Funding for high school sports are being cut and in some cases eliminated all together

• Lower level teams like JV, sophomore, or freshman are being cut in some areas of the country

• The number of assistant coaches for teams are being cut

• Funding for high school sports are being cut and in some cases eliminated all together

Specific Examples of Cuts

Specific Examples of Cuts

• Kern High School in CAo Cut JV sports

• Mount Vernon, NYo Eliminated funding for high school

sports

• South Umpqua High in Oregono Eliminated stipends for JV coaches

• Kern High School in CAo Cut JV sports

• Mount Vernon, NYo Eliminated funding for high school

sports

• South Umpqua High in Oregono Eliminated stipends for JV coaches

Transportation CutsTransportation Cuts

• St. Lucie County in Floridao Football team can travel no more than

75 miles for away gameso Sliced their regular season football

schedules to nine games

• St. Lucie County in Floridao Football team can travel no more than

75 miles for away gameso Sliced their regular season football

schedules to nine games

User Fees to Offset Transportation Costs

User Fees to Offset Transportation Costs

• 27 schools in Boston charge athletes to play sports ranging from $75 per sport to $250 per sport

• Brainerd, MN was forced to charge $380 per child in activity fees after the district eliminated funding

• In Lakeville, MN a failed tax levy forced a mid-year activity fee hike from $90 to $230

• 27 schools in Boston charge athletes to play sports ranging from $75 per sport to $250 per sport

• Brainerd, MN was forced to charge $380 per child in activity fees after the district eliminated funding

• In Lakeville, MN a failed tax levy forced a mid-year activity fee hike from $90 to $230

Effects of cuts in amount of teams and

increases in fees

Effects of cuts in amount of teams and

increases in fees• Both result in less students participating

in extra-curricular activities• Sports help occupy students time and

build their character - without them coaches are concerned students will get into trouble and may even stop going to school all together

• Research suggests student athletes do better in school when compared to non-student athletes

• Both result in less students participating in extra-curricular activities

• Sports help occupy students time and build their character - without them coaches are concerned students will get into trouble and may even stop going to school all together

• Research suggests student athletes do better in school when compared to non-student athletes

Alternatives to Cuts and Fees

Alternatives to Cuts and Fees

• Increase fundraising• Extend the use of uniforms• Schedule more games closer to

home

• Increase fundraising• Extend the use of uniforms• Schedule more games closer to

home