Lights out for high school athletes

TAMPA - Most high school athletes will spend fewer nights under the stadium lights next year, as the state's athletic board shortens the season for many sports.

The Florida High School Athletic Association voted Monday to cut costs by reducing varsity seasons by 20 percent and junior varsity seasons by 40 percent. Football and cheerleading are exempt.

"Football is a moneymaker and most others are not," said Lanness Robinson, Athletic Director for public schools in Hillsborough County.

FHSAA could not provide specifics for the estimated cost savings. A spokeswoman said the board had the backing of school districts and superintendents. She said an across-the-board schedule reduction would spare some sports from total elimination.

The varsity baseball season would be reduced five games, from 25 to 20, under the plan. Two track and field meets would be cut.

"As it is, the seasons seems to go pretty fast," said Scott Herrmann, whose son runs track and field for Countryside High School in Clearwater. "It's very disappointing to hear that's where they want to take away from the schools."

Jeff Leavey, a coach at Mitchell High School in New Port Richey, said the board is being foolish and is jeopardizing whether some student will complete their education.

"It's totally ridiculous," he said. "It doesn't matter if it's track or volleyball or the play, they're more likely to graduate from high school."

The FHSAA regulation covers the coming school year and the next. The sports season would be restored in subsequent years, provided school systems do not seek extending the limitation.