More school districts are requiring students to pay to participate in sports, according to a survey released today by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Directors Association. The survey found the percentage of Pennsylvania's 500 school districts reporting sports-participation fees grew from 13 percent in 2010 to 38 percent in 2013. The size of the fees has gone up as well. In 2010, the average activity fee was between $5 and $50, growing to $65 in 2012 and $80 in 2013. The response rate for the survey was 37 percent. Of those responding to the survey, 11 percent said they had reduced sports programs because of a lack of money. While some school districts choose fees to make up for funding problems, Todd Hosterman, senior research associate with (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Lauryn Williams doesn't remember the last time she saw snow or ice. Temperatures in the 50s make her feel as if she's freezing. She truly thought her athletic career was ending a few weeks ago. (via www.kentucky.com)
The last time Bob Shoudt had coached a team to a state track title, Gerald Ford was president. (via phillyburbs.com)
Weather plays role in meet that pits the best of the PIAA against the NJSIAA. (via The Express-Times - lehighvalleylive.com)
The Newmanstown couple retired as track and field officials Saturday after dedicating nearly four decades to the sport. (via ldnews.com)
Amazing efforts of athleticism, the thirst for higher education, the quest for economic success all come into play for participants at the annual Penn Relays, the University of Pennsylvania-sponsored track-and-field meet for college, Olympic-caliber and high school athletes, that’s become an anticipated destination for scholastic competitors from the Caribbean. (via NY Daily News)
Penn State’s All-American javelin throwers, Lauren Kenney and Laura Loht, have very different throwing styles, but their results this season have been remarkably similar. (via www.centredaily.com)