OPINION

Babe Ruth, Wayne Gretzky, Joe Namath; all considered legends in their perspective sports. But before any great sports icon becomes hero to many young kids around the world they to begin somewhere. Before I become the next Tiger Woods, I need to make a fool of myself every Monday and Wednesday in Golf class.

For many young Americans, there chance to become a sports great begins in public schools, especially in high school. But now days more and more students are finding out that it may take more than just talent to make the cut.

Public schools across the country are beginning to charge students to participate in any extra curricular activity. This isn’t exactly new. It’s been around since the 70’s but with the current education budget cuts, more and more schools are trying “Pay to Play,” as it’s commonly known.

This is just absurd! It doesn’t matter if you played football, tennis, or the flute in the band. Participating in high school activities is were young men and women learn valuable skills and life lessons. They learn leadership abilities and the importance of teamwork. Not to mention, the benefits of hard work and discipline. Schools sports used to mean paying only with your sweat, determination and sacrifice. Now it means you also have to pay a fee.

Most school’s using the new system average a $75 to $100 fee for joining a club like band or chess club, but sports tend to cost more. Being a member of a sports team tends to run in about a $350 to $750 range per season. Some schools have even been reported to charge over $1000 for student participation.

Students and their parents have raise concerns. One coach in Ohio even resigned because of the pressure pay-to-play has caused. The year before play-to-play was instated at his school, he coached the high school football team to a 8-3 record for the season with 50 players. Within the next two years his team finished with 4-7 and then 3-8 records with only half the amount of players.

In the schools that didn’t charge a lot, there wasn’t much of a decline in student enrollment. But in the schools charging over $300 there was a noticeable drop.
Many students depend on their talents and athletic abilities to earn them a scholarship for college. Some even posses enough talent to go play professionally straight out of high school. When college or professional scouts come out to see what players can offer their organization, they may not see the best on the field because the best player was unable to afford the participation fee.

Little Johnny Johnson could be the best pitcher in the state, but doesn’t have the money to join the High School team. He doesn’t play baseball in high school so he doesn’t earn himself a scholarship. Without the scholarship he probably won’t be able to go to college. If he couldn’t afford to pay for a couple hundred to play baseball, how’s he going to afford to pay thousands of dollars to attend college. If his talent is wasted flipping burgers or working some dead-end job, he’ll always wonder if he had what it took to play in the majors. Maybe he was destined to be the starting pitcher for the Yankees when they are still winning the World Series Championship five years from now. It may happen, but I’ve never heard of a college or Professional team giving a shot to just some schmoe off the streets.

What happens to the Bo Jacksons and Deion Sanders out there? The hardcore athletes that compete in more than one sport play for the love of the game. If they are able to afford one sport, will they be able to afford two? Or will they have to chose between the two?

But in all fairness, this isn’t entirely the schools fault. Budget cuts have forced the schools into this situation. At least they have the programs available to the students. Some schools have done away with sports and extra curricular activities stating that they prefer having more teachers available to the students rather than have them playing sports.

In schools that enforce the pay-to-play policy most tend to work with the students. Students who are eligible for federal-free or reduced lunch programs may be able to participate for free or half the price of other students. If a student is injured and unable to participate, some schools offer a refund. A girl was injured early in the season during her second game of the year and received 80% or her money back.

Parents and booster clubs are working hard with fundraisers to raise money in order to keep costs down.

Most of the schools I found with the pay-to-play policy were in the eastern states. I didn’t find many in Texas except for a few in the larger cities. If you are reading this, chances are that you’re a college student or at least done with high school. You may be wondering how this will affect you. It may not affect you right now, but in the near future some of you may have kids. Some of you many even have children right now and when they are old enough be in high school, you’ll be kicking yourself that you didn’t put a stop to this when you had a chance.

I myself don’t plan to have children, which I figure is going to save me a fortune. And if this isn’t stopped now, I’ll be spending my mid-life crisis buying a new red sports car while you are stuck spending yours paying money for a sport your kid probably doesn’t want to play.