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FHSAA delays vote on game cuts

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By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: June 6, 2009

TAMPA - Facing a possible lawsuit, the Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors tabled a proposal to rescind or modify reductions to the number of varsity and junior varsity games allowed during the regular season.

The issue will be discussed at the next board meeting in September.

Attorney Nancy Hogshead-Makar, representing Florida's Parents for Athletic Equity, cited the board's previous vote in April to cut all varsity games except football by 20 percent and junior varsity games, including football, by 40 percent was in violation of Title IX.

"You can't let 100 percent of the girls take the hit," she said. "There is no exception under gender equity law for football or money making."

In April, the board reduced the number of games to help ease potential budget cuts around the state but spared football because it brings in the most revenue.

"Our goal is to avoid litigation, but the board took action to table the items and find a resolution to this situation," said FHSAA executive director Roger Dearing.

Hogshead-Makar, a professor of law at the Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville and an advocate of gender equity in sports, was prepared to file a lawsuit Monday. However, after talking with Dearing after the board meeting, she agreed to take a 10-day hiatus on the action to reach an agreement.

"He Dearing said he's coming up with alternatives proposals," said Hogshead-Makar, who won three swimming gold medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Hogshead-Makar said Dearing will try to equalize the percentage of male and female athletes affected by the reduction of games, which could lead to some girls sports being spared.

"I understand cutbacks, but you can't ask girls to shoulder the burden," Hogshead-Makar said.

After the April vote, Hogshead-Makar said she received e-mails from disgruntled parents and lawyers.

"My job as an attorney is to make sure they take gender equity into account."

Under the previous vote, varsity basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball and water polo will go from 25 contests in a season to 20; tennis, lacrosse and wrestling from 18 to 15; swimming and diving, weightlifting, track and field and cross country from 13 to 11; golf from 14 to 12; and flag football from 12 to 10.

Cheerleading was not affected. Cheer squads do not play a schedule, but instead have an open-invitation state tournament.

The policy was set to be in effect for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons, and was to be up for a vote in 2011.

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851.

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