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Student athletes may feel heat of dress codes

Staff photo by BILL WARD

Cross country runners like the girls at Plant are in the middle of a controversy about their dress.

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By BILL WARD

wward@tampatrib.com

Published: November 5, 2009

Updated: 11/05/2009 09:57 am

TAMPA - It might be acceptable for adults at the gym, in road races and in triathlons. But high school girls in sports bras and boys with bare chests violate the dress code of Hillsborough County's public schools and officials are once again attempting to enforce the rule - no matter how hot it is.

County athletic director Lanness Robinson said the issue re-emerged at last week's Hillsborough County Cross Country Championships, where he said he heard complaints from parents and school officials about girls wearing sports bras and boys running shirtless before and after the race.

As a result, Robinson informed the athletic directors of all of the county's public schools they must remind coaches in all sports that even though sports bras are designed to be worn as outer garments, they must be covered with at least a singlet (sleeveless T-shirt) and boys cannot go shirtless.

Robinson said the dress code applies to workouts and training sessions year-round - at or away from the school - as well as at any competition or event. He says the rule also goes for all sports and extracurricular school activities, not just cross country.

"There are people who have strong feelings about this one way or the other but in a situation like this, we have to go with our (school) board-adopted policy," Robinson said.

"It's not to punish anyone. It's just a standard set for all of our student-athletes."

Plant girls cross country coach Roy Harrison, who has guided the Panthers to a state-record eight state titles in his 27 years on the job, says he is fed up with what he calls an "outdated" policy for runners. The county has attempted to enforce the dress code several times in the past 10 years with limited success.

Harrison says that, because of his concerns for the safety of his athletes, he again will not follow the mandate.

"We train all through August and September, when the heat index is 103, 105, 107 degrees outside even in the evening and to me, it's a safety issue not letting boys run without their shirts and girls in sports bras," Harrison said. "I have girls drop all the time because they overheat. Now I have to tell them they have to put on another layer on top of it that covers up their midsection?

"I guess I'll just have to get fired as cross country coach. I'm not making my girls follow" the dress code.

Robinson argues that if girls and boys can wear tank tops in races without overheating, then they can do it in training. Coaches, however, contend their athletes are training for much longer periods than they are competing, and therefore reach higher core body temperatures for sustained periods of time.

A competitive high school girl completes a 5-kilometer race in about 20 minutes, while competitive boys cover the distance in about 17 minutes. Their long training runs or track workouts, however, can last from 60 to 90 minutes.

According to former University of Florida track and cross country coach Roy Benson, who holds a national certification as a fitness instructor from the American College of Sports Medicine and a master's degree in physical education, covering up too much of the skin is "an invitation for a heat stroke."

"The human skin is the best radiator this side of Chevrolet's radiator: It's designed to take heat away from the body," he said. "When you impose layers (of clothing) on top of the skin, it becomes less efficient. And in Florida's heat and humidity, you just can't hydrate as fast as you dehydrate.

Some female athletes who prefer training in a sports bra say policymakers are out of touch with their sport.

"The people who are making this decision should try to come out here and run with shirts and all this gear on and see how that feels," said Wharton junior Abby Ritter, one of the county's top girls cross country runners. She says she almost always trains in a sports bra when it's warm. "It's kind of ridiculous. Come on, we're runners. I doubt we're coming out here trying to show people our bodies. We're just trying to run."

Coaches and athletes also say sports bras, form-fitting compression shorts and running shirtless is accepted throughout the running and triathlon community, just as swimsuits and tight-fitting volleyball uniforms are for those sports.

"Go to any weekend road race or triathlon and that's all you see - especially in Florida," said Wharton boys and girls cross country and track coach Wes Newton. "It's not a matter of promiscuity. It's a matter of common sense and health."

Robinson said he will not attempt to enforce the policy at every county school. He says he expects the athletic directors at the school to do that. Those coaches who do not adhere to the rule are facing insubordination charges, Robinson said.

Reporter Bill Ward can be reached at (813) 259-7456

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