The board of education voted unanimously Tuesday night to schedule all varsity games at the same time and on the same evenings as the middle school games so parents and students can go home earlier and spend fewer weeknights at the school.
Elkmont High School is already using the method and Principal Garth Garris spoke of its benefits to the board. Teams play in both the newer gym and the auxiliary gym. Having varsity and junior varsity games at the same time still generates the same amount of ticket revenue, Garris said. He’s had no complaints about the system.
The board also discussed the potential benefits of changing the schedule. Players, cheerleaders and fans get home earlier and have more time to work on homework, board member Bret McGill said. Students in charge of cleaning up the bleachers and concession stand after games sometimes do not get to leave the gym until 11 p.m. The new system will mean, even if the players still practice on nights no games are scheduled, everyone should be able to leave before 8 p.m.
With the resolution passed, all inter-county games will be under the new rule starting this fall season. Any games with traveling teams must be scheduled between the two competing schools. Garris said he has typically experienced traveling teams being supportive of the simultaneous play in order to leave earlier.“It think it’s a win-win,” said system athletic director Rusty Bates.
Tuesday night the board also approved to accept bids to fix the floors and bleachers at West Limestone and Ellkmont high schools. McGill said the board would eventually be responsible for the upkeep of the auxiliary gyms, so there was no reason not to go ahead and approve the schedule change and bring the remaining auxiliary gyms up to competition standards.
SOURCE: ATHENS NEWS COURIER
