High school sports: UHSAA nixes charging for open gym

Published: Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009 10:22 p.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 

SANDY — The practice of charging students for open gym in basketball, wrestling or softball and baseball will end immediately, according to the Utah High School Activities Association's Executive Committee.

"When you get to three weeks out (from the start of the season), then it has to be open," said UHSAA chairman Craig Hammer. "If you're charging, it's not open to everyone."

The executive committee recommended changing the wording of the rule that deals with open gym to expressly prohibit charging any kind of participation fee. The issue came to the attention of UHSAA staff a couple of weeks ago when a coach called asking if it was permissible.

Staff discovered that about a half dozen schools have been charging for open gym through county recreation programs. Student athletes would sign up through the county recreation centers for open gym programs at local high schools. The coaches were then paid by county recreation for overseeing the open gym program.

The UHSAA's executive committee almost unanimously felt charging students for open gym was a violation of the rules in a couple of different ways.

First, UHSAA rules forbid coaches from holding camps or clinics in the three weeks prior to the start of the season. With the high school coach supervising the open gym, on the payroll of county recreation, it fit the criteria of a camp or clinic.

Story continues below

In fact, to sign up for the program, students had to go to Web sites that list the programs under "camps and clinics."

Second, if students have to pay for open gym, then it really isn't "open" to everyone. Especially since some students would qualify for fee waivers if the program was operated through the school, but do not qualify for such waivers through county recreation programs.

Many of the executive committee members are or have been coaches.

"I'd use open gym to get an idea of what I'd have when I had tryouts," said George Bruce. "Open gym is part of team selection. It's part of my responsibility as the coach. I would never dream of charging."

West Jordan principal Paul Argyle questioned asking coaches to supervise three additional weeks of after school practices without compensating them, and said having adult supervision is a safety issue for schools.

While everyone agreed coaches should be compensated for their time, nearly all of the committee members felt that compensation should come through the school, as part of a contract, rather than from students or a county rec program.

Recent comments

Here are some facts for you:

1. The Jordan A.D. started the whole...

Hey "Digger" parent | Nov. 7, 2009 at 10:50 p.m.

Instead of worrying about "sport politics" so much, those of you that...

Y'all done listen up! | Nov. 7, 2009 at 11:11 a.m.

GOOOOOOO DUGWAYYYYYYY

Anonymous | Nov. 6, 2009 at 7:46 p.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

If TCU slapping 55 on the "vaunted" Ute Defense makes their defense weak,...

BYU football: 5 keys to victory

Utah 28 BYU 22

I want to see him go to golden state or new orleans he could do some damage...

Red air alert issued

Yeah, it can get pretty bad here, especially during colder months. It really...

Here's the details of the season... Quality wins: Spurs 8-6 Spurs...

Utah will never beat BYU in football!

OK, I'll bite. How does losing to SWBU and Seattle show that Boylen is a...

Mormon chaplain honored in North Dakota

Read: The Manhattan statement, a Christian(Othodox,Catholic,Protestant)...

Rivalry Week is highly profane

I am really embarassed by our fans.

Pierce is a tv critic. He doesn't just write about Real. I appreciate the...

Advertisements