More than $1,000 a year for kids to play high school sports?
Unless something happens to change the fee structure between now and the start of winter sports season, that is the worst-case scenario.
If you've got a hockey player at home, and at least two of your high-school children want to play multiple sports, you may spend as much as $1,100 this year for them to compete in athletics.
The Haverhill School Committee on Thursday, Aug. 21, approved a significant increase in sports fees, which will be revisited before the next season.
But if boosters can't raise money to offset expenses, here's the annual breakdown for a family with two or more children playing high school sports (one of which is hockey):
One fall sport, per child: $275, or $550 total.
One winter sport (hockey): $275 fee, plus $250 in ice-time fees, or $525 total.
One spring sport: $275 fee.
Total in regular fees: $1,100, reduced to $850 because of the annual per-family cap.
Total in add-on fees: $250 for hockey ice time.
Grand total: $1,100.
Since 2002, Haverhill has charged fees to players' families for their participation in athletics. That first year, the fee to play a sport was $25.
In the years since the fees were instituted, coaches and athletic director Peter Shanahan have noticed a fall-off in the number of students participating in the athletics program.
If their parents can't afford to pay but earn too much to qualify for a waiver, the students must find supporters willing to pay the fees. Otherwise, they sit on the sidelines for the season.
Participation on their high school sports team is a cherished memory for many Haverhill residents. Decades after their experiences, many still look upon the memories made, lessons learned and friendships forged as some of the most enduring of their lives.
Sadly, the out-of-pocket cost of participating in athletics today is robbing students of the same.
Yet those who make the decisions for all of Haverhill's taxpayers are well aware that many of our city's residents — who might be on fixed incomes, earn salaries that aren't keeping up with inflation or do not have children in school — can't afford to carry the full cost of the athletics program, either, especially when the cost of providing a basic education is straining their purses and wallets come tax time.
Fees are a sad reality, but there are ways to relieve families of their burden.
One is for every kid who wants to play to try out for a team. The more kids who participate, the better chance that the fee for that sport will be reduced.
Another is for those who have the means and who have fond memories of their own sports experiences to sponsor a student or a team or to make a contribution in whatever size they are able.
Businesses may advertise at Haverhill Stadium, and the cost of the advertisement can be used to reduce fees.
Or businesses could do what Dunkin' Donuts franchisee Scrivanos Group did in 2006, and donate enough to wipe out the fees for an entire season.
Perhaps sports-fee-reducing yard sales will start popping up around the city, or benefit fashion shows, lemonade stands, comedy nights. There has been talk about the creation of a Haverhill High Sports Foundation.
There's no time like the present. Just look at what other foundations around the city, such as the Winnekenni Foundation, have been able to accomplish.
Many local service clubs have children as a focus of their efforts. We encourage them to think about the student-athletes at their local high school when making decisions about where to send donations.
We wish good luck to all the Haverhill High sports teams in their contests this year, and hope that every player who wants to be on the field will have the means to wear the brown and gold.
Go Hillies!
