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Somersworth athletic director warns low rosters, calls for stronger feeder programs and funding
Summary
Athletics director Steve Hodgson told the Somersworth School Board some programs have healthy participation but several sports face critically low rosters; the district lacks feeder programs for many sports and some field and gym surfaces need repair. Coaches and administrators flagged pay‑to‑play costs and uneven parental support as constraints.
Steve Hodgson, speaking for the district athletic department, gave a detailed update on participation, facilities and feeder programs at Somersworth Middle and High schools.
Hodgson said the high school has about 410 students and roughly 288 rostered athletes across multiple sports; most student‑athletes play more than one sport. Some fall teams (football and volleyball) draw large rosters, while other programs are critically thin. Examples he cited included girls soccer (11 high‑school players and five middle‑school players on a recent roster), golf (one remaining player with two incoming eighth‑grade beginners) and the need to bring middle‑school students into some high‑school rosters to field teams. Hockey operates as a co‑op; only six rostered hockey players came from Somersworth on the most recent roster.
Hodgson and other speakers identified strengths and constraints
- Strengths: sustained coach commitment, multiple teams with state‑level success and several student athletes moving on to college play. - Weaknesses: lack of robust feeder programs for softball, baseball, golf and other sports; low parental volunteerism for boosters; and the financial burden of paying officials and program costs. - Facilities: the middle‑school gym floor has deterioration and the football and softball fields need ongoing work; the district is discussing upgrades to fields and concession areas.
Hodgson emphasized the nonacademic value of extracurriculars — improved attendance, fewer discipline referrals, social and time‑management skills — and said the district has seen clubs and student‑led activities grow, including a stronger multicultural club and rotating "flex Friday" sessions.
Why it matters: Board members noted the declining youth‑league pipelines and the cost to sustain programs. One board member estimated that eliminating all pay‑to‑play fees and covering officials could cost the district in the range of $40,000 to $60,000 annually; Hodgson said the precise figure varied by sport and season.
No formal board action was taken on athletics at the meeting; board members asked to keep the topic on future agendas and discuss funding and community partnerships.
