Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Youth Sports topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents Push Back After Recreation Changes Prompt Fears of Losing Competitive Youth Sports
Summary
Dozens of residents told Alamance County commissioners they oppose proposed changes to youth athletics that parents say would limit traditional tackle football and reduce competitive playtime; the parks director said the department isn't trying to eliminate tackle football and will return with a detailed plan.
Dozens of parents and coaches pressed Alamance County commissioners on Aug. 19 to preserve competitive youth athletics, saying a proposed restructuring by the county's Recreation Department would limit traditional tackle football and reduce playing time for children.
"County sports are the very connecting fabrics of any community," said Anthony Pierce during the public-comment period, arguing that coaches do more than teach sportsmanship and that cutting competitive programs would be "a disservice to the community." Several other speakers, including Roxanne May and Jessica Evans, described long practice schedules, concerns about shrinking regular seasons and playoffs, and the outsized burden on families who cannot afford travel teams.
Jamie Merkel, Alamance County parks and recreation director, told the board the department's goal is not to eliminate tackle football. Merkel said the county has shifted this season to a collaborative league model shared with municipalities and community clubs to spread the costs of officials and staffing, and that one organization's move to a different league reduced the number of regular conference games. Merkel said the guaranteed number of games for participating teams this year matches last season's guaranteed games, though regular conference matchups are fewer because one participant moved to another league.
Merkel acknowledged parents' concerns about travel and playing time and offered figures during the discussion: an estimated startup-equipment cost of about $14,000 to field a team from scratch, reported club costs of about $4,700 for helmets and pads in some programs, and insurance costs cited around $1,500 for a season. She said the county is exploring options such as adding preseason games or adjusting playoff structures and invited community leaders and coaches to work with staff on logistics.
Commissioners said they heard the speakers and asked Parks & Rec staff to return with a detailed plan. Several commissioners suggested inviting clubs and municipal partners to help craft a schedule that accommodates school athletics calendars and municipal staffing limits. The board agreed to schedule follow-up discussion at a September meeting to allow staff time to present options and for parents to offer feedback.
The county did not adopt a change at the meeting; Merkel said staff would present a youth-athletics plan to the board in a future session so the community can better understand any proposed restructuring before the county finalizes schedules.
