Quakertown middle school hockey requests district logo use, board to review liability and eligibility

Quakertown Community School District board members heard from five middle-school hockey players and leaders of the Quakertown Hockey Association who asked the district to allow use of the district "Q" logo on jerseys and to consider school recognition that could lead to varsity letters.

Amy Thorson, president of Quakertown Hockey Association, told the board the association is a 501(c)(3) founded in 2018 that fielded middle- and high-school teams and this past season reached a middle-school championship game, losing in overtime 8–7. She said members want the team to “be able to put [the Q] on our jerseys and on our merch and be able to allow the kids to rock it around school.”

Coach Tom McKernan, who identified himself as director of hockey operations and the middle-school head coach, said several Quakertown players supplemented a Souderton roster under SHSHL rules and helped Souderton win a middle-school championship in 2023–24. He described the program as building toward a high-school team for next year.

District officials responded that letters are issued by the school (not by the league) and that whether hockey becomes a school-sanctioned sport depends on program growth and administrative capacity. Board members said they recalled prior executive-session discussion but that the request did not require an immediate vote. One board member said he had “no issues” with staff supporting the team’s use of the district mark pending standard review.

Liability and student-eligibility questions were the principal concerns raised. A board member asked who would be legally responsible if a player were injured and the district’s mark appeared on a jersey; association leaders said all players are registered with USA Hockey and carry USA Hockey insurance, and offered to provide copies of waivers and liability policies for the district solicitor to review. Board members also asked whether the district could answer league eligibility queries under FERPA; administrators said the solicitor should clarify what information the district may provide and that leagues typically request a yes/no eligibility determination rather than student grades.

The board did not make a formal decision at the meeting. Administrators said the matter would be run by the district solicitor and returned to the full board at a regular meeting; association representatives provided contact information for follow-up.

What happens next: the district solicitor will be asked to review liability, waiver, and FERPA questions and the board will consider the association’s request at a future meeting.