Athletic director warns of new state rules on coaches, eligibility and required EKG screening

Lake County's athletic director outlined a string of recent state bills that will affect local athletics operations, eligibility and health screening, and urged the board to consider policy responses ranging from fees for nontraditional participants to on‑campus EKG screening capacity.

Legislative changes: Pat Todd summarized Senate Bill 538, which includes an unfunded coach‑compensation pathway that would allow booster clubs or athletic associations to pay coaches (funds would flow through the district), potential reclassification for bargaining/contract purposes, and a student‑eligibility change that generally ties athletic participation to the school of record at the start of the academic year.

Nontraditional students and fees: Todd said the law narrows out‑of‑county and homeschool participation and noted the district could charge nontraditional students up to $400 per sport (Lake County is not a pay‑for‑play district); he reported about 200 nontraditional athletes participated this year and said charging the maximum would generate meaningful revenue to offset costs for equipment, transportation and coaching.

Coach contributions and disclosures: Senate Bill 178 (the so‑called Teddy Bridgewater Act) permits a head coach to spend up to $15,000 of personal funds annually on a team, subject to disclosures to the Florida High School Athletics body, the Department of Education and the district. Todd said the district would need reporting mechanisms if coaches choose to use personal funds.

EKG screening requirement: House Bill 1135 requires an EKG screening for incoming ninth‑grade athletes. Todd described the district's vendor partnership ("Who We Play For") that provides low‑cost on‑campus screenings and electronic pediatric‑cardiology reads; he said pediatric‑cardiologist availability and the referral pathway are constraints and recommended securing on‑campus machines and trained staff if the vendor relationship changes.

Operational impacts and facilities: Todd also reported the district is installing 35‑second shot clocks and updating scoreboards in gyms, and announced a Lake County Athletic Conference and awards program to highlight sportsmanship and achievement across middle and high schools.

Board reaction: Members asked for proposals on whether to charge nontraditional athletes the $400 fee, to formalize reporting for coach contributions and to explore on‑campus EKG machines and funding sources for screening. No formal policy decisions were made at the workshop.