Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Sports topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate concurs with House amendment to allow some 8th‑graders to play varsity sports; safety concerns raised
Summary
The Senate concurred in a House amendment to House File 25‑91 to allow eighth‑grade students to participate in interscholastic athletics on the same basis as grades 9–12; opponents warned about safety and maturation differences, but the amendment and bill were adopted by recorded vote.
House File 25‑91, an open‑enrollment athletic‑eligibility bill, returned to the Senate with a House amendment that would allow students enrolled in eighth grade to participate in athletics provided by a district, nonpublic or charter school on the same basis as students in grades 9–12. Senator Shipley (Senator from Adams) explained the amendment and urged concurrence with the House.
Senator Zimmer (Clinton) raised concerns about safety and fair competition, asking why 13‑year‑olds would be matched against 18‑ and 19‑year‑olds and arguing that sharing agreements and AAU competition already address low‑participation issues without accelerating younger students into older age brackets. Zimmer listed potential cons including increased injury risk, burnout, and emotional strain, and said she would vote no on the amendment.
Senator Shipley said he favored leaving the decision to local superintendents, coaches and parents. The Senate called a recorded roll call on concurrence; the amendment was adopted (recorded tally 35‑12) and the bill was then read for the last time and passed by the Senate (final roll call recorded in the transcript).
