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Lacrosse Group Still Pushing to Play in D228

District 228 administration still hasn't signed an emerging sports letter for lacrosse, which would allow the Oak Forest Fury, a high school club team made up of area students, to compete against other schools.

 

High school lacrosse players and their parents in Bremen High School District 228 just want one thing: a chance. The players want to take the field under the lights and compete against other high school teams, while the parents want a chance to cheer their children on at the varsity level. 

But they can't—yet.

The District 228 board of education, so far, has not signed off on an emerging sports letter, which is required by the Illinois High School Association to compete in lacrosse at the high school level. Without the letter, high school level lacrosse players in D228 cannot play other teams in the state.

“We are now the only team without that waiver signed in the Chicago Southland,” said Oak Forest Park District Commissioner Joe Conway, who is helping to lead the charge to get lacrosse into D228. “In the Chicago Southland, western suburbs and northern suburbs, we are the only team without that waiver signed.

"Where does that leave this high school team we have? With nobody to play.”

District Superintendent Bill Kendall believes the letter could become a moot point in the near future, but Conway doubts it.

“That letter is not going away, not for a while,” Conway said.

The other issue district administrators have loudly voiced as a concern with lacrosse is the cost the district could incur from the sport. However, Conway said that families and players interested in high school level lacrosse have that covered.

“What we're offering to the district is a fully functioning, up-and-running program, at no cost to them,” he said. “We can fund this thing, we are funding this thing, it's a pay-to-play sport. We wouldn't need one red cent from the district."

Players could expect to pay around $350 per year—a cost that would cover all the costs of a season-long schedule. The costs would cover everything from playing fields to travel, and everything in between, Conway said.

Though it took some time, the lacrosse group might finally be making some headway with the district. The group presented a plan to run the program to the district at its finance committee meeting Feb. 12.

Although no votes were cast, Conway said the group appealed to the committee to at least put a move to sign the emerging sports letter on the board of education's next meeting agenda.

Although no guarantee was given one way or the other, Conway said it was a positive meeting and a step towards their goal.

“We're hopeful,” Conway said. “We just want them to give us a chance to prove that we can do what we way we're going to do."

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Related Topics: Bill Kendall, D228, IHSA, IHSA Lacrosse, Joseph Conway, Lacrosse, Oak Forest Fury, and bremen high school district 228

MK

6:48 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013

Glad to see the board is giving this a closer look. Hopefully it will not be too late to get opponents for this season if the agreement is signed.

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Hamish

7:02 am on Friday, February 15, 2013

If it could be a self contained pay to play club and NOT cost the tax payers a penny great. But id have a few questions... What if there are cost over runs? Who picks up the tab? What if there are kids whose families cant afford such a steep fee? Should they be excluded? ( i dont think any child should be excluded based on a true financial difficulty) And if not who's gonna pick up that tab? Who's gonna be the coaches? And dont they have to be district employees? Who pays them? And if and when there is a lawsuit filed because if an injury, who is responsible the district? Just putting this out there.

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Joseph Conway

5:19 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013

Great questions. Cost over runs? The club would be fully responsible for all costs. A proposed budget was submitted to the board accounting for all costs including gear, coaches, referees, insurance, etc. Kids who can't afford to play? Again, submitted to the board is an offer to reduce fees by 50% after the district confirms need. Coaches? We've already spoken with a union steward who states that their contract does not in any way affect club sports. Coaches would be chosen based on experience, proper certification, and complete background checks (all of which is current practice) and would be paid a coaching stipend. Lawsuit because of injury? Just like any and all other sports, the club carries liability insurance and all appropriate and standard waivers are required. In addition, each player would be covered by a separate secondary insurance policy as are all student athletes. This club has offered the board an indemnification agreement addressing all expected concerns. The agreement is the exact same one all the other districts are using except the district and club name has been changed. In other words, this club is not re-inventing the wheel.

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Joseph Conway

5:28 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013

This is the big question: What happens if IHSA sanctions the sport after Bremen signed the waiver? Will the district be on the hook for any and all costs at that point? According to the Illinois High School Lacrosse Association, the answer is a resounding "NO." When and if that happens, districts can then choose how to fund lacrosse and at what level including "no funding at all." It's likely that if and when the sport becomes sanctioned, it will stay as a parent-funded sport. I get it, our district simply cannot afford to take on any new expenses and as such, I, we, are not asking the district to do that. What we are asking is for the district to sign the waiver for this season. Let us prove to the district that we are being honest and that we can run an athletic program for district 228 students at absolutely no cost or liability exposure to the district. If we fail to hold up our end of the bargain, then the district can choose not to sign the waiver and indemnification agreement for the 2013-14 season (the waiver and agreement is annually renewable). If the sport becomes sanctioned, the club would still have to have an agreement signed with the district which at that point, the district could choose to not sign. The 228 board is concerned with negative outcry if they choose to "pull the plug" on the program in the future. I'm confident that we can maintain a well-run, no-cost program without the concern of the program getting cancelled making negative outcry a mute point.

raquel Mitchell

11:15 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013

It is interesting with all of the job consolidations, with no one except Kendall and his goons getting pay raises, and no school showing even the smallest bit of incremental growth we are worried about a Lacrosse Team? Although Kendall and Dr. Williams are probably elated with this issue as it takes away from the question of student growth, school improvement-unless you are talking about Dr. Williams and Dr Kendall believing and STATING on the RECORD that Hillcrest and Bremen are basically lost causes-When you are an elitist like Corinne Williams or a ruthless, thoughtless megalomaniac like Kendall it is all about looking good and being able to blame others. Shame on this School Board, District Administration and others who consistently ignore the concerns of 2 schools while they pride themselves on TP & OF.

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TaxPayer

11:56 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013

Any thoughts on why they cancelled AP chem at Bremen and are forcing the kids in to AP physics ? Does she need some kind of data for her physic first experiment ? It's obvious they gave up on Bremen but I don't see TP or OF as improving either. Last year Dr. Williams was telling everybody how we we were going to have more AP courses but at Bremen we have less. She promised us AP Economics and AP Gov't . I couldn't believe we gave her $36K into her retirement just for this year alone, I don't see anyone else with this benefit.

raquel Mitchell

11:15 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013

Remember taxpayers this is the school board who hired an Associate Principal with no Principal and District Office experience, a Superintendent who was dismissed from D230 because he failed to monitor a student who no longer thought they had anything left to live for, a Superintendent who spent the prior year of being named Superintendent hold up in Dr. Nolan's office where they not only strategically developed a plan for him to become Superintendent, but for Nolan to become new Principal at TP which allowed the current Principal at TP to move to Bremen-Kendall on the record stating the board decided on the Principal movement WITHOUT his input??????????? He led the search for the current Principals in Oak Forest and Hillcrest-but at Tinley Park it was just decided. HMMM.... Sure hope we make AYP in Lacrosse

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Carolina Blejardo

11:46 am on Monday, February 18, 2013

It's funny that when one District office employee's wife was dying there was no help, support, and assistance. When another District Office worker’s wife was dying a big benefit was held to help. Mr. Kendall stated that the benefit was not District sponsored, however all admins were pushed to donate $$$ & time. All central office workers used work time to support this benefit-it was a great idea to help an important and valued employee- why wasn’t this same option provided to the other employee? Another example of the have’s AND have not’s. Apparently the school board condones this seeing that Kendall has a 5 year contract. Why doesn’t he work year to year like he expects everyone else? Where are his student achievement goals in is contract? Stearns and company need to go.

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TaxPayer

11:53 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013

Why didn't the Patch report this contract update??? Matt Taibbi where are you...

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Jeff Graveline

12:58 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Taxpayer,
Not sure why you would think Patch didn't cover Dr. Kendall's contract update. But, since you missed the article, here's a link: http://patch.com/A-xZWL .
As a side note, Dr. Kendall's contract is renewed yearly and not a for sure five-year deal. Thanks for the comment!
- Jeff Graveline
Oak Forest Patch

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Janelle Edwards

9:44 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Jeff:
Maybe you are not up on the current facts but Dr. Kendall has what is called an Evergreen Contract which renews every year and keeps his contract as a 5 year deal at $200,000 which would cost us taxpayers over a million dalloars to buy out. Where was this written in your column. You are a bipartiasan, Kendall apologist . How about reporting this Jeff: Since Dr. Kendall has assumed control Tinley Park has seen one of the largest ACT overall decrease in total overall score along with Oak Forest. Hillcrest has seen one of the largest decreases in graduation rates. The District is still embattled in a lawsuit with the former Supt that the baracuda on the board refuses to let go. How many other pending litigations are out there? People suing our district for sexual harassment, racial discrimination, age discrimination. And now kendall has to send an email out saying sorry for those employees who didn't receive a automated call about school eing canceled. he had no one else left to blame since his crony is the one who down-graded the system they currently have-so it was termed a system breakdown. Jeff: Where are you when its time to report these items?

Carolina Blejardo

11:47 am on Monday, February 18, 2013

This board allowed this to happen. This board has enabled Kendall and his team to become more important than the organization- they say treat other like you wanted to be treated-do what’s right etc… That must fall under the adage do as I say not as I do. By the way, the next original thought that Kendall has will be his first. I am sure all employees enjoy have central office peruse their email, personnel files etc…
Under this board who hired Mr. Kendall one could say that his next original idea for anything will be his first. In the 6 years he has been there PLUS the additional FIVE we are on the hook for what program or initiative has he personally developed-not from his central office cronies, not from ideas he has stolen from other schools-what is one thing he has originated? We have already paid him 1.2 million and are on the hook for another million-great return on our investment. This district should be a case study on patronage, nepotism, and ineptitude.

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Sue1

2:47 am on Monday, February 25, 2013

Well LaCrosse, it seems that your story was hijacked by some disgruntled employees. Sorry about that. I have a couple of questions for you. Do you mean that we are the only school district around that doesn't have a program? “We are now the only team without that waiver signed in the Chicago Southland," I looked around and could only find 5 local teams, of which only Lemont is in our conference, are there more? When you say "separate secondary insurance policy as are all student athletes", this is through your organization? If the district signed this agreement and IHSA does get it together, who would you play? I know you could play other teams, but I am thinking as if it were football. There is a conference and seasons progress to the State Finals. If there is only one other team in the conference, how does that work as far as State championship is concerned? As for the indemnification agreement, I don't know about that. Isn't it said that those aren't worth the paper they are written on? If you are playing a competitor and they get injured, they didn't sign the agreement, so they didn't say they wouldn't sue the district. Help me understand that. Where do you play now? Do you have an indemnification agreement with them? Just wondering if our Park District could be liable for anything. I can understand the districts concern if it does become a sanctioned sport. It wouldn't be fair to kids to play then have it yanked away from them.

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Joseph Conway

11:57 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Hi Sue, thanks for getting this back on track. I'm confident I can answer your questions.You asked " I looked around and could only find 5 local teams, of which only Lemont is in our conference, are there more?" Except for just about every Catholic HS in the Southland, no. As an example, Richards and almost every district east of us does not have a team (HF is the exception). The difference between those districts (the ones without) and ours is that we actually have a HS team that grew out of the Oak Forest Park District's youth program. What has happened in two short years is that all the HS age teams in the south (and their corresponding HS districts) and the Catholic HS teams, now all operate with a signed IHSA emerging sports agreement (ESA). Bremen district 228 has not signed the ESA which leaves our team unable to play any of those teams. Per IHSA rules, a team that operates under the ESA cannot play or scrimmage a team without a signed ESA. As for our conference, yes, Lemont is currently the only team team in our conference with a lacrosse team and, as I stated earlier, our athletes cannot currently compete against them.

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Joseph Conway

12:01 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

"When you say "separate secondary insurance policy as are all student athletes", this is through your organization?" Yes, U.S. lacrosse offers secondary insurance to lacrosse players which is affordable.

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Joseph Conway

12:12 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

"If the district signed this agreement and IHSA does get it together, who would you play? I know you could play other teams, but I am thinking as if it were football. There is a conference and seasons progress to the State Finals. If there is only one other team in the conference, how does that work as far as State championship is concerned?" As it currently stands, there is a playoff series sponsored by the IHSLA. This is not an official IHSA state series such as with football and baseball. I can't speak for the IHSA but assuming that some day the IHSA does create a state series, that issue will be addressed. My guess is that this issue is exactly why the IHSA has yet to create a state series. Until that day comes, the IHSLA will stay responsible for creating playoff brackets and handing out a championship trophy. And once again, as it stands today, our HS team cannot compete in the current playoff series where as Lemont, Sandburg, Lockport, HF, and Lincoln Way teams can.

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Joseph Conway

12:33 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

"As for the indemnification agreement...". A signed indemnification agreement i is actually very valuable. Just to keep things simple, I will use Sandburg district 230 as the example. The Sandburg boys lacrosse team is actually a club team that has a signed, annually renewable contract between the club and district 230. The contract addresses all financial and legal responsibilities of the two parties. Included in the contract is language indemnifying district 230 and it's board of all legal responsibility. The club bears the burden of liability and as such, pays for and carries liability insurance. All of the teams I've mentioned in previous responses operate in this exact same way. The indemnification agreement presented to Bremen is the exact same one all the other teams are operating under. We obtained the agreement from the lawyer who drafted the original Sandburg agreement.

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Joseph Conway

12:44 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

'If you are playing a competitor and they get injured, they didn't sign the agreement, so they didn't say they wouldn't sue the district. Help me understand that." As you can imagine, operating any type of sport "club" can be challenging with plenty behind the scenes activities to accomplish before one whistle can be blown. An important part of those activities includes arranging for proof of all appropriate insurance certificates and signed waivers. The signed indemnification agreement puts the burden of liability back on the club program. The club program then becomes responsible for ensuring that all competitors provide proof of their insurance. All indemnification agreements include the club's certificate of insurance naming the school district as additionally insured. The same goes for the park district. Before any park district will allow a team to use their facilities, the team must provide a certificate of insurance naming the district as additionally insured. This is very common practice created by insurance companies. As an example, if a travel soccer club want to use OF park district fields, the club must provide a certificate of insurance to the district before use will be granted.

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Joseph Conway

12:51 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

" Where do you play now? Do you have an indemnification agreement with them? " As of right now, the HS team is still operating under the OF park district as one of the district's many programs such as gymnastics and girls softball. As a park district program, the district carries liability insurance. The OF park district carries it's insurance through PDRMA (park district risk management agency) and as such, is in an insurance pool with each and every park district in the state of IL. As a result, players and or parents sign all appropriate waivers set forth by the insurance company lawyers. Is their liability? Certainly, but like any other activity, it is managed according to industry standards.

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Joseph Conway

12:56 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

As part of asking for Bremen to sign the ESA, the HS lacrosse team is in the process of breaking away from being a park district program and becoming a stand-alone club that will exist like many other clubs such as travel soccer, baseball, and softball teams. This has to be done because a park district program cannot enter into a contract with any other body or organization. When that is all complete, the club will have a separate contract signed with the park district spelling out exactly which fields it can use and when as well as spelling out all costs. Just like any other club that uses park district facilities, the club will be responsible for costs to maintain and prep fields for use.

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Joseph Conway

1:02 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

"I can understand the districts concern if it does become a sanctioned sport. It wouldn't be fair to kids to play then have it yanked away from them." According to the IHSLA, if and when the sport becomes officially sanctioned, districts will be able to choose what level of funding they would provide. That level includes choosing to keep the sport as a parent funded or pay-to-play sport with no financial responsibility to fund it at any level. Please check out this link for more information and answers: http://www.ihsla.org/Support.aspx

Sue1

3:10 am on Monday, February 25, 2013

$350 a kid seems really cheap. Some other advocate stated that a cheap team would be $475, but that didn't include equipment, just officials, field use and buses. He said equipment averaged $600 a player. According to that guy, sorry, I think he was from Niles, it would be $1000/season per player. Especially at the beginning. I don't know how long the equipment lasts, but boys grow, so it would likely need to be replaced. How are you able to do it for $350? Are you planning on playing games after school? With the lack of local teams, you would have to travel, and if a game is an hour or so, potentially 2 hours in travel, that makes for a long day. How many are on a team? 15? That would be 15,000 for 1 team. without coaches salaries built in. I commend your organization for funding it yourself. Could you still do that if it becomes sanctioned? Would they have to change all sports to pay to play? You have to know once it becomes sanctioned, teachers are going to want the coaching salary. What is that? If the school takes it on and can't maintain it as pay to play, the only alternative they have is reducing the other sports' budgets. Is there enough money there? Did you find out what they budget for sports? Can you explain to me why it can't be conducted like hockey is? They play other teams right? This Niles guy also mentioned a state tournament hosted by a Lacrosse Association. Can you participate in that now? Just trying to understand everything. Thanks.

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Joseph Conway

1:24 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Currently, if you were to sign up your son or daughter to play on today's park district HS team, the cost would be $225. Helmets rental is an additional $25. Shoulder pad rental is $25. We estimate $350 to include busing, insurance and coaching costs. Equipment was initially purchased by the park district as part of start up costs and is now supported through an annual fundraiser and rental fees. Players can choose to purchase their own equipment if preferred. Because the team is a club, teachers are not entitled to coaching or stipends which would keep costs down. As for the Hinsdale coach, wow, those are big numbers. I suppose if what we are asking for is a district funded team then those numbers would be realistic but that is not what we are asking for.

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Joseph Conway

1:35 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

We are proposing a CO-OP team which would draw players from all four of our district schools (the same as Sandburg and Lincoln Way). If Bremen were to sign the ESA today, not much would change this season. We would have one JV boys team. The current schedule calls for the team to play a team from Downers Grove, Arlington Heights, Crown Point, IN and a couple of others I can't recall at this moment. We have verbal commitment from local HS teams to add our team to their schedule if we get the ESA signed. If that happens, we would most likely drop the farther away teams. Park district fields would be used for practices and games. The current home lacrosse field is located behind Arbor school. As for the girls team, if the ESA gets signed, I have a verbal commitment from a well known girls coach who is willing to put together a summer girls team to get them up and running with the goal of having them ready for the 2013/14 school year. Initially, both teams would be fielded as a JV team (one girls team, one boys team).

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Joseph Conway

1:37 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Forgot to mention, our proposed budget is right in line with Sandburg's and other local team budgets. The difference is the ability to rent equipment if necessary.

Sue1

3:22 am on Monday, February 25, 2013

Sorry, found some information. Coach from Hinsdale says,
"Adding lacrosse to a high school athletic department's budget would be an expense of between $50,000 and $75,000, for one boy's team and a girl's team.
And the weather also can impact the fields and their corresponding costs. As snow melts, the soggy fields would be destroyed almost instantly by lacrosse."

How many teams are you planning on? Just one district team or different levels? I wonder how that figure correlates to football. Do you know? Just curious, guess it doesn't matter. Maybe you have a corporate sponsor, if so, good for you.

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Joseph Conway

11:40 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

"You may be confusing co-op versus club. Why won't IHSA let Lacrosse operate the same as Hockey?" I don't think I'm confusing this issue. The proposed teams would be four-school co-op teams. They would also be a club team that has a contract with the district to operate within the district during the school season. I believe that this is how hockey exists today.

MagtheHag

11:36 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

D230 Andrew/Sandburg/Stagg have a Club Lacrosse team (kids from all 3 school on same team. It's pricey because the players pay to play. This is the same for Bass Fishing, Hockey and other club sporting activities. Lacrosse is growing fast, really fast. I know 3 kids with full ride scholarships 2012, 2 boys and 1 girl. Just throwing this info out there so that maybe you can get into from someone at D230.

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Sue1

12:14 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

I believe that Bass Fishing is a recognized IHSA sport. You may be confusing co-op versus club. Why won't IHSA let Lacrosse operate the same as Hockey?

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Sue1

12:27 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

Why are only three of the district's schools included? Are you trying to involve the fourth? How many kids do you envision on each team?

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Sue1

12:29 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

I know of a few travel basketball players that were awarded scholarships from their summer teams and nothing from their high school team.

Patrick

2:44 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

I would suggest checking out www.chiefshslax.com for information on Dist. 230 Chiefs High School Men's Lacrosse. They have very informative FAQ section that covers Club Lacrosse. Chiefs HS LAX fields 3 teams - Varsity, JV & Fresh/Soph. In addition to the Chiefs, D230 has a women's Co-op Lacrosse club - Eagles Co-op. Two websites that may provide additional information are www.ihswla.org/ and www.ihsla.org

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Sue1

12:20 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

So 230 lets the team use its fields, are they finding the fields need work, as stated above Lacrosse in the spring can wreck a field. Do you see Lacrosse requesting to use 228 fields? Still interested to see what plans 230 has once it is recognized. According to IHSA website they now have the numbers to make it a sport, why haven't they?

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Sue1

12:46 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

it's good to see that the athletes have to follow the same rules as any other school sponsored team. Are grades also monitored?

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Patrick

8:14 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

D230 fields are turf, not grass. Being involved with lacrosse for several years I would say there is less damage to a grass field than football.

Sue1

11:47 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Thanks for responding. I am confused a bit. What is the correlation between IHLA and IHSA? Why can you not participate in the IHLA state tournament? Why does IHSA dictate that?

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Patrick

8:08 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

This from the IHSLA website. This are the rules that IHSA established for all sports and the IHSLA follows them.

Eligibility, season limitations, and sports policies are regulated by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Emerging sports, such as lacrosse, must still abide by IHSA rules, even if lacrosse is not considered a varsity sport at the school. Below are some sections of the IHSA policies and by-laws which are particularly relevant to lacrosse:

Policy Section 17: IHSA Emerging Sports Policy
By-law 5.650: Lacrosse season limitations
By-law 2.090 Illustration 61: Scrimmage as contest
By-law 3.054 Illustration 125.1: Practicing/participating with another high school
By-law 3.070: Recruitment of athletes

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Joseph Conway

8:47 am on Friday, March 1, 2013

@ sue1: Thanks for all your questions but the reality is that I don't have the time to carry on this conversation in front of my laptop. I'll do my best to answer your questions either in person or over the phone. You can contact me by leaving your name and number at this park district number and extension: 708-687-7270,
Ext. 125.

Sue1

11:50 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Regarding the indemnification and all insurance, who is going to be the one to check that everyone has the appropriate insurance? IHSA? It would seem that you would almost have to set up your own board among those that have the signed ESA if IHSA isn't going to oversee it.

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Sue1

11:57 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013

I understand that once the sport becomes sanctioned the school will have the ability to choose how to fund it or not, the district is already saying they can't fund it so we know how that will go. Do they have the ability to make only one sport pay to play or will this force them to change all sports to pay to play? Do you know what all the other schools plan to do if it becomes a recognized sport? Are they going to let it be pay to play or are they just going to end the programs? I think that would be a shame. I would worry that if they see people are willing to pay for the sports that they will change everything across the board.

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Sue1

12:04 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

I didn't realize rental of equipment was an option. Where are they rented from? Do they make sure safety requirements are met? I know that in baseball helmets need to meet certain requirements and something as little as painting a helmet can void its safety rating. So all that equipment the Park District purchased, will just sit there if the district agrees? That seems like a waste. It seems your rental fee includes a portion set aside to replace items, is that correct? I understand that right now it is a club sport that teachers can't coach, but you know once it is recognized they are going to be first in line. What is the cost of a teacher coach? What are coaches earning now?

Currently, if you were to sign up your son or daughter to play on today's park district HS team, the cost would be $225. Helmets rental is an additional $25. Shoulder pad rental is $25. We estimate $350 to include busing, insurance and coaching costs. Equipment was initially purchased by the park district as part of start up costs and is now supported through an annual fundraiser and rental fees. Players can choose to purchase their own equipment if preferred. Because the team is a club, teachers are not entitled to coaching or stipends which would keep costs down. As for the Hinsdale coach, wow, those are big numbers. I suppose if what we are asking for is a district funded team then those numbers would be realistic but that is not what we are asking for

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Sue1

12:31 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

Will the coaches have sons/daughters on the team?

Sue1

12:06 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

I understand the travel teams, they are all over the place. There are a dozen outside of Jewel every summer. What happens if the school signs this agreement and Joe Smith from down the street wants to start a team too? Will you be the only ones allowed to have a team?

As part of asking for Bremen to sign the ESA, the HS lacrosse team is in the process of breaking away from being a park district program and becoming a stand-alone club that will exist like many other clubs such as travel soccer, baseball, and softball teams

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Sue1

12:33 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

As part of asking for Bremen to sign the ESA, the HS lacrosse team is in the process of breaking away from being a park district program and becoming a stand-alone club that will exist like many other clubs such as travel soccer, baseball, and softball teams

This is what I am having trouble understanding. What is stopping you from breaking away from the park district now? There are plenty of other travel clubs like you mentioned.

Sue1

12:10 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

I wasn't aware there was a park district field behind Arbor Park school, or are you using school property? Why wouldn't you start both programs at the same time? You would hold tryouts for the team just the same as any other, why wait for the girls team?

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Sue1

12:34 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

This thought just occurred to me. Can you only start a boys program? Title IX and all that? Wouldn't you have to allow girls on that team?

Sue1

12:24 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

Is this allowed through IHSA? This is just getting more blurred for me. Do you not have to follow the same rules as the other sports because it isn't a sanctioned sport? A high school coach is not allowed to run a summer travel team, are they? How is this coach going to run a summer program then coach the girls in the spring?

I have a verbal commitment from a well known girls coach who is willing to put together a summer girls team to get them up and running with the goal of having them ready for the 2013/14

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Sue1

12:39 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

After IHSA sanctioning, the conferences would naturally migrate in this direction as the athletic directors take more responsibility for scheduling. The IHSLA decided to be proactive on this issue.

How is the done if it is pay to play? You set aside a portion of the fee to cover the athletic director? Won't that person also have to schedule the games, officials, I'm sure there must be more? How will that increase your $350 fee?

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Sue1

12:42 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

Once it is sanctioned, can you legally play at fields off the school's property? Out of the other teams that have signed the ESA, how many are not playing on school property now?

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Sue1

4:25 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Joe,

Thanks for answering. In the post above, regarding club vs co-op, I was responding to the other poster.

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