Local Athletic Programs Impacted by Pay-to-Play

 By Kimberly McCarter

MANSFIELD, Mass _ Senior Molly Jenssen said she’s noticed a change on sports team since Mansfield

High School started charging athletes to play. 

 “When they started making us pay for track, not as many girls joined, especially in the winter,” Jenssen, the track captain, said. 

A growing number of schools, such as Mansfield High School, are charging student to play sports. A 2009 survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations showed pay-to-play fees were used in 33 states.

 Under pay-to-play, public schools charge a fee to participate on school sports teams to offset budget cuts and help pay for sports-related costs, such as travel and equipment. 

Jenssen’s older sister Michelle Jenssen, who was a student athlete at Mansfield High School, never had to pay a fee to play. 

“When I would talk to people from other towns they would all say that it was unfair that we had no fees,” Michelle Jenssen said. “People from other towns said that Mansfield had an advantage because anyone could join and didn’t have to pay.”

The elder sister said the fees may keep the less serious players out of the game.

“I think pay-to-play fees are separating who is really dedicated to the sport and who is just doing it for fun, which is good for the serious athletes because they get more time with the coaches,” Michelle Jenssen said.

“Not as many girls quit track now that we have to pay for it, which is a good thing, and not as many girls skip meets since they have to pay to participate,” Jenssen said.

Mansfield High School senior athlete Ryan Fuller agreed paying to play may make kids stick with a sport because they are paying to be there.

Pay-to-play fees range by town and, in some instances, the sport.

At Norton High School, students are charged $250 per sport with a $500 limit per family per year, Norton High School Athletic Director, Nathaniel Gorbet said.

At Mansfield High School, students are charged $140 per sport with a $400 limit per family per year, Mansfield High School Varsity Track Coach, Pete Schuder said.

At Canton High School, the fees vary by sport. Most student athletes are charged $195 per sport, Canton High School Athletic Director, Danny Erickson said.  However, hockey players are charged $445 and swimmers are charged $245 as the rental fees for those two sports are added in their total cost, Erickson said.

Even though athletes have to pay-to-play, some feel the fees are reasonable.

“Mansfield’s $400 flat rate makes paying to play more reasonable for my family. I am a three-season athlete and both my sisters in the high school play multiple sports too. Paying one flat rate ends up being cheaper for us over all,” Mansfield High School track co-captain Dana Foley said.

Fuller shared at sentiment, “Pay-to-play ends up being less expensive for me because I’m a golfer.  If I wasn’t on a team I would have to pay to join the country club and now I can go a whole season for one rate.”

Since prices do add up, some schools offer reduced rates for families experiencing financial trouble.

“Pay-to-play should not cause financial difficulties for low income families in Mansfield,” Schuder said. Mansfield has reduced rates for families in need, he said.

Norton also has waivers for families in financial hardship, Gorbet said.

Some schools, such as Mansfield High School, are relatively new to pay-to-play with fees instituted two years ago, Schuder said. Other schools, such as Canton, are veterans with sports fees for at least 10 years, Erickson said.

“I see it as a necessary evil. I do not like the idea of it. I believe athletic participation should be free to students enrolled but with the rising costs to support athletic programs, I do not see an alterative that would provide adequate funds for sports,” Norton’s Gorbet said.

Mansfield’s Schuder said the fees appeared fair.

“As a tax paying Mansfield resident with no children in school, I like it. From a philosophical point of view, I don’t like it as it reinforces that extra benefits that have great value for our student athletes now need to be paid for,” Schuder said.

Pay-to-play is likely here to stay.

The athletic directors said the alternative to paying for sports is raising the taxes or cutting the programs – something no one wants.

“High school athletics are very important to kids and parents will find a way to pay the fee – even if it means less Christmas presents or turning the heat down – it’s that important,” Erickson said.