hoops.jpg
The local non-profit "Sports in Schools" is working to help keep more kids in the game as increasing fees and budget cuts force many to drop out. (Image courtesy Sports In Schools)

Disadvantaged students forced to sidelines

BY Josh Kerns  on January 9, 2012 @ 10:58 am (Updated: 9:55 am - 1/10/12 )

When 14-year-old Danae Austin showed up at Phil Willenbrock's office, she had a problem. Budget cuts forced the Highline School District to eliminate late bus service, and her family couldn't afford to pay for public transportation. Austin would have to quit the soccer team.

Thankfully, Willenbrock, the district's athletic director, had another option. He got some help from a grassroots group Sports in Schools, and was able to offer some money to pay for Austin's bus pass so she could stay on the team.

"You have the haves and the have nots," says Sports in Schools founder Will Niccols. The longtime soccer referee created the local organization after seeing firsthand the impact of budget cuts on many middle and high schools around the area. Shrinking budgets mean activity fees have skyrocketed, leaving more kids unable to afford to play.

"The rich kids aren't impacted. It's going to be the poverty impact neighborhoods, the communities where we already spend a lot of resources," says Niccols.

Seattle Schools charge $100 per sport, while the fees range from $75 in Renton to $275 in the Lake Washington District.

Niccols argues while the issue of paying to play is about social justice, it's also a public health issue. "The social worker (and) the community service folks are going to see an increase in what they have to do to take care of unhealthy, obese kids."

While Sports in Schools focuses on helping middle and high school sports programs, the funding shortfalls for fitness are being felt in cash-strapped elementary schools that are forced to cut PE classes and after school offerings.

"We've seen a number of the studies about the rise of childhood obesity and the problem that presents for the health of our country and the cost of our health care, but also physical fitness has now been directly tied to academic performance," says Rep. Adam Smith.

Smith is backing a new effort to guarantee federal education funds to states and districts to specifically protect physical education programs. He says even though money is tight and Congress is divided, it's a critical issue.

"I think it is important, at a minimum, that we have a national dialogue to emphasize the importance of physical fitness in K-12 education," says Smith.

Niccols couldn't agree more. He argues athletics are often the only thing keeping kids, who would otherwise turn to gangs, drugs, or crime, in schools.

"It's about giving them self esteem," Niccols says, "Giving them a positive self image, giving them options to gang violence, giving them options to the plethora of bad things that can go on during after school hours."

Niccols can't do it without money. Sports in Schools is an entirely volunteer, donation-based organization that leaves spending decisions up to individual coaches and athletic directors on a case by case basis to fund everything from shoes to emergency dental care.

"We try to get them the support they need to be successful because these coaches, these athletic directors are absolutely the best champions these students can have."

Bonneville, The Seattle Seahawks and Les Schwab Tire are proud to honor Sports in Schools as the January Charity of the Month for its work in promoting equality in youth sports.

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (10)


  • Add A Comment

  • fmrplt wrote...
    Some have to work harder.
    January 9, 2012 5:46 pm
    I rode my bike to and from school - 5 miles each way. We held car washes to earn money for uniforms. Kids still do that today. What's wrong with getting the team out there and working (together as a team) to earn money for the uniforms? Transportation is peddle power for practice.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Liberals are just trying to foment
    January 9, 2012 7:59 pm
    class warfare. Nothing more.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Raining Sideways wrote...
    Kids Sports are America's Dividing factor these days
    January 9, 2012 10:21 pm
    After school programs, held in publicly paid for building and taught by publicly paid employees should be open for both classes! I see more and more poor kids (both parents work hard but just make enough to pay for rent and food) unable to make after school activities. It's $300 for a kid to play peewee football in Kitsap Co. The rich kids play, the poor kids do not. The money doesn't go to reimburse the school for the use of the facility that is provided by all tax payers, it goes to support some "organization" that use to be volunteer for the sake of the kids...These "fees" are the way the upper class edge out talent that may keep their little poopsy from being the star of the team!
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  • sportsguru wrote...
    Raining Sideways
    January 10, 2012 6:22 am

    Well said, as a coach on the east side, you are absolutely correct. I have had to come out of my own pocket to pay for a couple of scholarships every year for kids that actually tried out and made the team but came to find out that the $350 fee was too much for the parents to take on, the look on there faces was too much for me to endure, so I had to pony up.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Well put Raining & Guru
    January 10, 2012 11:28 am
    I have 3 kids that have played different sports all the way into high school. It can be expensive, but we figured out how to car -pool, ride bikes, mow lawns, rake leaves, team car-washes, found local small businesses to help sponsor. SOme of the coaches even sent out emails asking for small donations for the league to help with underprivailedged kids. The super expensive and segregating level of athletics are the "Select" leagues. Having been through a few of those organizations, it was astonishing how expensive EVERYTHING was. Anyway, just saying, there are creative ways that teams and parents can cut/cover some of the costs. THANKS for being a coach Guru!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Bush's fault . . . .
    January 10, 2012 4:39 am
    two wars on the credit card, payment has come due. America in the toilet.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RichardCheese wrote...
    .
    January 10, 2012 8:16 am
    i wonder how many of these kids have fancy cell phones, purses, shoes or families that big screen TVs, expensive cable, ipads, etc. choices are made.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • LuAndrew1 wrote...
    Disadvantaged Students
    January 10, 2012 9:22 am
    I am a single working mom of a student athlete and I save my money so my son can participate in high school sports because I know how important it is for him. His school does not provide bus transportation so I have him walk to the library where I picked him up after work. He does his homework at the library while he is waiting for me. Yes, it would be better if the school provided bus transportation after practice but it doesn't so we look for alternative ways that he can still participate in sports instead of deciding that he can't participate.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jpetro wrote...
    There are many ways
    January 10, 2012 9:48 am
    to avoid being left on the sidlelines. The problem is they want it all done for them, with little or no work, or just cry how unfair it is. Be proactive or no sympathy here
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    What is new here?
    January 10, 2012 3:41 pm
    I had the same thing 30 years ago. The activity bus did not go by my house and I have to walk.

    So if you want to play you will find a way or an excuse not to!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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