By David Harry

Staff Writer

Faced with a prospect of fees for extracurricular activities and high school sports, parents and boosters vow to keep the games going.

“Our booster community is strong,” said Scarborough Football Club President Marty Brown. Students who might not be able to afford participation fees will still be able to play, he said.

The prospect of what is called “pay-for-play” was discussed last week as Scarborough Athletic Director Gary Groves detailed what steps will be needed to continue 26 varsity teams in 17 sports at Scarborough High School.

Groves told Board of Education Chairman Brian Dell’Olio and finance committee members Bob Mitchell, Colleen Staszko and Christopher Brownsey that a fiscal 2011 school budget of $34.62 million would create a budget gap of about $270,000 next year. The athletic department budget is about $750,000.

A fiscal year 2011 school budget of $34.09 million, reduced from the current $35.19 million, would trim the full-time athletic trainer job at the high school to a part-time position.

Groves adamantly opposes any proposed pay-for-play plans, which he said could cost between $100 and $350 per student.

“I worry you are going to lose the kids,” he said.

Scarborough High School softball coach Tom Griffin shared the worry. He said it might be tough for some families to ask for help, and noted the school department previously assessed a $12 fee that was increased to $25 and not always used to support the athletic department.

“I worked hard to get rid of it,” said Griffin. The fee was discontinued several years ago.

Brown, president of the football club, and Ken Burnham, parent of field hockey and softball player Dominique Burnham, each said they understand economic pressures residents face and any reluctance to help pay for athletic participation.

Both said boosters already are hard at work raising money to get a jump on fall sports or fund seventh- and ninth-grade baseball, softball and lacrosse teams eliminated this spring as the district coped with a $1.13 million reduction in state subsidies.

Ken and Jessica Burnham said sports can be an expensive investment in time and money, but worth the price.

The couple has three children playing sports. Dominique, a sophomore, hopes to pitch for the varsity softball team this spring.

Seventh-grader Sophia was affected by elimination of softball this spring, although boosters have until April 1 to find money to field a team. Anthony, who is 9, plays ice hockey and baseball.

The bats, gloves, cleats, pads, mouth guards, goggles and helmets needed to play sports can add up to thousands of dollars. Brown, whose son Matt is a sophomore and plays football and lacrosse, said it cost about $200 to get the equipment to start Matt in lacrosse.

Brown said the Scarborough Football Club oversees programs for second- through eighth-graders and averages about 150 players per year. The club also contributes about $6,000 to $8,000 to the high school program, Brown said, and will work to get more if needed.

The school provides basics in some sports – helmets and some padding for football, according to Brown. Boosters have raised money for uniforms for softball, which can cost between $40 and $120, depending on the quality. Bats and batting helmets are provided by the school, Griffin said.

Even then, said Ken Burnham, players who buy their own bats for school and travel teams can spend hundreds of dollars.

“We’re not upset with the school department, we know state revenue is down. It’s not the town, state or school department’s fault,” he said.

In the end, it is the value, not the cost that leads parents and boosters to make sure whatever needed fees will be paid, said Burnham and Brown.

“There are many benefits and life lessons. We won’t let them stay home and play Nintendo,” Burnham said.

Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219