Several school officials shared their thoughts on whether a middle school athletics program should be available in Santa Rosa County schools.
Kris Long, a local assistant coach for Milton High School, is looking for support to make such a program available to area middle schools.
“We really need our own (athletic program) and start off from there,” he said. “Any incentives for (students) to do well in school.”
Long said city leagues athletic organizations, which are unaffiliated with schools, do not hold students accountable when it comes to a grade point average.
Like high school athletes, Long believes middle school children should be accountable in maintaining a certain GPA in order to participate in school sports.
Long said many high school coaches must educate incoming freshmen students the basic fundamentals of sports − including basketball, baseball, football, etc.
Keith Cone, who serves as the head coach for Milton’s varsity girl’s basketball team, agrees.
“The kids are a little behind, when we get them (as freshmen),” Cone said. “This would give them an advantage.”
Charlie Warner, the athletic director for Pace High School, said a middle school athletics program for football would benefit county high school programs. However, Warner believes middle school students do have alternatives when participating in sports, like inner league basketball.
“In a perfect world, it sounds good,” Warner said.
In addition to funding athletic programs, Warner believes it would be difficult to find coaches available to instruct such programs.
County high school athletic programs had post season success without the need of a middle school program.
While serving as a military wife, Carol Boston – who was recently elected to serve District 1 for the Santa Rosa County School Board − said she was surprised to learn Santa Rosa County did not offer a middle school athletics program.
“I have to say, I have never been anywhere without it,” she said.
Boston said she would like to see middle school athletics, however, “academics need to be first,” she said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: County eyes possibilities for middle school athletics