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FHSAA cancels plans to cut prep contests, still faces federal lawsuit
Under pressure from an impending lawsuit, the Florida High School Athletic Association voted unanimously on Wednesday to rescind its April decision to cut games from high school varsity and subvarsity schedules.
The FHSAA's emergency session on Wednesday came two days before a hearing in Jacksonville federal court for a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order against the FHSAA's April decision. The injunction is part of a lawsuit filed by six parents of girls who participate in FHSAA-sanctioned sports.
''What we did in April we thought at the time was the right thing to do, and what we did today, we think at this time, is the right thing to do,'' said Roger Dearing, executive director of the FHSAA.
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Timing of FHSAA scheduling ruling causes stir
A day after the Florida High School Athletics Association rescinded its decision to cut games, those in charge of scheduling high school events in South Florida were upset by the timing of the reversal.
The decision, made in response to a federal lawsuit filed by parents citing Title IX gender equity laws, has sent tournament organizers and county athletic governing bodies on a new quest -- to build a winter schedule with no clear guidelines in place.
''Nobody knows what they can and can't do,'' said Jim Reilly, who runs the annual Kreul Classic basketball tournament in Broward. ``Teams are committing to tournaments and dates, then changing because of the first ruling, and now they reverse it.''
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Parents sue FHSAA over schedule rule
A group of parents sued the Florida High School Athletic Association this week, alleging that a new scheduling rule designed to save money discriminates against female student-athletes.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Jacksonville by six Florida parents on behalf of their minor daughters.
The parents took issue with the FHSAA's new policy, which would cut the number of varsity games in sports, according to the court documents. Football is exempt from the policy change, and the parents, who are members of a group Florida Parents for Athletic Equality, believe that violates the Title IX federal law mandating equal opportunities for female athletes, the documents state.
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Athletic Association votes to cut high school sports games to save cash
The Florida High School Athletic Association's board of directors voted Monday to approve its proposal to reduce the number of games sports teams can play for the next two school years.
In light of growing financial concerns, the FHSAA will implement the policy, which reduces varsity contest limits by 20 percent and sub-varsity (JV and freshman) limits by 40 percent, and will affect every sport except football -- which will allow a maximum of 10 varsity games -- and competitive cheerleading.
The plan, which originally was proposed by new FHSAA executive director Roger Dearing in early March, cuts sports that allow a maximum of 25 games per season such as baseball, basketball, softball, soccer, volleyball and water polo to 20 games. Others such as cross-country, track and swimming will be cut from 13 to 11.
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No action taken by FHSAA on games
A proposal to overturn the reduction of games teams play has been tabled until September by the Florida High School Athletic Association on Friday during its Board of Directors meeting in Orlando.
The decision could result in a gender-equity lawsuit being filed.
To help school districts reduce costs, the FHSAA approved a measure that cut varsity sports schedules by 20 percent and junior varsity by 40 percent. Football was the only sport exempt. That decision has caused controversy.
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