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.

A few counties, including Miami-Dade, have already cut sport schedules over the past couple of seasons, which should lessen the effect. The GMAC already limits the amount of contests in sports with 25 game limits to 22.

The policy was met with some opposition at the board of directors' meeting Monday, but passed by a vote of 9-6. Over the past couple of months, there has been a growing concern that some sports in Broward County could be eliminated altogether.

''I think it's unfortunate,'' said Roger Harriott, athletic director at University School in Davie. ``Athletics is a vital part of social development for students, student athletes and the student-athlete puts a substantial amount of time and effort into the off-season training or preseason training, practice for games and competition.

``I personally believe it sends the wrong message to the kid, considering they're the whole reason we have a job.''

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