TRUMAN HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES 3301 S. Noland Road, Independence, Missouri 64055 Phone 816-521-5350 Fax 816-521-5604 Eric Holm, Activities Director eric_holm@indep.k12.mo.us Marilyn Reinhard, Administrative Assistant marilyn_reinhard@indep.k12.mo.us
March 28, 2012 To: Truman Fans From: Eric Holm/Activities Director Re: Soccer Gates Girls Soccer is off to a fantastic 2-0 start! We hope there is more to come. The beginning of a new season always brings up new questions. I have been asked (and our gate people as well) by a few people on why there is a charge for Girls Soccer and not some other sports such as baseball. It is a good question and I thought I would try to explain the reason. As part of our membership in the Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference we agree to have consistency in many areas with our fellow schools. Which sports will have a gate is one of them. The sports that the conference agrees to have gates include boys and girls soccer, football, girls and boys basketball, volleyball, wrestling and most tournaments. Post season gates are dictated by the Missouri State High School Activities Association. In the Independence School District revenues from gates do not go to the individual schools but to the general fund of the school district and obviously help offset the costs of operating programs. By agreeing on which sports will have gates there is consistency throughout the conference and spectators can know what to expect. Schools can choose not to charge but generally they do unless there are extenuating circumstances. The most common circumstance is low attendance. It costs money to pay gate workers and if the revenue is not much greater than the income, it may not be worth it to charge a gate. Facility issues and weather can also be a factor. We have had cases where we did not charge a gate because it did not make sense to have someone sit in inclement weather to collect the gate and as a reward to the hearty fans who may have shown up! One of the big questions we have had at Truman is why soccer and not baseball (which is played side by side at Truman) and why is baseball immune anyway? Again, conference agreements and consistency play the biggest role. My opinion on why baseball has not charged is that many of the games have been played at satellite facilities with a start time of 4 pm. It is harder to charge a gate at a facility that is not controlled by the school and also the time of game can be a factor. Now that we have the ability to play both soccer and baseball at our school and side by side, the difference becomes a bit more obvious. Along the same lines, the amount that we charge and start times are also agreed upon by the conference. Again, consistency is the goal. Gate charges were actually adjusted two years ago. The cost was lowered $1 for students and raised $1 for adults. These along with other issues are just some of the agenda items that are discussed at our quarterly conference meetings. It is my understanding that it has been some time since which games will have gates and which do not has been discussed. I will pledge to bring it up at future meetings but honestly, it is more likely for the conference to add a gate at baseball than remove it from soccer given the state of budgets. Hope this helps clear up some questions. Go Patriots!