Participation Fees Being Explored for Berlin Scholastic Athletes

BERLIN, CT — The possibility of charging a fee to all middle and high school athletes to participate in sports is the focus of a subcommittee of the Berlin Board of Education.

Pay-to-participate has been making its way into area scholastic athletic programs over the last several years. Currently, only ice hockey players from Berlin pay a fee of $1,450 to participate on the four-school co-op team, which includes Newington, Manchester and Cromwell.

A report of the subcommittee is expected to be delivered to the school board by January.

A number of school districts in the state charge sports participants a seasonal fee, with most having yearly caps for each player or family. Some charge additional fees for sports with hefty rental rates, such as ice hockey and golf, while others do not.

A 2012 report from the Office of Legislative Research provided the following data on pay-to-participate fees for schools in Hartford County:

• Avon - $175/sport; cap, 2 sports/student, 4 sports/family; additional fees, $75 for crew
• Canton - $100/team; cap, $175/student, $300/family
• East Granby - $100/year; cap, $150/family
• East Windsor - $100/sport
• Enfield - $100/sport; cap, $200/student, $400/family; additional fees, $500 for ice hockey, $100 for golf
• Farmington - $100/sport; cap, $400/family
• Granby - $75/sport; cap, $150/student, $300/family
• Newington - $75/sport; cap, $150/student
• Simsbury - $175/sport; cap, $700/family; additional fees, $200 for ice hockey and swimming
• South Windsor - $125/sport; cap, $500/family ($800/family for ice hockey); additional fees, $275 for ice hockey
• West Hartford - $125/sport; cap, $375/family
• Wethersfield - $60-90/sport, $400/ice hockey; cap, $200/student, $350/family

Photo credit: Tim Jensen