Other articles by Becky Pallack:

Rio Rico runner may go to nationals Salpointe on probation for 2009, to miss playoffs UPDATED Salpointe High School's football program put on probation Popularity of lacrosse on rise in Tucson area AIA will allow coverage of fall sports playoffs Injuries put stress on two schools this week Without a coach, diver numbers in TUSD plummet Foothills girls, boys solid in tuneup for state competition Your donation can put TUSD students back in the game Cienega cross country team to share football spotlight

General
CORT
Warehouse Supervisor Health Care
Rio Salado College
PA's/Online Instructors General
CORT
WAREHOUSE/DRIVER Construction
Komatsu Equipment Co
Mechanic Education
Assessment Technology, Inc
Social Studies Content Writer

Rising gas prices and rising wages will make high school sports more expensive this year at nine Tucson high schools.

The pay-to-play fee for high school sports increased from $30 to $50 in the Tucson Unified School District, a 67 percent increase. Fees were last increased three years ago — in the 2005-06 school year.

"One of the big reasons is the cost for officials, scorers, timers, game workers, uniforms, equipment — everything has gone up," said Sheila Baize, TUSD interscholastics director.

The fee increase helps pay for sports programs, Baize said, and applies to each sport in which an athlete participates.

Pay for officials per game ranges from $40 to $55, Baize said. In football, five officials are paid $55 each for a cost of $275.

TUSD also is charging $20 for middle school sports. The district hasn't charged a fee since the 1990-91 school year when it was $10.

About 6,500 athletes at nine high schools are affected by the increase.

Students who play more than one sport pay a maximum of $150. A family with more than one student athlete can pay a maximum of $200.

The fee is a tax credit for parents, Baize said. Schools won't turn away students who can't pay. The district's Educational Enrichment Foundation and some donations help those students, she said.

In other area school districts, fees will remain the same.

Sports are still nearly free in the Flowing Wells school district. There is no pay-to-play fee, but a $5 laundry fee per sports season helps pay for soap to wash uniforms.

"It's a public school and we support kids being involved in extra-curricular activities as a balance between academics and fitness," said Pat Weber, the Flowing Wells district and high school athletic director.

"Certainly costs are rising: transportation, hotel fees for out-of-town trips. Just transportation across town is a challenge," he said. The school district will consolidate some bus trips to help keep costs down.