Ask any high school athlete and he or she will tell you there’s nothing quite like a loud and raucous student section of one’s peers cheering you on to put a little extra pep in your step come game time.
Sometimes the student following is large, sometimes not. It often depends on the sport being played, but more so, on the cost of tickets.
Some schools offer discounted student tickets. Some do not. There are a few, like Ohio County Schools recently, that opted to provide free entry for students. That is an exception moreso than the norm.
Often times, students attend one or two games per season in support of their classmates, but not all. They, or more specifically their parents, can’t afford $5 a game potentially multiple times per week.
Martins Ferry and its newly hired athletics director Greg Harkness recently devised a system to allow students in grades 7-12 free admission to all regular-season events. All that’s required is a little beneficial sweat equity on their part.
“We definitely wanted to tie the guidelines into participation in an extra-curricular activity,” Harkness said. “I think all schools are trying to find ways to increase participation and we felt that this was an opportunity to reward kids for being involved.”
There are three criteria students must meet in order to receive an all-sports pass at Martins Ferry.
One, the student must be in grades 7-12 at Martins Ferry. Two, the student must participate in some form of extra curricular activity, i.e.football, band, flag corps, basketball, track, etc. And third, the student also must commit to and join the Belmont County Schools Staying Clean Club.
The band and flag corps is included as well because the district didn’t just want to reward athletes, but all students willing to put in time after school. This doesn’t extend to different clubs offered at the school, however.
“We wanted to include band, the flag corps, etc., because those kids put in extra time as well and are a part of what make Friday nights special. We stayed away from clubs because they are mainly class-based,” Harkness said. “Most of those activities are limited to classroom time so we decided to focus mainly on extra-curricular activities.”
Continued participation in parts two and three are key. If the student quits either their after-school activity, or the Staying Clean Club, the pass is subsequently revoked.
“We think that the Staying Clean Club is very important and wanted to tie participation in that organization into the guideline as well,” Harkness said.
“The benefits of being involved in activities and the Staying Clean Club will hopefully influence these students to stay on the right path.”
So Far, So Good
The announcement was made on Tuesday and already students are flocking to obtain the passes they already qualified for, or are signing up for the Staying Clean Club and picking up their passes.
Students who had already purchased a pass yet now qualify for a free pass are eligible to receive the money back they originally spent.
The students definitely seem on board, as does the greater community at large.
“The response has been really positive,” Harkness said. “I think everyone understands we are trying to reward kids for getting involved and participating. We are hoping the kids go and support classmates and their friends on game nights.”
It should also pay dividends in other ways.
Let’s face it. Students get hungry at games and visit the concession stands with far greater regularity than adult fans.
Those concession stands are run by the respective sports’ booster organizations, which will benefit from the increase in sales and funds raised.
Plus, more students equals a louder, more involved home stands and more support for the Purple and White.
“If we can get students to attend and support the various teams it just makes the whole atmosphere of the game better,” Harkness said.
While Harkness came up with the plan and the particulars, he noted it couldn’t have come to fruition without the tremendous support of the administration and the school board, both of which quickly got on board and backed the idea.
Board members Dave Bruney, Nick Stankovich, Jon Nagel, Jim Agnew, and Chuck Probst, along with Superintendent Jim Fogle and High School Principal Joe Mamone all threw their support behind the move, allowing it to transition from plan to reality quickly.
“My wife was on the Bridgeport school board for 12 years so I know how thankless of a job that position is, but these five gentlemen were super quick to embrace the idea and make it come to fruition,” Harkness said. “Without their support this would not have happened. I also want to thank Superintendent Jim Fogle and High School Principal Joe Mamone for jumping behind the idea and supporting it. This was truly a team effort.”
Now the ball is in the students’ court, per se. They just have to get involved, stay involved, and come out and support the Purple Riders in droves.
So far, so good.
