Pay to play hurts teams' turnout

CINCINNATI - Administrators at West Clermont local schools are struggling with reduced turnout for fall sports.

More than 30 fewer boys turned out for football at Glen Este High School.

For smaller sports like girls' tennis, the loss of more than seven players means half the team is gone.

Parents and boosters have held fundraisers to help families offset the $495 fee.

Superintendent Dr. Gary Brooks says that an operating levy that was recently approved by the school board will be placed on the ballot in November.

"The greatest impact is at our middle school level right now.  We've lost approximately two thirds of our kids.  So we've gone from 150 athletes at each school to about 50 or 60," said Brooks.

Todd Majestic, Glen Este's tennis coach, is starting the season with seven fewer players.

"Last year we had fourteen girls.  This year we have seven.  There were eight girls that could have come back this year but only one did," said Majestic.

In an effort to help families with boys in football, Glen Este High School will hold a scrimmage fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 13. 

"We're going to do a Glen Este football extravaganza," said head coach Zack Taylor.

Taylor tells 9News that in addition to a scrimmage of age levels there will be a Cornhole tournament and a dance for the adults later in the evening.