While some argue that safety is more important, others are concerned that the level of play will suffer, vision could be diminished and reckless play will increase.
New York actually recommended that teams begin wearing the goggles this year, the newspaper reported. Garden City coach Diane Chapman requires her players to wear them, and Baldwin, Friends Academy and Massapequa are also using googles.
"We just think it's the best and most responsible thing to do for our athletes," Chapman told the paper. "... Nobody is happy about it but that's what you have to do."
"Field hockey in high school is getting more aggressive than it used to be," said Paul Vinger, principle investigator for the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment. He said players are hitting the ball up to 50 miles per hour.
Shirt-ly, you jest? T-shirts designed and sold by the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill football team have been banned from campus because they contain a phrase in reference to playing at the Carrier Dome this season that can be interpreted as having a vulgar double-meaning.
Assistant Superintendent Martha Group told the Observer-Dispatch that adults and students brought it to the principal's attention that they were offended by the phrase. Wearing the shirts is now prohibited for anyone, including fans, to wear on school grounds.
"I guess I was clueless in that area," V-V-S football coach Gary Oliver told the paper. "Obviously, if I knew what was going on, the shirts would have never been made."
Issue resurfaces: Does a coach endorse religion when he takes a knee or bows his head during his team's student-led prayer? Does it matter if the coach used to lead prayers himself or invite ministers to do so?
The issue of school prayer resurfaced at the federal level in the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia last week in a case brought by a New Jersey school district that fears a coach is crossing the line.
Judge Theodore A. McKee wondered aloud whether non-believers or non-Christians on the East Brunswick football team were unduly intimidated into participating. "Knowing the (coach's) history, I'm not sure I'd want to say, 'No, I don't want to pray,' " McKee said.
Marcus Borden, in his 23rd season as coach, contends the district violated his free-speech rights by telling him to stop actions he deems as secular signs of respect. A lower-court judge agreed with him.
"How are you going to enforce this? Are you going to walk around with a ruler?" Judge Maryanne Trump Barry asked the school district, referring to Borden's bowed head. "What if he has his head bowed but he says he's not praying?"
The Supreme Court in 2000 upheld a ban on officially sponsored prayer in public schools when it ruled students could not lead crowds in prayer before football games. Still, the court's rulings on the subject have left much in doubt.
School officials agree that students can pray but say that Borden, as a public employee, cannot participate.
Extra points: Can anyone out there recall a recent higher combined football score than Adirondack beating Sauquoit Valley, 71-49, on Friday? . . . As usual, TullyRunners.com has an assortment of weekend cross country results. Some scores are out of whack because yesterday was an SAT day and some runners were unable to travel to get to meets on time.
