Trinity Football Players Stage Silent Protest
WASHINGTON, Pa. (KDKA) - Trinity Area High School football players claim their safety has been jeopardized because too many funding cuts have been made.
As a result, they organized a silent protest Monday morning before their first practice of the season.
They want to get noticed enough to get the things that they say are imperative to their success and safety on the field.
Before they took the field for practice, they had to tackle a major issue.
"We would ask those in charge to make decisions that will not hurt our current team and all of our future hiller football players," John Laschinsky said.
Players sat quietly before practice protesting cuts to the football program that they feel is jeopardizing their safety.
"With only four varsity coaches we feel that this will lead to unsafe conditions during practice because of the violent nature of this sport we will be inadequately supervised," Laschinsky said.
"My son is in 10th grade, I worry about him playing anyway. Now with little coaches on the field I have to worry about him even more," Caroline Frey said.
This is not just about a shortage in coaches. For both parents and players, there is also a huge safety concern over a lack of equipment.
"A lot of the equipment has been cut out and I realize there's budget cuts. Everyone has to deal with that, but safety equipment shouldn't be cut. Mouthpieces, chinstraps, knee pads, stuff like that," Ed Martin of the football boosters said.
"My son is a running back. He gets clobbered. He should have protective equipment to take care of him," Frey said.
Fundraising has helped to supply some of the equipment, but players want more coaches to be hired and more support from the Trinity Area School Board.
The booster organization is prepared to start looking for attorneys to possibly file an injunction.
The superintendent could not be reached for comment Monday morning.
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