en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Sun, 19 May 2013 20:28:01 GMT 15 By Jeff Goodman
The West Coast Soccer Academy (WCSA), which plays its games on campus, plans on purchasing temporary lights. Thus, in an agreement between the soccer club and the Athletic Department, the Gridmen will be able to host night games next season. “A night game would be really nice to have at our school,” said Athletic Director Jim Nakabara. “We’ve never had one before.” Unlike permanent ones, the use of temporary lights does not need to be ratified by the outside community. Temporary lights are also much cheaper than stationary lights. According to Nakabara, the soccer club will rent several kinds of lights before deciding on 40- or 45-foot fixtures. Nakabara, who has been in contact with WCSA President Jeff Sundy for two or three months, hopes to expand the use of the lights to other activities. “I want it to benefit the whole school - not just football,” said Nakabara. These other potential events include soccer games and Leadership activities. A new policy regarding physicals is in effect. These medical examinations, which are needed to participate in team sports, will no longer be offered on campus. Instead, students must go to their own private doctors or to free clinics. One such clinic is the Venice Family Clinic, which offers physical examinations as well as general check-ups. Student Medical Services, in collaboration with the 10th District PTA, also offers sports physicals at the Central PTA. Due to a lack of funding and personnel, the Los Angeles School District has cut back on busing for athletic events. When possible, Nakabara combines teams on buses. The problem persists because many school buses are used between 1:30 and 5:00 p.m. for transportation of students. As a result of this shortage of buses for athletic events, teams must either arrive excessively early to game sites or risk arriving late. LAUSD, which often runs on a tight budget, saves money when athletic teams travel together. ]]> Fri, 24 Feb 2006 22:37:00 GMT