Attire: T-shirts only

By: Amelia Baines
The Rams Horn
Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Student athletes participating in all after school sports are being encouraged to wear a Randallstown athletic T-shirt to practice every day.

This recommendation comes from Mr. Gelman, RHS athletic director, who also makes it clear that this is not an established rule or policy but a recommendation.

Mr. Gelman thinks the recommendation will help differentiate RHS athletic students from people just loitering in the building.

"Safety was a big reason in my decision to implement this," Mr. Gelman said.

School policy does state that students participating in all after school activities are required to be with a teacher, staff member, or a coach.

"My goal is to have the players look like a team," says Mr. Gelman. The recommendation was also put into place to create a safe and orderly environment for students after school. Last school year, there were a number of vending machines and other school property vandalized.

"What happened to the vending machines was terrible," said Officer Sutton, RHS school resource police officer. "Things like this give student athletes a bad rep; it is so easy to blame them because they are the most vulnerable." Officer Sutton says while the people involved in vandalizing the machines have not been found, there is an ongoing investigation.

"This will cut down on the unneeded traffic and the stragglers after school," says Ms. Keith, head volleyball coach.

The T-shirt sales will also serve as a fundraiser for the athletic department and the teams.

Half the proceeds will go back to the team to be used for team activities. The rest of the money will be deposited in the athletic department fund. "I will use the money to support the teams and get the seasons going with what ever supplies they need" says Mr. Gelman.

"I think this is a good way to raise money for the teams, because I know the volleyball team is in major need of a new net. I don’t like the fact they expect us to wear these shirts to practice every day; that’s a little unnecessary," said Nicole Ryan sophomore volleyball player.

This new recommendation will not stop after the fall sports season, Mr. Gelman has asked the wrestling and basketball teams to wear T-shirts to practices as well.