In lacrosse, players streak across the field, tossing and catching a ball with something that looks like a baseball mitt on a stick. That, and the fact Jim Brown played in college, sums up my knowledge.
Rachel Sackett, a 15-year-old sophomore, schooled me.
“It is similar to soccer,” she said, “which I had played for a very long time. The object of the game is to get the ball in the goal. Each team can score, like, 12 times. It’s a very fast-paced game.”
You may have heard of the Rachel Sackett Act. It would allow charter and public school students to partake in extracurricular activities at each others’ schools. Wednesday, the state Senate passed the bill and similar House legislation is pending.
Rachel had been playing lacrosse at Mill Creek High in Hoschton, but transferred to the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology, a county charter school. It doesn’t offer sports.
This season, Mill Creek upgraded its lacrosse program from a club program to one that competes in the Georgia High School Athletics Association. GHSAA rules require students to attend the school they play for, no exceptions.
So Rachel couldn’t play this season for Mill Creek, her district school.
She learned from her coaches that, last year, this same issue had formed the basis of a proposed bill that didn’t get traction. Her father, Dave Sackett, contacted Sen. Renee Unterman, a Buford Republican, about the situation and one thing led to another. On Feb. 16, Rachel testified before the Senate Education and Youth Committee.
“It was nerve-racking,” she told me. “I was praying that enough people would hit the green button.”
The measure passed 6-1 in committee and just this Wednesday SB 34 — sponsored by Unterman and Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, a Republican from Woodstock, claimed another plum. The state Senate approved it.
Naturally pleased, Rachel flinches at the fact the proposed bill bears her name.
“I thought it was a little much,” she said. “I try to be as modest as I can, and I didn’t bring any attention to myself,” she said. “But they can call it whatever they like.”
The bill, which covers charter, virtual and magnet school students, has limitations: The activity has to be something not offered at their school, and principals may turn down a student for appropriate reasons.
As expected, reservations exist and concerns have been expressed: That you ought to be a student at the school to play there. That a student may be an imposition to the receiving school and cause other unforeseen consequences.
But how trying could such an arrangement truly be? Most of the charter athletes will probably be like Rachel, a smart student who plays high attacker.
“I am still a public school student, so I don’t see why I should be denied the opportunity to play for a high school team whose district I am in,” she said.
“I know other students in my same situation who would love to have the opportunity.”
Let ’em play.
Rick Badie, an Opinion columnist, is based in Gwinnett. Reach him at rbadie@ajc.com or 770-263-3875.
About the Author
