VHSL Responds to Crew Parents

Local parents, crew team members and coaches are concerned about a move in December by the Virgnia High School League to remove crew from its list of sports.

Crew participants and fans brought up concerns that the funding and other support VHSL provides could be taken away from the sport and stunt its growth.

Patch published an initial article about the change and local parents' efforts to get VHSL to reverse its the decision Tuesday morning.

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In an initial statement to Patch, Virginia High School League's Tom Dolan, assistant director, wrote: "To my knowledge we have not eliminated any sports/activities. We did however remove from the membership form two sports that we do not currently recognize in our handbook. The decision to remove crew from this form is being reconsidered at our Executive Committee meeting tomorrow morning."

In a follow-up statement addressing Patch's request for clarification on what removal from the form means, Dolan said: "It was not a recognized sport in the VHSL handbook and it was not a sport that culminated in a VHSL state championship so it was removed. Concerns raised by the removal  include event sanctioning and insurance. Those concerns are the reason it is being reconsidered tomorrow."

VHSL runs most league, regional and state tournaments for many sports, including basketball, football and other sports at schools across the state. Crew's championships are run by the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Assocition.

VHSL's executive leadership team is set to meet Wednesday in Richmond to render a final decision on crew's inclusion. VASRA President John White said he intends to be there.

Patch will have more information on the issue later this week.