In many schools including ours in Mason, OH, potentially excellent young athletes are being denied opportunities due to unfair selection criteria in sports tryouts. It is deeply personal to me as I have witnessed over 200 athlete swimmers, a part of this community, unjustly dismissed from our Mason team. Forms were provided to parents indicating a timed tryout however they weren’t timed. In fact, were influenced by a highly subjective evaluation of their endurance. It must be remembered that these teams, including the Manta Rays, are platforms for kids to grow, become competitive, and enhance their skills. Unfortunately, the current unfairness in tryouts is hindering this growth.

By introducing a more objective measure in the selection process, we can eliminate the prevailing coach bias, unjust criteria, and parent interference. This can pave the way for a system that accurately reflects ability and potential, thereby providing fair opportunities for young athletes. Furthermore, by eliminating subjective measures, we can uphold the integrity of the selection process, fostering a more competitive, inclusive, and fair sports culture.

It is our collective responsibility as a community to ensure that every child, regardless of personal connections or any other irrelevant factors, gets an equal shot at proving their mettle. A system like this not only creates a stronger and more dynamic team but also instills values of fairness and meritocracy in our children, lessons far more valuable than any sport could teach them.

Let's stand together for our children, for their fair chance to excel, and for the true spirit of sportsmanship. Sign this petition to make a difference in creating a fair tryout process in our school sports system.