“Save the Van Buren County Girls’ Softball Team!”
“Save the Van Buren County Girls’ Softball Team!”
The Issue
Every year, the girls of Van Buren County Middle School fight just to have a softball season.
We’re asking for your support to help save this program and give these student-athletes the fair chance they deserve.
Our girls work hard. They love this sport. They deserve the opportunity to compete, grow, and represent their school with pride. Unfortunately, the team struggles year after year because no faculty members are willing or available to coach. The school and athletic department currently require that a faculty member either coach the team or serve “on paper” as the head coach — a rule that has left the program barely surviving.
However, TSSAA rules clearly allow for non-faculty coaches as long as they are approved through the school’s normal employment procedures and complete all required certification and registration.
We believe volunteer coaches Cort Gates and Cody Huddleston should be approved under these TSSAA non-faculty coaching guidelines (Section 10, 2025–26 Handbook). Both are ready and willing to complete every requirement to lead the program properly and safely — and both have already shown genuine commitment and passion for helping these girls succeed. We also believe that non-faculty coaches should be allowed for any sports team that struggles to find school faculty members to serve as coaches.
We also support allowing parents to hold school-approved fundraisers and seek local sponsorships to help with equipment, uniforms, and much-needed facility improvements.
Softball is more than just a sport — it teaches confidence, discipline, teamwork, and pride. These girls deserve the same support and opportunities as athletes in any other program at Van Buren County Schools.
We respectfully call on the Van Buren County Board of Education, Superintendent, and Principal to approve these requests and give our girls the support they need to build a stronger, lasting softball program for years to come.
Together, we can make sure these student-athletes have a future on the field.
Please sign and share to show your support.
205
The Issue
Every year, the girls of Van Buren County Middle School fight just to have a softball season.
We’re asking for your support to help save this program and give these student-athletes the fair chance they deserve.
Our girls work hard. They love this sport. They deserve the opportunity to compete, grow, and represent their school with pride. Unfortunately, the team struggles year after year because no faculty members are willing or available to coach. The school and athletic department currently require that a faculty member either coach the team or serve “on paper” as the head coach — a rule that has left the program barely surviving.
However, TSSAA rules clearly allow for non-faculty coaches as long as they are approved through the school’s normal employment procedures and complete all required certification and registration.
We believe volunteer coaches Cort Gates and Cody Huddleston should be approved under these TSSAA non-faculty coaching guidelines (Section 10, 2025–26 Handbook). Both are ready and willing to complete every requirement to lead the program properly and safely — and both have already shown genuine commitment and passion for helping these girls succeed. We also believe that non-faculty coaches should be allowed for any sports team that struggles to find school faculty members to serve as coaches.
We also support allowing parents to hold school-approved fundraisers and seek local sponsorships to help with equipment, uniforms, and much-needed facility improvements.
Softball is more than just a sport — it teaches confidence, discipline, teamwork, and pride. These girls deserve the same support and opportunities as athletes in any other program at Van Buren County Schools.
We respectfully call on the Van Buren County Board of Education, Superintendent, and Principal to approve these requests and give our girls the support they need to build a stronger, lasting softball program for years to come.
Together, we can make sure these student-athletes have a future on the field.
Please sign and share to show your support.
205
Petition created on October 7, 2025