School Bans Fans From Basketball Games
District Wants More Info About Who Started Fight
PHILADELPHIA - The Olney High School boys' junior varsity basketball team played Tuesday afternoon with very few fans in the bleachers. It has nothing to do with the team's record of wins or losses.
After chaos erupted during and following a varsity basketball game last week, most fans have been banned from watching the teams in action.
The Philadelphia School District has cracked down on the rules at the high school. They are now not admitting spectators, only allowing parents of players at varsity and JV basketball games for the rest of the season.
The names of parents coming to the games must be put on a list before the game to get in, Fox 29's Sharon Crowley reported.
School officials said they do not want any more trouble, and that's why they took drastic measures.
"They started going back and forth, and then a fight broke out. The basketball coach was hurt, the players were hurt. So our new policy is that there will be no fans at Olney's home or away basketball games during the regular season. There are about 10 games left, six away games and four home games," said the school district's Evelyn Sample-Oates.
She added, "No fans permitted, only parents of the players, and the players have to give a list ahead of time, and the parents and the players all must walk in together."
Some parents think the new rules are too strict, especially as the varsity team keeps winning. Others are happy to see safety measures put in place.
"It's security, you know, so no kids don't get hurt. They come here to play basketball and do a good thing," said parent Fred Frasier.
Despite the dissenters, the school district is holding firm, saying it wants more information about who was responsible for last week's violence before it considers lifting the ban.
I they go to the playoffs, some of the restrictions will likely be lifted, although security will be beefed up during the games.
It unusual but not an unprecedented move by the schools. About four years ago, when there was a high school championship game being played at LaSalle University between Roman Catholic and St. John Neumann, a fight also broke out during that game, and in that case sanctions were issued not just against fans but also against the parents.