The CIAC Boys and Girls Golf Committee has received a request from the Connecticut Section Professional Golf Association to consider moving boys' golf to the fall and for girls' golf to remain in the spring. The request is based upon course availability for high school play.
The committee is seeking input from principals, athletic directors and coaches on this request prior to making any decision on a change of season. The last survey conducted during the 2009-10 school year on this issue did not support a change of season.
The following general information and a listing of some pros and cons will assist you in responding to the brief survey questions at the end of this page. Please take the time to review the information and a separate survey should be completed by the principal, athletic director, and coach. The survey must be completed online by Friday, June 12, 2015. The committee thanks you in advance for completing this survey.
General Information
- States offering boys golf in the fall and girls in the spring: 5
- States offering girls golf in the fall and boys in the spring: 10
- States offering boys and girls in the fall: 12
- States offering boys and girls in the spring: 17
- States offering both boys and girls in the fall and spring: 3
- States offering both boys and girls golf in the winter: 1
- States offering boys golf in the fall and spring: 2
- State associations not offering golf: 2
Region I States - NY, NJ, CT, RI, MA, ME, NH, VT
- Three offer boys golf in the fall (MA, ME, NH) and five in the spring (NY, NJ, CT, RI, VT)
- Two offer girls golf in the fall (ME, NH) and six in the spring (NY, NJ, CT, RI, MA, VT)
In 2014-15 a total of 2,408 Connecticut athletes participated in golf (1,866 boys and 542 girls).
A total of 684 golfers participated in a fall sport (28%) - 440 boys (23%) and 244 girls (45%).
- Boys Cross Country: 86
- Boys Soccer: 233
- Football: 121
- Girls Cross Country: 16
- Girls Soccer: 72
- Girls Field Hockey: 52
- Girls Swimming: 41
- Girls Volleyball: 63
Number of boys/girls sports offered in fall/spring at present:
- Boys - Fall - 3 Boys - Spring - 6
- Girls - Fall - 5 Girls - Spring - 5
Number of boys/girls sports offered in fall if boys' golf moved to the fall:
- Boys - Fall - 4 Boys - Spring - 5
- Girls - Fall - 5 Girls - Spring - 5
Pros and Cons of Moving Golf from the Fall to the Spring
(Note: The listing is not meant to be inclusive)
Pros
- Moving boys' golf to the fall increases athletic opportunities for boys from three sports to four sports.
- Moving boys' golf to the fall opens up sport options for athletes in the spring.
- Leaving girls golf in the spring allows for better balance in girls' sports with six options in the fall and four options in the spring.
- Splitting boys and girls golf creates less course availability conflicts with public play for both boys and girls.
- Weather and course conditions are generally better in September than April. However, course conditions, weather and daylight decreases in the fall season, but all improve during the spring season.
Cons
- Moving boys' golf to the fall displaces 440 male athletes who participate in a fall sport.
- Moving boys golf to the fall could increase costs for schools if both boys and girls golf are not held in the same season.
- Moving boys' golf to the fall would create some problems for golf coaches who coach a fall sport.
- Moving only boys' golf to the fall could create an equity issue if the reason for change focuses on playing conditions in the fall and golfers being better prepared because they are playing all summer.
Note: If the Golf Committee does recommend a change of season for boys and it is approved by the CIAC Board of Control, implementation could be delayed for two or three years to allow those athletes who participate in a fall sport to complete their program and to give advanced notice to other potential athletes.
Please complete the survey questions below:
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