To the Editor:

In 1973, Guilderland resident Charlotte O’Donnell and the group she founded, Encourage Girls’ Organized Sports, took advantage of the newly enacted Title IX Act to fight for an equitable girls’ varsity sports program at Guilderland High School. Their advocacy boosted the budget for girls’ sports from $1,000 to $11,000.

Fifty-two years later, things have improved immensely but we are still fighting for an equitable program for all sports in Guilderland.

The Lady Dutch Varsity Field Hockey program has one paid coach, and no paid assistant coaches. Seven of the nine schools in the Suburban Council have paid assistant coaches. Our goalies, in particular, require special training, which is very difficult to do with only one paid coach.

Our soccer programs, lacrosse programs, and girls’ flag-football program all have paid assistant coaches.

What does our one paid coach do? In addition to managing and training 24 players, she spends game days unlocking the restrooms and the press box, setting up the field, setting up the game clock, training volunteers how to use the game clock, warming up the team, taking shots on the goalies, welcoming the visiting team and their coaches, greeting the game officials, fixing broken equipment, dealing with injuries, and more.

The Guilderland field hockey program has won three of the last seven section titles, and went all the way to states last year. Imagine what we could do with a paid assistant coach.

This is a successful program that is a source of pride for our town and it is absolutely baffling to me that there is no paid assistant coach for our program. Our players and our coach deserve better.

If my neighbors agree, they should voice their support to the Guilderland School District, the Guilderland School Board, and the Guilderland Athletic Program. 

Nancy Cavillones

Member

Lady Dutch Field Hockey

Booster Club

Editor’s note: Nancy Cavillones is the parent of three Guilderland athletes, in 12th, 10th, and 7th grades.