Granite School District students who want to play football next fall will have to dig deeper into their pockets. The district school board approved a $25-per-participant helmet fee Tuesday night.
The fee will be in addition to the current $35-per-player fee, making a total $60 charge for prospective football heros.Fred Crawford, athletics specialist for the district, told board members the fee is needed to support a systematic program of repairing and replacing helmets. Helmet manufacturers provide a better guarantee to purchasers who agree to regular maintenance, he said.
In addition, the district's liability is reduced if every possible precaution is taken to keep the helmets in good condition.
New helmets cost about $100 each, and refurbishing, which will take place every two years for the first five years after purchase of the helmet and as frequently as necessary thereafter, costs $20 to $25, Crawford said.