For the first time ever in the Upper St. Clair School District, students at Upper St. Clair High School and Fort Couch Middle School must pay to play sports.

The first fees are due on Aug. 1.

Administrators broke down the teams into three tiers. The first tier athletes have the highest fees.

2011-12 Tier One Sports

2011-12 Tier Two Sports

2011-12 Tier Three Sports

Because many student athletes play more than one sport, the district created multiple sport limits so families wouldn't have to pay the full fee every season.

Early registration fees may also help your family cut costs. For example, if a female student plays soccer in the fall—which now costs $100—and lacrosse in the spring—which now costs $75—instead of paying the $175 max for the sports, pay one fee of $150 by Aug. 1 and save $25.

Multiple Sport Limits and Early Registration Fees

For families with more than one student athlete at the schools, there is a maximum yearly registration fee of $275 per family.

If families feel they can't afford the registration fees, they are asked to write an email or a letter to Superintendent Patrick O'Toole explaining the situation. Dr. O'Toole's email is potoole@uscsd.k12.pa.us and his address is 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241.

The following table has the due dates for the pay-to-play fees and physicals.

Click here for the athletic registration form. Click here for the physical form.

The district also has a reimbursement policy in place. If the child doesn't make the team after try-outs, the family will be reimbursed. If the child gets injured during the season and can't play anymore, the family can also be reimbursed.

The family will not be reimbursed if the athlete quits during the season.

Payments will not be reimbursed after four weeks from the first day of practice for any circumstance.

The school board approved the athletic registration fees when they voted in favor of the final budget in June.

The board found itself in a financial pinch because Pennsylvania law prohibited the district to raise taxes to .4 mills as they had planned on to pay for the middle school renovation projects. Instead, they were only able to raise taxes by .33 mills. 

In addition to the lost tax revenue, the district took a large cut in government funding, as did all school districts in the state. 

The board said the new athletic registration fees will help offset the cost of the athletic programs, including cost of transportation, equipment and supplies.

District administration has said they will be looking into student clubs having to pay fees as well in the future.