I have read the article in the Highline Times and would like to reflect my opinions on what will help sports succeed in our schools.

There are several ways to increase sports in our schools, but it will take the effort of the parents, community, teachers, principals and all athletic directors.

First we need an increased awareness of the major sports that are played at varsity level in the elementary schools. P. E. teachers need to teach the basic knowledge of football, soccer, tennis, baseball and volleyball. Our elementary schools can partner with Little Leagues, football and the soccer programs that are also beginning to fade in the Seamount areas. If we welcome these community programs into our schools and fields it will begin to show an alliance between the two.

We also need to focus on our field conditions and what we have allowed to happen over the years. Bow Lake used to have two baseball fields with an all-dirt infield. Now, it is covered in grass with a backstop that is of no use to baseball or softball. Middle schools need to add wrestling, tennis and baseball to the sports they play to help compete when they go to high school.

Tyee and the SeaTac parks department need to partner soon to help save our baseball program. Our fields are in terrible conditions. Kids want to play when the fields are beautiful. Dugouts should be covered. Parents want adequate sitting areas and benches.

We have not maintained our schools' athletic equipment and fields appropriately.

It also does not help when the schools are not equally divided by size and ability. Evergreen, Renton, Tyee and Foster should be Seamount A, and Lindbergh, Mt. Rainier, Highline and Hazen should be Seamount B because of the sizing of the schools.

Players from lower attendance schools choose not to compete because of the constant teasing and embarrassment of losing to larger schools by very large numbers.

Tyee rarely even gets to see districts for many of their sports. Football has seen very few wins; basketball and baseball, the same.

Evergreen's baseball team will be lucky to field a team next year with only one win this year and with scores in baseball of 30 to 0, that is not the fault of the team but a difference in attendance and amount of players that turn out.

Then, lastly, we need to look at decreased parent involvement. There is many ways parents can help a sport or a program, but they feel it is only the schools' problem.

Linda Elmore

SeaTac