BURRILLVILLE – A new team will join the lineup of spring sports offered at Burrillville High School in 2019 with the school’s first boys’ volleyball team set to join Rhode Island Interscholastic League’s division 3.
Whaley said several boys have expressed interest in starting a program during the last few years. The school’s well-established girls volleyball team finished their season in November with a solid 18-2 record in Division 2, losing to Lincoln in the semifinals.
The high school completed a programming analysis last year as part of Title IX – a law aimed at preventing discrimination in educational institutions – and administrators discovered that the school was actually underrepresented in boys’ athletics.
“This coupled with strong interest prompted us to (put) in for funding, which we received in this year’s budget,” said Whaley.
The team, which will hold signups at the end of February, is expected to cost around $10,000 in the first year, and roughly $6,500 to maintain in future years.
“Program costs are coaching salaries, uniforms, transportation and equipment,” said Whaley. “The initial cost is a bit more primarily due to uniforms. We have most of the equipment from the girls season so we don’t have to purchase nets and posts.”
Whaley said some 15 to 20 boys have indicated that they intend to sign up.
Coaching positions for the new team are currently posted and Athletic Director John Abbatte is reviewing the applicants.
