For two years, Duncan Middle School sixth-graders had athletics. But beginning this school year, that is no longer the case.
“I think it hurts them in the overall development of the athlete as they enter middle school athletics,” Mike Fitts, softball coach, said. “Sixth-grade athletics introduces them to the sport. It will help teach them the fundamentals of the game. Many small schools in our area have sixth-grade athletics for the purpose.”
Recently, the Duncan High School swim team opened its team enrollment to eighth-graders as a way to continue to build its program. Eighth-graders will not be able to compete, but will practice with the rest of the swim team.
Eddie Mullins, the DHS softball batting coach, said he doesn’t see the need for the sixth-grade program.
“It is fair they do not have sports because they have other opportunities outside of the school,” Mullins said, referring to various community leagues outside the school.
By the end of the 2015-16 school year, the middle school administration had made the decision not to continue the sixth-grade athletics program as a way to cut costs.
Drew Wortham, DMS football coach, said many other schools do not have a sixth-grade program and Duncan should be no exception.
“I think its normal,” Wortham said. “They didn’t have sixth-grade sports when I was in middle school, so I think they shouldn’t now. I also think they shouldn’t try out because they could get hurt.”
