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Due to funding shortages and anticipated tight budgets in years ahead, Frederick County Public Schools may be forced to axe some of their freshmen athletics and swimming programs.

If approved by the Frederick County school board, the cuts would limit the number of students who can participate in football and basketball athletic programs. They may also force some student athletes to look outside the school system if they want to participate in sports such as swimming and diving.

In anticipation of funding shortages, school officials are considering eliminating freshmen athletics, closing the three school-based pools in the system and canceling all swimming and diving programs.

The school system estimates it could save about $118,800 per year from cutting freshmen athletics. The money would come mostly from coaching stipends, transportation costs and fees paid to game officials, Ann Bonitatibus, associate superintendent for secondary schools, said.

School system staff estimated that if schools don't have to hire swimming coaches and lifeguards and eliminate the cost of maintaining the three pools in the county, it could save up to $764,000 per year.

School system officials discussed the cuts last week as two of 40 possible ways to offset anticipated funding shortages with minimal effect on classroom instruction.

If approved, the cuts would go into effect for an indefinite amount of time, said Hal Keller, director of fiscal services.

"They will be in effect until the board finds the money to restore them," Keller said.

For student athletes, these cuts would mean fewer choices of extracurricular programs. Eliminating freshmen athletics would also toughen the competition for spots on junior varsity and varsity athletic teams in basketball and football.

Currently, the school system has three freshmen athletic programs – boys football and boys and girls basketball.

The programs serve students who didn't make the cut for junior varsity or varsity teams in those sports, said Lynn Carr, athletics supervisor.

"They are here to give students a chance to develop and mature in these programs," Carr said. "It allows them to participate against kids of their own age."

Depending on student interest in a given year, each of the nine county high schools can have its own team in each of the three programs. Typically, basketball teams have 12 spots for boys and 12 for girls, while football programs have 30.

Eliminating those programs would mean that these students can play in the basketball and football programs only if they are good enough to make the cut for junior varsity and varsity teams. With more freshmen trying out for that level, tryouts will also become more selective for sophomores, juniors and seniors.

If the change goes into effect however, it should not have a negative impact on student athletes who are hoping for athletic scholarships for college.

"If a student has a potential, they will make it," Carr said.

"My concern would be that students will have less of a chance to participate in these programs," he said. "… Extracurricular activities for students are another healthy way to spend their time after school."

Bonitatibus said in an e-mail that the freshmen athletics teams are developmental programs which is why in tough budget times they may be among the first programs to face cuts.

"As we make difficult decisions with budget reductions, it is important to note that we believe all of our programs for students are important," she wrote, "but we must evaluate and tend to our ‘have to do' lists compared to the ‘nice to do' opportunities we normally provide."

Maryland law requires schools to hire pool operators in addition to lifeguards in order to maintain swimming programs and pools at three county schools – Walkersville, Frederick and Middletown high schools. The school system spends about $87,000 on swimming coaches' salaries and $18,000 for lifeguards.

Pool maintenance is also expensive – the system spends about $10,000 each year for chemicals, $15,000 for water and sewer fees and $18,000 for school equipment.

If officials decide to cut swimming programs, the change would affect about 419 students who participate in swimming and diving programs throughout the county, Keller said.