The Tamaqua Area School Board on Tuesday discussed a policy that would allow its sports teams to hold practices and games on Sundays, reflecting current PIAA rules.

The district’s current policy does not allow practices on Sundays, and only allows contests, or games, on Sunday with approval from the superintendent.

The district surveyed its coaches to gauge interest in the possible change and use Sundays for practice or games, Superintendent Ray Kinder said.

Nine out of 13 said they would use the new rule, mainly in cases of schedule changes due to inclement weather, rare Monday games and playoff considerations, he said.

Eight out of those nine coaches said they would use it occasionally, and one said rarely, Kinder told the board during its committee meetings.

Kinder gave the board options, including not changing the policy and keeping the status quo; allow the change under PIAA rules ensuring there is still time off for rest and other activities, and a hybrid policy that would allow Sunday practices and games with the superintendent’s approval under specific conditions.

Director Mark Rother asked if the policy change would help the district’s student athletes compete for state championships.

Seventeen of the 24 boys and girls teams that competed in the PIAA state championship for basketball a few weeks ago were nonpublic schools, he said.

“So our kids are already, for state championships, are not playing,” Rother said. “All we’re doing with this is trying … to at least get some league and district championships.

“If everyone in your league and your district has that, why not give our student athletes the same advantage?” he asked.

Board President Larry Wittig asked Rother if he thought the reason nonpublic schools were dominating that competition was because they play on Sunday.

Sunday play isn’t the only reason, Rother said, explaining that these nonpublic schools are drawing athletes from a larger areas, as they don’t have the boundaries. He also guaranteed that they are playing on Sundays in addition to that advantage.

Kinder asked if he was saying that nothing the board did with policy was going to help the district compete for state championships.

“Every public school is at a disadvantage,” Rother said. “These charter schools and the Catholic schools have no boundaries. They could go out and get kids wherever they want. The PIAA knows about this.

“You got a feckless PIAA that can’t fix a problem,” he said. “They don’t’ have a desire to fix it.”

Other districts in the Schuylkill League allow Sunday practices and games, Rother said, and many parents and coaches don’t understand why Tamaqua Area students aren’t given the same advantage.

Director Daniel Schoener asked what the PIAA rule is now, and Kinder said that there must be one day of rest for every six days of practice or play, or basically, you can’t play or practice seven days in a row.

Assistant Superintendent Stephen Toth pointed out that many leagues moved the start of their game days to Mondays and the current policy would prevent teams from having a practice or walk through before.

Wittig wasn’t in favor of the policy change, saying that there has to be a day for families, where nothing happens. He didn’t think coaches should be so wrapped up in the team to take that day away from families, and Sunday is the logical choice for that day of rest.

Rother pointed out that families are participating in numerous different sporting events for their younger children on Sundays now, and asked how that is different.

“Choice,” Wittig replied.

The board discussed other concerns, including not allowing any Sunday morning practices and games, and making these activities optional, so that nonparticipation wouldn’t be held against the student.

The administration plans to have a policy addressing these concerns ready for the board to review next month.