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(Des Moines, IA) -- This year, at least three school districts did not field a girls basketball program at all with more opting to play JV-only. At the Iowa State Capitol, legislation is moving which is aimed at preventing that from happening. State Representative Skyler Wheeler (R-Hull) managed the bill in the Iowa House of Representatives.
"From my area, a couple of school districts were unable to field varsity girls basketball teams," Wheeler says. "One of those, just two years ago, was playing down the road in the state semifinals."
He says he's also heard from coaches asking for the legislation. To them, it's about recruitment as much as it is about fielding the teams in the first place.
"I think there's great opportunity there," Wheeler says. "If you can get to these students in eighth grade...you have a better chance of keeping them out throughout the rest of their high school career."
The bill moves on to the Iowa Senate for further consideration.