Harriton High School’s varsity football season is suspended amid concerns over player safety, ‘sustainability’
A letter to families on Monday maintained that "this decision is not a decision to end football" in the Lower Merion School District.
Harriton High School’s varsity football season has been suspended due to low participation, concerns over player safety, and questions about “the sustainability of maintaining a competitive program,” according to a letter sent to families on Monday.
“We recognize that this is disappointing news for our student-athletes, families, coaches, and the entire football community. We understand the time, effort, commitment, and excitement that goes into preparing for a football season, and we do not make this decision lightly,” the letter, signed by principal Stu Warshawer and athletic director Shawn Albert, read.
The suspension comes at the heels of a monthslong push by parents and players to merge Lower Merion and Harriton’s football programs due to dwindling rosters and growing safety concerns.
The Lower Merion school board in May approved the formation of a cooperative between Lower Merion and Harriton’s football programs for the upcoming school year, however the cooperative is awaiting approval from the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). Under PIAA rules, schools can merge athletic teams under specific conditions, including low participation numbers or “lack of success” in a sport.
Michael Barber, chairman of PIAA District 1, which serves Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware Counties, did not immediately respond to questions about the status of the proposed cooperative.
School officials said in the letter that the cooperative has been requested through the PIAA and that exploring the merger “may help create the participation numbers and competitive structure necessary to build a safer and more sustainable football program for our students.”
While Harriton’s varsity season will be suspended, the district is actively exploring maintaining a junior varsity season, according to the letter.
The letter to families noted that “this decision is not a decision to end football in our district.”
“The district remains committed to providing opportunities for football in the future and to identifying a sustainable path forward for our student-athletes and programs,” it stated.
Harriton’s football team played its first regular season game on Aug. 28, losing to Pottstown 53-0. Harriton was scheduled to play Radnor, its first conference game of the season, on Sept. 3.
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