Editor:

This letter is in regards to recent decisions made by the Casper Midget Football Board of Directors.

With the midget football season winding down I feel you, as a board, have not lived up to your own mission of providing equitable, safe experiences for the participants. On Oct. 1 one of the sixth grade teams was unable to have enough players to field a team, due to illness. The coach notified the board and was told they would look at a date to make up the game. There were no games scheduled for Monday, Oct. 5, but the make-up game was not scheduled. On Tuesday, Oct. 6, the coach was told no one had made a decisions about a make-up date. The open date had already been ignored. The players of this team were denied the opportunity to play this make-up game because the board failed to make a decision.

You continually emphasize the number one priority is the safety of these young players. However, on Friday, Oct. 9, there were two playoff games scheduled to be played at 5:30 p.m. on two different fields. The board decided that both fields couldn't be cleared for the games so both games would be played on one field, one at 5:30 p.m. and one at 7 p.m. At approximately 4 p.m. the aforementioned team was notified they would be playing at 7 instead of 5:30. You stated in your Web site that several board members met and checked the field and deemed it safe to play. The issue was not solely the condition of the field but should have been the weather.

At 4 p.m. the wind chill was 3 degrees and at 7 p.m. the wind chill was 0 degrees. This should have been your main concern. These players would get wet and be susceptible to hypothermia, frost bite, or possible serious injury. Not all players are on the field playing all the time and are more susceptible to cold-related problems.

Yes, the high schools played their games. However, at Harry Geldien Stadium all of the snow was removed, not just the snow on the lines. The schools also supply heavy coats or capes for the players and some foul weather gear.

These two midget football games could have easily been rescheduled for Saturday, Oct. 9 in the afternoon, or next week's schedule could have been moved back one day and still play the championship on Sunday, Oct. 17. Hopefully, no serious injuries occurred as the result of your decision.

BOB BOLLES, Casper