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Updated 1/10/25 at 8:15pm to reflect email of Director requiring birth certificates.

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More drama in the Rockledge High School athletics program has left parents, students, and community members outraged. Rockledge High School has announced the cancellation of both its boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams for the upcoming spring season. The decision, made by Athletic Director Greg Clayborne, has been met with allegations of intentional obstruction and inconsistency in requirements compared to other Brevard County schools. According to one parent, Clayborne handed a letter to a girl wearing her previous Rockledge Lacrosse t-shirt instructing her to find another school to play for.

According to multiple parents and coaches, the cancellation stems from a set of stringent requirements imposed by the athletic director. These include:

1. Each team (boys and girls) must have 20 eligible students on the roster.
2. A copy of each student’s birth certificate must be provided.
3. A copy of each student’s EKG must be provided.
4. Special physicals, separate from those required for other programs, must be completed.

Parents argue that these requirements are unnecessarily burdensome and inconsistent with those of other schools in the district. For example, no other high school lacrosse program in Brevard County reportedly enforces a 20-player minimum to field a team. In fact, many schools allow teams to proceed with fewer players if necessary. To be clear, the boys had 20 students qualify, and the girls had 19, only being one short.

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The practice of requiring the students wishing to play to provide a new copy of their birth certificate is of particular concern given that for each student enrolled at Rockledge, that birth certificate is already on file.

Additionally, requiring students to bring in the actual copy of their EKG/ECG appears to be a violation of patient privacy rights. The district provides a form for the physician to complete regarding the completion of an EKG and their assessment. No where on the form does it require the student to actually bring in the physical record. Also, the form allows parent to opt-out of the EKG requirement all-together.

A parent actively involved in supporting the lacrosse program, stated, “We have more than 19 girls who want to play, yet no one will tell us who or why they are ineligible. It feels like the administration is looking for reasons to cancel this program.”

Another parent expressed frustration over how the situation has been handled, stating, “My son just came home and said Clayborne approached him, giving him a form saying he needs to decide by tomorrow what school he wants to go to in order to play lacrosse. This is not professional at all.”

Another parent whose daughter is a senior at Rockledge, added, “This year we signed 31 players, yet the school claims only 19 are eligible and won’t share the list of who is or isn’t eligible. The entire situation seems highly unusual and unethical.” He noted that the lacrosse team’s minimum player requirement was previously 14 or 15 and questioned why it has been arbitrarily raised to 20 this year. “We’ve gone above and beyond what any other sport has had to do here or at any other school,” he said.

The parents suggest that the cancellation may be influenced by conflicts of interest within the athletic department. Clayborne, who also serves as the head coach for the school’s baseball team, has been accused of prioritizing baseball over lacrosse. Clayborne has been recognized repeatedly as a “legendary baseball coach” in the community. Parents allege that the lacrosse program’s existence could draw players and resources away from the baseball program.

Adding to the controversy, some parents claim that when they sought clarity from Clayborne and other administrators, their inquiries went unanswered. In one instance, students were handed forms instructing them to transfer to other schools if they wished to play lacrosse—a move many found unprofessional and dismissive of the community’s efforts to support the program. The parents have repeatedly reached out to School Board Vice Chair Matt Susin and Chair Gene Trent, as well as the principal of Rockledge and have not received any communication in return.

“Clayborne and the administration’s approach has been completely dismissive. Instead of supporting these kids, they’re being told to find another school. Why is lacrosse being treated differently than other sports” said one mom.

Today, Clayborne provided a lengthy response to one of the parent’s emails. The reasoning provided by Athletic Director Greg Clayborne raises several red flags and appears to support the parents’ concerns of intentional obstruction:

1. Declining Participation Numbers: Clayborne cites declining lacrosse participation over the years and claims the sport’s viability is a county-wide issue. However, with 31 students signing up this year, the program appears to have regained interest. The refusal to disclose who is ineligible raises transparency concerns and supports parental claims of administrative obstruction.
2. 20-Player Minimum Requirement: While Clayborne argues that the 20-player minimum ensures viability, parents highlight that this standard is not enforced at other schools and was previously set at 14 or 15 players. Arbitrarily raising the requirement and refusing to adjust it when the program is close to meeting it suggests an unnecessary and restrictive barrier.
3. Coaching Challenges: Clayborne’s assertion that one coach cannot effectively manage both teams might hold some validity. However, Coach Kiel DiGennaro offered a detailed plan to alternate practices and dedicate time to both teams, indicating a willingness to adapt and save the program.
4. Deadline Extensions: Clayborne emphasizes that the program was given six extensions to meet requirements. Parents argue that these extensions came with unclear communication and rapidly changing demands, such as last-minute deadlines for physical packets, which hindered compliance.
5. Facilitating Transfers: Instead of prioritizing efforts to support the program, the administration has facilitated transfers for students to other schools. This action lends weight to parents’ claims that the administration is intent on eliminating lacrosse at Rockledge.

You can read his email in it’s entirety below.

The lack of transparency, inconsistent standards, and apparent unwillingness to compromise reinforce the parents’ argument that the program has faced deliberate obstacles. While some of the administration’s concerns (like coaching challenges) may hold merit, they do not appear to justify the drastic measures taken, especially compared to the support provided to other sports programs at Rockledge.

Parents and students have expressed frustration over the lack of transparency and support from the administration. The Rockledge High School Parents Facebook group has been flooded with comments criticizing the decision. One parent wrote, “Why didn’t the school put it out there that they needed just one more player? Someone would have stepped up!”

Another parent, questioned the administrative process, stating, “Most schools would try to recruit a player and ask kids to participate in order to keep the sport available for their students. Why isn’t the athletic director and admin supporting the student-athletes?”

Despite the obstacles, parents and community members have rallied to support the lacrosse program. Fundraising efforts over the past year have raised over $10,000 to cover equipment and operational costs. Additionally, Coach Kiel DiGennaro volunteered to coach both the boys’ and girls’ teams to ensure the program’s survival.

In response to the controversy, The Space Coast Rocket reached out to Clayborne and BPS’s District Director of Athletics Kevin Robinson for clarification on the requirements and the decision to cancel the teams. We were directed to contact the Communications Director. As of the time of publication, no response has been received.

This cancellation raises broader questions about how extracurricular programs are managed and supported in public schools. Title IX compliance which is often cited as a reason for stringent requirements is meant to ensure equitable access to sports, not to eliminate opportunities.

The Rockledge High School parents are calling for greater accountability and transparency from its administration. There has been little to no communication from the District or the school regarding the recent firing of two Rockledge High football coaches accused of inappropriate relationships with students. Parents are urging the school board and the Florida High School Athletic Association to intervene and ensure fair treatment of all athletic programs.

It remains to be seen whether the lacrosse program can be salvaged or if Rockledge High’s administration will face further scrutiny over its handling of student athletics.