Stop Endangering Student Athletes

Petition addressed to: Tooele County School Board

Petition to the Tooele County School Board to Stop Endangering Student Athletes

Subject: Urgent Request for Safety Mitigation: Stansbury High School Tennis/Baseball Interface

I. Statement of Purpose
We, the undersigned coaches, parents, student-athletes, and concerned community members, formally petition the Tooele County School Board to rectify a persistent and dangerous safety hazard at Stansbury High School. The current proximity and orientation of the baseball field to the tennis courts have created a high-risk environment wherein foul balls frequently enter the tennis playing area at high velocities.

II. The Current Hazard
The tennis courts are situated at a right angle to the first-base line of the baseball field. This layout results in:

• Frequent Incursions: Multiple foul balls land within the tennis courts every week.
• Recent Escalation: On Friday, April 10, 2026, during a single baseball practice, over 20 baseballs landed within the tennis courts.
• Vulnerability: Unlike baseball players, tennis players do not wear helmets. They are focused on their own sport and cannot reasonably be expected to monitor the baseball field for incoming projectiles while competing.

III. Medical and Liability Risk
While reported injuries have thus far been limited to bruises and welts, the potential for a catastrophic event is undeniable. A baseball strike to the head can result in:

• Grade 3 Concussions
• Skull Fractures
• Intracranial Hemorrhage (Brain Bleed)

The district is now on formal notice of this specific hazard. Failure to act on a known, recurring danger significantly increases the district's liability in the event of a traumatic injury.

IV. Alignment with District Values
The Tooele County School District has repeatedly stated its commitment to providing “high-quality and well-maintained facilities." The district has even recently prioritized the irrigation of fields during drought conditions to prevent injuries from hard ground. We argue that the risk of a high-velocity baseball impact is a far more critical safety threat than dry turf and deserves commensurate attention and action. Relying on luck to avoid a traumatic brain injury is not a safety strategy.

V. Proposed Solutions
We expect a permanent structural or logistical solution that does not involve "partial use" of facilities. Restricting baseball players to 2/3 of their field or tennis players to 2/3 of their courts is unacceptable and hinders athletic development. We request the board investigate:

1. Installation of high-rise safety netting along the first-base line.
2. Raising the existing perimeter fencing to a height sufficient to intercept foul balls.
3. Relocation of either the courts or the field as a long-term infrastructure project.

VI. Deadline for Action
This issue has been raised with SHS coaches, the Athletic Director, and school administration for several years with no resolution. We expect a mitigation plan to be approved and installed prior to the start of the Girls' Tennis season in August 2026.

Every student-athlete deserves to focus on their game without fearing for their physical safety.