AMHERST - When the fall high school sports season begins next week, Amherst Regional High School team schedules will be changed to improve gender equity.

The United States Department of Education's Civil Rights Division opened an investigation into whether the school failed to provide equal treatment to girls' athletic programs.

A complaint filed in October by Amherst resident Craig Goff led to the investigation. The school district decided to resolve the issue this May, although the resolution is not an admission of discriminatory activity.

Four changes the school will implement include providing an equal percentage of prime-time games for girls programs; an equal percentage of night games under the lights; a full schedule for girls soccer, tennis and volleyball; and equal access to more convenient practice times if the boys and girls programs share a facility.

"We were surprised at first, but looked forward to the review of our program," said Amherst athletic director Karen Keough-Huff. "We have faced tremendous budget cuts over the last four years in athletics. One of our strategies to make ends meet was to reduce the number of competitive events for most teams. This would allow us to keep all of our sports.

"We did this wherever possible and in an equitable manner," she said. "I am certain that we will continue to provide equal opportunity for our male and female students who participate in our athletic program."

Goff had been vocal since his daughter played varsity soccer a decade ago about what he said were scheduling inequalities.

"It's a long story, but basically I looked at the schedule and the girls played games during non-prime time, after school was out," Goff said. "My daughter played soccer at Amherst about 10 years ago, and it was the same issue then. Both the boys and girls soccer played after school, while football played at night."

Goff said day games make it hard for parents who work to come out and watch.

"It's hard to get the support of the community playing right after school, and I couldn't believe it was still happening, especially after they installed a second field and were given funding to install lights so they could play in prime time," he said.

The girls soccer team will play three night home games this season, with the rest of their home contests at 4 p.m.

"Title IX has great intentions, but it's poorly executed in some ways," said girls soccer and tennis coach C.J. Holt. "It's like every other high school, we try to get them the best schedules possible, but it's hard with all else that's going on.

"It's logical that the working parent can't always get out, but you can only have a certain amount of night games," Holt said.

After trying to talk to the school directly about the matter, Goff finally decided to approach the subject. Keough-Huff said Goff never contacted her, but instead communicated with the school's Title IX coordinator.

"I got a couple calls from staffers that investigate Title IX rights and they say that whatever the boys get, the girls should get," Goff said. "They investigated the complaint, and it took a long time. Amherst Regional must compare the percentages of prime-time games of boys to girls. In the next school year they have to schedule an equal number for each."

"It occurred to me a while ago that Amherst wasn't doing this, as I happened to notice that girls played during the day even though they had lights, which is patently unfair. The crux of the issue is that parents can't get out to see games during the day."

The girls soccer team will play a full 20-game schedule this season.

"Speaking for the girls varsity soccer program, we've wanted to get more games," said Holt. "Our program is rebuilding and we have a tough, unforgiving schedule. I'd like to have the right to skip 18 games to get more competitive games that give the girls confidence. I've been told it's financial, but it depends on the program."

"I'm pleased with the decision," said Goff. "The department is already reporting to the school, and they've agreed to comply with the schedule and practice times. They have to do one or the other: don't play boys during prime-time or play the girls during prime-time.

"It took a long time, and I don't know who was involved with the negotiations with the town, but it was signed off by the superintendent and the athletic director," Goff said.

Michael Wilkinson can be reached at mwilkinson@gazettenet.com.