To give families a day to rest and spend time together, West Middlesex Area school directors voted Monday to ban Sunday practices for athletics and extracurricular activities.

Director Walter Gelesky said the athletic committee decided to ban Sunday practices with certain exceptions such as state playoffs or Monday games. Any coach or director who wants to practice on a Sunday must get permission from the high school principal and the athletic director.

Superintendent Al Jones suggested the ban be extended to all extracurricular activities.

"Sunday is a family day," Director Warden Burger said. He said Sunday practices have been an issue in the past and the new policy is "probably overdue."

Pastor and parent Joe Marzano also asked directors to consider eliminating Sunday practices. He said it's nice for families to have one day together without other commitments.

Jones said athletics currently follow the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association's rule that teams can practice only six days a week. Directors are just requiring the one day off to be Sunday.

030509