Florida signs 'Teddy Bridgewater Act' into law, allowing HS coaches to pay for certain things
Yahoo • • sports
Key Points:
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the "Teddy Bridgewater Act," allowing high school coaches to use personal funds to support players with expenses like food, transportation, and therapy, with strict spending limits and reporting requirements.
- The law was inspired by NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who was suspended after personally paying for some players' needs, highlighting the previous restrictions that penalized coaches for such support.
- The Act limits spending to $15,000 per team annually, applies only to head coaches, prohibits use for recruiting, and mandates full financial reporting to a state agency.
- DeSantis also signed a separate bill permitting school boards to increase coaches' salaries using voluntary donations and booster club revenues, with pay capped at the highest district administrator's salary.
- The salary bill aims to address low coaching stipends in Florida compared to neighboring states, offering validation and potential financial improvement for undervalued high school coaches.