The state's Department of Education announced on its Web site yesterday that public school athletic events will not be affected by the recently announced teacher furlough days (see story, Page A1).

However, DOE officials acknowledged that things still could change pending the outcome of contract talks between the state and the Hawai'i Government Employees Association and United Public Workers.

Campus sporting events often require a school administrator — such as a principal, vice principal or athletic director — to be present as site manager. Also, athletic trainers are recommended at most events for safety reasons.

School administrators and athletic trainers belong to HGEA. Custodians belong to UPW.

If both unions agree to the designated Friday furlough days, their members could be instructed not to show up for campus events.

"We do need people like (administrators) and trainers at the games," said Bill Arakaki, the DOE's Kaua'i Complex area superintendent and liaison for athletics. "We still don't know what decision (the HGEA and UPW) will make and what impact it will have. There's still different scenarios, and we cannot predict what will happen."

Farrington athletic director Harold Tanaka, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's football coordinator, said he would not want a football game to be played without trainers present.

"I wouldn't feel good about it," Tanaka said.

According to the contract ratified Tuesday by the Hawai'i State Teachers Association, the first furlough day is Oct. 23.

There will be no classes held that day, but the DOE said athletic practices and games will be allowed as long as they are held after 3 p.m.

The OIA has scheduled four Red Conference (Division I) football quarterfinal games at school sites that night, along with two White Conference semifinals, also at school sites.

The OIA already has booked Aloha Stadium on the second designated furlough day, Oct. 30, for its Red Conference football semifinals.

That also is the same night as the girls volleyball state semifinals for Division I and DII, held at school sites. In the past, public school sites such as McKinley, Farrington, Kaimuki, Moanalua and Radford have been used.

Consolation matches also will be played that day, some probably before 3 p.m.

The finals of the bowling state championships also are scheduled for that morning.

But Arakaki said DOE superintendent Pat Hamamoto agreed to a provision yesterday allowing coaches who are teachers to participate in preseason and state tournament games that start before 3 p.m., since they would be acting in their capacity as a coach and not a teacher.

The OIA has booked Aloha Stadium for its Red and White Conference football championship games on Nov. 6 — the third scheduled furlough day.

Tanaka said the trainers are important not just for their presence during the game in case of injury, but also before the game (for taping ankles, etc.) and after the game (for treatment, icing).

"It's very highly recommended we have trainers there for football," Tanaka said. "We just have to wait and see ..."

FOOTBALL

'IOLANI-PUNAHOU GAME TO AIR LIVE ON INTERNET

Tomorrow's Interscholastic League of Honolulu football showdown between Punahou and 'Iolani — the defending Division I and DII state champions — will be broadcast live at www.hawaiidigitalsports.com and on www.espn1420am.com

The game is scheduled to start at 3:15 p.m. at 'Iolani's Eddie Hamada Field.

Punahou (2-3, 2-1 ILH) is ranked No. 6 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media; No. 9 'Iolani is 5-1, 3-0.

BASEBALL

CLINIC TEACHES HOW TO BUILD PITCHING MOUND

Moanalua High School will host a free clinic on Oct. 3 to teach coaches/parents how to properly build a pitching mound.

The clinic, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be hosted by Moanalua, B Hayman CO Hawai'i Limited and Hawai'i Winter Baseball.

It is open to the first 25 people who call the Moanalua athletic department at 837-8066 and leave their name, phone number and organization.

CHEERLEADING

RADFORD GRADUATE GETS SCHOLARSHIP

Radford graduate Marrissa Kaili-Frank has been awarded the $1,000 scholarship from Cheer808 Inc., a local non-profit cheerleading organization.

Kaili-Frank, a member of the two-time Hawai'i High School Athletic Association championship team while at Radford, is one of only six new athletes to make the Oregon State University team out of more than 100 applicants.

Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com