Although Old Rochester Regional Junior High’s intramural sports have been popular with students, the teams were delayed this year due to a shortage of coaches, said Principal Kevin Brogioli.

“We like to normally start up before this, but better late than never,” said Brogioli.

The principal said he asked parents, faculty and students to help track down coaches for the fall season.

Word of mouth worked, said Brogioli, who wasn’t sure why coaches were so scarce this year.

Brogioli is already looking for people to coach the winter season, as the fall sports get underway.

The boys and girls cross country teams are already pounding the pavement. The boys and girls soccer teams and girls field hockey started this week, he said.

Keeping the intramural sports going is an important part of the school for several reasons said Brogioli.

“Learning about the sport and getting better at the sport are certainly a plus, but the main focus is participating, exercise and fun,” he said.

Brogioli has found that students in intramural sports tend to be more involved in the school and to do better academically.

For that reason, he has not only lead the charge to find more coaches but Brogioli recently got the Old Rochester Regional School Committee approval to reduce the fees for intramural sports.

Brogioli felt that the previous cost of $75 per sport last year was too expensive.

For $25, a student can play intramural sports all year. Only those who join the traveling teams will have to pay an additional $50.

Brogioli said the reduced fees would still support the cost of the teams.

“Hopefully that will increase participation and benefit families,” said Brogioli.