by Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT — Flanked by 11 members of his team, Staples Field Hockey Coach Ian Tapsall made a plea to the Board of Education Monday night for permanent flood lights at Ginny Parker Field.

Tapsall suggested federal American Rescue Plan Act funds be used.

One senior player on his team said it was a matter of equity, with lights available for nighttime play on the football gridiron.

“This would be a huge boost for us coming out of COVID,” she said.

 As coach of the girls team for seven years, Tapsall said the team has won four state championships but is hampered by having to cut practices short when it gets dark early.

He said some games have even had to be cut short because of darkness.

 Ginny Parker, he said, is used almost exclusively by girl teams, but It is also the home field to the lacrosse team.

 In contrast, he said, the football team doesn’t have to worry about the time restrictions for practice or play.

The field hockey team, Tapsall said, often has to rush to practice right after school, and sometimes the town’s youth team — which uses the same field — gets no practice time at all.

He estimates about 190 extra hours of practice could have been secured if only the field had lights.

Board Chair Lee Goldstein said she appreciated the feedback and that the board would take the request into consideration.