Sarasota high school fined after FHSAA probe | Exclusive

Sarasota's Booker High School received a $500 fine and a coaching suspension after an FHSAA investigation found eighth graders participating in spring football practices with high school students. According to the rules, eighth graders cannot participate in practice or have physical contact with high school athletes. The investigation also found incoming Booker freshmen engaging in intrasquad scrimmages and spring practices against high school students, as seen on social media broadcasts.

Booker was placed on administrative probation until May 25, 2027. Former coach Carlos Woods was suspended from coaching the Tornadoes’ fall preseason game, though this has no impact as he was already dismissed mid-July for unspecified reasons. Since Woods' dismissal, 21 players have left Booker's football program, and games against Booker have been cancelled by Venice, Palmetto, and St. John's in Washington D.C.

Manatee also canceled its fall classic game against the Tornadoes. The Sarasota Police Department is investigating Woods criminally after receiving allegations from an outside agency, though the investigation is ongoing and not involving any harm or wrongdoing toward students. Woods denied the allegations on his Facebook page.