Michael A. Fletcher Nov 5, 2026, 08:00 AM ET For young athletes in Florida, a full stomach may depend on their coach's wallet. The recently passed "Teddy Bridgewater Act" offers legal clarity for high school sports, potentially rescuing kids in need.
The law allows head coaches to spend up to $15,000 of their own money, per team, annually on assistance including rehabilitation services, physical therapy, food and transportation. Jay'shawn Mc Cloud, 18, relied on such support during a childhood defined by instability. After his father's incarceration and his mother's struggle to raise five children, Mc Cloud and his mother lived in a cramped extended-stay hotel outside Jacksonville.
Football became his refuge. Middle school coaches provided meals and necessities like socks, while his high school head coach, Jeff Gierke, monitored his grades, intervened with counselors and guided his recruitment. Despite frequent moves — living with teammate Landon Martin's family, an aunt, and eventually returning to the Martins — Mc Cloud remained a standout on the Clay High School Blue Devils.
The coach's support acted as a bridge, keeping Mc Cloud afloat until his relationship with the Martin family stabilized. He is on track to graduate this semester and enroll in college early to study further. The legislation marks a shift from criminalizing goodwill to formally enabling coaches to assist underresourced players.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing