People can, and most often do for the younger grades, organize sports through non-governmental clubs and organizations. These groups do not discriminate against participants or use taxpayer funds. However, when students reach a magical age and grade, all of a sudden sports become something the school and taxpayers foot the bill for. It would not be appropriate to lampoon spending on sports without crediting the hard work the participants put in. Boosters and school-sponsored clubs often raise a good deal of money, but they do not raise it all.
Schools still pay the coach and build the stadium or gym.
Proponents also point out that quite often football games raise a lot of money selling tickets at the gate. Though it makes a dent, this does not cover the cost of the stadium. It does, however, prove that football is popular. In all these situations it is theft, and a school election with extremely low voter turnout that takes money to be spent on a sports complex is just a little more organized. If it were a private school where parents and students alone voluntarily paid tuition, the debate would be entirely academic.