BROWNSTOWN
Soccer was a success in the fall for about 30 preschoolers and kindergartners.
Brownstown Youth Soccer League’s inaugural session was such a hit that organizers are planning spring and fall seasons this year.
The league is now open for preschoolers through 12-year-olds, and more than 100 kids have signed up to play this spring. Today is the final day to register through the league’s Facebook page, and practices will start April 2.
The league will go from five teams in the fall to at least 16 this spring.
“It has been a huge success, and I expect even more in the fall because we’re competing with softball and youth baseball this spring,” said Dan Blann, vice president of the league.
Blann said he has worked with the baseball and softball leagues in town to ensure the soccer game schedule will allow kids to play multiple sports if they choose to do so.
While the growth in the new league is a positive, Blann said the board has come across a few concerns, which recently were shared with the Jackson County Commissioners.
One is parking for games, which will be played on Saturdays on soccer fields along South County Road 25E between the jail and fairgrounds. The first games will be April 30.
Blann said he doesn’t want people parking along the county road, so he asked for permission to use the grassy area that is used as overflow parking during the fair. Commissioners unanimously voted to let the soccer board use that area.
“Usually, we have two sets of grandparents come to a lot of games, plus the parents, so sometimes, we’ll have three automobiles for every kid,” Blann said. “So you can just imagine the crowd down there.”
Blann said handicap parking will be available, and the board will ensure no vehicles park on the walking trail that runs along the county road.
One other issue involved whether proceeds from concession sales will go into the county general fund or back to the soccer league. Blann was told since the league is its own entity, money raised from concession and T-shirt sales will go toward the league.
Another problem the board faces is a shortage of coaches. Volunteers to coach 8- to 12-year-olds are being sought. Anyone interested may send a message via the league’s Facebook page.
“A lot of kids are geared up for soccer. They play soccer at recess. They love soccer,” Blann said. “But the adults, we don’t know anything about soccer. We didn’t grow up around soccer, so we’re having a really hard time finding coaches.”
Blann said the board’s goal is to join the National Youth Soccer Association, which will provide benefits of cheaper insurance and allow the league to offer online registration.
The board also wants to make the league cost-effective for children, so it has received financial support through corporate sponsorships, which are $50.
“We have figured that for $50, we can pay the cost of T-shirts for a team,” Blann said. “We made everything so much cheaper that we’re getting corporate sponsors easily. Fifty dollars for a corporate sponsor, people don’t hesitate for that.”
The league also has had corporate sponsors pay $100 to sponsor kick walls, which help kids practice kicking.
This spring, the board has raised more than $5,000 on its own. It hopes to buy more goals, balls and other equipment.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”At a glance” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The Brownstown Youth Soccer League formed in the fall of 2015.
Travis Norman is president of the five-member board. Dan Blann is vice president, and Larry Raymer is treasurer.
The first season was for preschoolers and kindergartners and consisted of about 30 kids and five teams.
This year, the league is planning spring and fall seasons, and it’s now open to preschoolers through 12-year-olds. More than 100 kids have signed up for the spring season. Practices start April 2, and the first games are set for April 30. Games will be played on Saturdays on fields along South County Road 25E in Brownstown.
Cost is $45 for one child, $35 for a second child from the same household and $25 for each additional child.
Today is the last day to register to play. Registration forms are available on the Brownstown Youth Soccer League Facebook page.
The league also is searching for volunteers to coach 8- to 12-year-olds. Anyone interested may send a message through the Facebook page.
[sc:pullout-text-end]