Muddy fields, rain-drenched uniforms, and empty stands —by the time fall 2014 rolls around, Urban soccer players will be forced to play under these conditions. Thanks to a decision by the Marin County Athletic League, Urban soccer — both boys and girls — will likely become a winter sport by the 2014-2015 school year.
The MCAL has advocated this change for several years — mostly to accommodate students who play in both school and club leagues. Currently, the club league schedules conflict with high school spring and fall soccer seasons.
MCAL’s decision to move seasons will inevitably impact the Bay Counties League West. Urban will have fewer teams to play against, and club coaches will need to accommodate two high school seasons.
But as Marin moves, so must all the other Bay Area school leagues. And that’s frustrating. Why should we have to follow Marin’s lead instead of continuing with what has worked for us?
Greg Angilly, athletic director at Urban, met with fellow members of the Bay Area Conference on May 8, to discuss next steps. Angilly reported that members did not reach a consensus, besides an agreement to guarantee field space to boys and girls teams if the seasons change.
Although no decisions have been finalized, Blues soccer will likely become a winter sport. From Angilly’s perspective, the long-term benefits outweigh the initial losses: “Participation in softball and track and field will increase,” he predicted, and “Blues soccer will have more opportunity to play higher-caliber teams (such as St. Ignatius College Prepatory and Sacred Heart Cathedral Prepatory).”
“We may even see girls lacrosse become a spring sport,” said Angilly.
But as a dedicated member of the Urban Blues varsity soccer team, I disagree.
What I can imagine is a tough decision between basketball and soccer — two sports that will take place in winter. I imagine no field space. I predict few fans willing to come out to cheer on a team under a raining sky.
What’s worse, students had no voice in the decision-making process. Obviously athletic directors and club coaches will choose what is best for their programs, but not necessarily what is best for their players.
This decision offends me not only as an athlete, but as a student leader. We have disregarded Urban’s philosophy to foster a community that encourages student participation.
Natalie Sears, a talented sophomore who starts on both basketball and soccer teams, fears how this decision will affect team camaraderie: “Either way it’s going to divide people, and people are going to take it offensively and personally. It could be a really big conflict — not just athletically, but personally.”
Kira Waldman, a starting freshman on both basketball and soccer teams, agrees: “It’s going to be cold and rainy so people won’t want to go to soccer games. A lot of people are going to end up going to basketball.”
It’s probably too late to change this decision, but in the future, let students have a voice. Don’t keep students on the sidelines; include us in decisions that will affect our teams and our lives.