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June 15, 1999
Park panel debatesspace for soccerLack of facilities may jeopardize growth ofbudding soccer programBy KREMENA TODOROVA Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM - The lack of soccer facilities may jeopardize the growth of New Ulm's young but fast-expanding youth soccer program, New Ulm Youth Soccer Association President David Wright told the city Park Commission Monday. Wright called on city officials to begin a search for "real" field space and consider "independent sites" - other than baseball outfields - to accommodate the growth of the sport. "Without space, we don't have a program," Wright said. "I'd hate to reach a point where we have to turn kids down because we are too full." The New Ulm Area Youth Soccer Association was set up in March 1998, starting with 55 kids and three teams. In less than a year, participation has doubled to over 100 players in six divisions, under-6, under-8 (two teams), under-10, under-12, under-14 and under-16. The group now uses five fields, with two sets of permanent nets, "graciously" provided by Martin Luther College, said Wright. One field is shared by two teams. "This is adequate, if the program does not grow," he said. But NUAYSA expects to expand to 150-200 participants in 2000 and around 350 by 2001, said Wright, who quotes the example of a similar-sized community, Fairmont. "The Fairmont Soccer Association has approximately 600 youth in their spring and fall programs, and has been operating for only a few years," he said. "It is our belief that the trend of expansion in New Ulm will continue at roughly at the same rate as Fairmont." "I can foresee a mushroom effect," City Park and Recreation Director David Bechtold said. "It's very competitive in the area - it's huge." MLC facilities are used because no other are available in town, Wright also said. Field usage is "time-limited" because MLC needs the fields for its own program in the fall. This puts the youth program and players' skills development "at a disadvantage" compared to other "soccer towns." "We'd like to offer a fall league, September through October," Wright says. The program now runs April 26 through June 26. With adequate facilities, New Ulm can be the "logical and logistical site" of regional competition and tournaments, said Wright. "From here, it could spread all over the place." He also pointed to possible funding sources "down the road", such as a "Mighty Kicks" Initiative Grant and United States Soccer Federation development grants. The city's options to accommodate these needs are restricted, park officials said. A dual-use football/soccer field is under construction in Harman Park. Another possibility involves cooperation with area parochial schools; yet another, unfinalized design, would have a much publicized baseball complex at the former American Artstone accommodate a soccer field as well. While city officials generally advocate multi-purpose facilities, baseball infields are inappropriate for soccer, said Bechtold. Outfields can be used by younger players, but are too small for players 10 and older. These divisions require a regulation-size field - which measures 120 by 80 yards, or somewhat larger than a football field. Bechtold says football fields such as Johnson Park can partially accommodate soccer games. But they are already heavily used by schools, and would not be available in the fall. The NUAYSA program parallels a non-competitive, recreation-oriented program run by the city Park and Recreation Department. But unlike the latter, it seeks to teach fundamentals of the game, such as skills and tactics, and employs licensed coaches. The NUAYSA is affiliated with the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association, the state affiliate of U.S. Youth Soccer. The latter is the youth component of the U.S. Soccer Federation.
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