[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

This is actually no a good idea for kids who are really into soccer. Reasoning for me saying this is because of Club soccer and ODP. Both of which run during the spring season and runs through the summer. This is how soccer players really develope as players also on top of that you have rec. soccer. If you place soccer as strictly a spring sport you are taking this advantage away from the kids. For those of you who do not know what ODP is it is the Olympic Development Program. Those kids train in their respective states, compete on a national level and earn oppurtunites to play for the US youth programs in the youth world cups...And to answer a question many of you will ask yes some kids around here have played ODP soccer. So no this would not work and will never happen. I agree though it would help football programs, but would really hender the development of soccer.

[Hotshot]

Here in Lawrence County the youth soccer is played both fall and spring. Its killing our youth softball and baseball! 3 years ago we had only fall soccer and at that time we had seven 9-12 year old softball teams. Now we have 2! The liitle leauge baseball numbers have reduced by more than 50%. Why should a kid have to be torn on what sport they want to play because some idiot said "hey lets play spring soccer"? Baseball and softball is America's favorite past time and shouldn't be interfered by anything else. Some of the best time of my life have happened on the baseball diamond, not only as a kid but as a Dad and coach.

[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

Here in Lawrence County the youth soccer is played both fall and spring. Its killing our youth softball and baseball! 3 years ago we had only fall soccer and at that time we had seven 9-12 year old softball teams. Now we have 2! The liitle leauge baseball numbers have reduced by more than 50%. Why should a kid have to be torn on what sport they want to play because some idiot said "hey lets play spring soccer"? Baseball and softball is America's favorite past time and shouldn't be interfered by anything else. Some of the best time of my life have happened on the baseball diamond, not only as a kid but as a Dad and coach.

alright congradulations you had some of your best times on a diamond guess what my best times and some of my friends best times came on a soccer field...You said it exactly PAST time baseball is just that something that is not that big of a deal anymore...Soccer is the new past time as stated by many sports anaylists coaches and professionals in many sports...Apparently kids soccer more than baseball and softball in your area why should YOU be the reason they are stripped of that...

[Hotshot]

alright congradulations you had some of your best times on a diamond guess what my best times and some of my friends best times came on a soccer field...You said it exactly PAST time baseball is just that something that is not that big of a deal anymore...Soccer is the new past time as stated by many sports anaylists coaches and professionals in many sports...Apparently kids soccer more than baseball and softball in your area why should YOU be the reason they are stripped of that...

First of all I think that any kid should have the privilege to do what ever they want. It may be marching band, tennis, academic team, rotc, dirt analyzation...it doesn't matter. I think it's great they have the opportunities to do that. Soccer to me fits in a catagory of a non-skilled sport. It may involve more stamina than baseball, softball, or football, but how many hits could a soccer player take from a 250 lb linebacker, or how many 90 mph fastballs could they hit, or how many hot shots at 3rd could they field? I just think these sports are played with kids at a greater talent level and the rest play soccer!

[OrangenowBlue]

First of all I think that any kid should have the privilege to do what ever they want. It may be marching band, tennis, academic team, rotc, dirt analyzation...it doesn't matter. I think it's great they have the opportunities to do that. Soccer to me fits in a catagory of a non-skilled sport. It may involve more stamina than baseball, softball, or football, but how many hits could a soccer player take from a 250 lb linebacker, or how many 90 mph fastballs could they hit, or how many hot shots at 3rd could they field? I just think these sports are played with kids at a greater talent level and the rest play soccer!

If this is true, why are all the football fans wanting a change. I am not a Soccer fan. It actually bores me to death to watch it sometimes but it is ludicrous to say it is a non-skilled sport. Everyone on the field has to work and it can get physical. Some people believe baseball is like working for the state highway department. Two people working while seven are standing around and watching.

[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

First of all I think that any kid should have the privilege to do what ever they want. It may be marching band, tennis, academic team, rotc, dirt analyzation...it doesn't matter. I think it's great they have the opportunities to do that. Soccer to me fits in a catagory of a non-skilled sport. It may involve more stamina than baseball, softball, or football, but how many hits could a soccer player take from a 250 lb linebacker, or how many 90 mph fastballs could they hit, or how many hot shots at 3rd could they field? I just think these sports are played with kids at a greater talent level and the rest play soccer!

WOW...Ok you know I have played every sport imaginable, player basketball up untill my JR year of high school from the time I had been very young played alot of AAU ball as well traveling, played baseball on the all star teams up untill I got bored with it once I would have hit the senior league level, played football for some time, many of the kids I played high school soccer with had once played football but enjoyed soccer more. I really don't think you realize at how physical soccer players can be or at how strong they are either. I can tell you right now to say its not skilled obviously shows that you have no knowledge of the sport so really you have no facts to support anything you just said. Honestly man you are just an angry parent who lost some talented baseball players to soccer and that about sums this whole issue up. Oh and another thing just so everyone knows at Cumberland in intermural basketball our soccer team won the division going undefeated against oh yeah FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND BASEBALL PLAYERS...not to mention we also won the flag football intermural as well but your right soccer players are not very skilled and unatheltic and thats why we choose the sport...It wouldnt and it couldnt be that we just love the game the same as you love baseball...:thatsfunn

[CatDawg]

Here in Lawrence County the youth soccer is played both fall and spring. Its killing our youth softball and baseball! 3 years ago we had only fall soccer and at that time we had seven 9-12 year old softball teams. Now we have 2! The liitle leauge baseball numbers have reduced by more than 50%. Why should a kid have to be torn on what sport they want to play because some idiot said "hey lets play spring soccer"? Baseball and softball is America's favorite past time and shouldn't be interfered by anything else. Some of the best time of my life have happened on the baseball diamond, not only as a kid but as a Dad and coach.

Baseball and softball are not going to be America's sport as you say much longer. Soccer is the fastest growing sport in the United States the last time I checked.

[CatDawg]

First of all I think that any kid should have the privilege to do what ever they want. It may be marching band, tennis, academic team, rotc, dirt analyzation...it doesn't matter. I think it's great they have the opportunities to do that. Soccer to me fits in a catagory of a non-skilled sport. It may involve more stamina than baseball, softball, or football, but how many hits could a soccer player take from a 250 lb linebacker, or how many 90 mph fastballs could they hit, or how many hot shots at 3rd could they field? I just think these sports are played with kids at a greater talent level and the rest play soccer!

Well if soccer is only taking the players that don't have talent then it shouldn't hurt those talented sports that you list. Soccer in Lawrence County is growing and will continue to do so. This spring they are going to be having a great camp put on by players from Europe. They were in Ashland last year and a large majority of those that attended were from Lawrence County.

[CatDawg]

If this is true, why are all the football fans wanting a change. I am not a Soccer fan. It actually bores me to death to watch it sometimes but it is ludicrous to say it is a non-skilled sport. Everyone on the field has to work and it can get physical. Some people believe baseball is like working for the state highway department. Two people working while seven are standing around and watching.

I loved baseball but your exactly right about watching it.

[CatDawg]

Here in Lawrence County the youth soccer is played both fall and spring. Its killing our youth softball and baseball! 3 years ago we had only fall soccer and at that time we had seven 9-12 year old softball teams. Now we have 2! The liitle leauge baseball numbers have reduced by more than 50%. Why should a kid have to be torn on what sport they want to play because some idiot said "hey lets play spring soccer"? Baseball and softball is America's favorite past time and shouldn't be interfered by anything else. Some of the best time of my life have happened on the baseball diamond, not only as a kid but as a Dad and coach.

You don't agree with spring soccer but I would assume that your ok with all the new fall baseball being played.

[CatDawg]

It's growing and Growing and GROWING!

Published: November 25, 2009 07:09 pm <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var gtvt_partner_id='lddglP9kZt4='; var gtvt_hide_fbapp=0; var gtvt_hide_clip=0; var gtvt_hide_social=0; var gtvt_email_note="Check this out..."; //var gtvt_border_color="#000000"; //var gtvt_shadow_color="#eeeeee"; //var gtvt_banner_color="#eeeeee";</SCRIPT><SCRIPT src="http://cdn.grouptivity.com/main/api/webjs/js/share.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> [Image: http://grouptivityread.appspot.com/image...ng%20start] [Image: http://static.cnhi.zope.net/images/icons/printicon.gif]
Soccer club off to strong start
EKFC aims to improve youth soccer in region
Mark Maynard

If Eastern Kentucky Futball Club fulfills its goal, soccer in the area will be greatly improved in a short time.

The fledgling club, which already has 200 members, seems to be off to a roaring start.

“We had an overwhelming response with very little advertising, so to speak,” said Denny Henderson, one of the club’s founders. “We had 160 at our first tryout.”

Players have come from all across the region. The club is formed much like the West Virginia Rowdies, with age-graded teams from third grade through high school (U9 to U19).

Henderson, Hector Lazirraga and Stos Hall thought it was time for northeastern Kentucky to have a soccer club much like the highly successful Rowdies from West Virginia.

“The Rowdies are a great organization,” Henderson said. “I coached last year, too (with the Rowdies). He (Hall) had so many Kentucky girls (on a Rowdies teasm) he couldn’t play in the West Virginia State Cup or the West Virginia Open Cup. There needs to be something to offer these Kentucky kids.”

Local high school coaches will benefit the most in the long run, Henderson said.

“The main thing that we’ve lost, as far as high school soccer, is that once November hits, our players, for the most part, haven’t had an outlet to continue to grow as a player until the following June — unless they’re willing to drive to Barboursville, Charleston or Lexington,” Henderson said. “The St. Xaviers and Lexington Catholics of the world could play 10 months out of the year right at home.”

Henderson said the Eastern Kentucky Futball Club will be a competitive organization that also competes 10 months out of the year.

“It gives our region a chance to develop and compete in other areas of the state,” he said.

Henderson said there’s a level of commitment that’s expected of players but they’d work with athletes who want to play other sports. Registration for the club is $50.

However, scholarship programs have been instituted and there will be some fundraising to offset the low registration cost.

“Compared to what people are paying in West Virginia, it is ridiculously cheaper,” Henderson said. “But we won’t let economics stop a kid from reaching that potential.”

So far, the response to the club has been tremendous, Henderson said. He has enough coaches for 14 teams.

“If we grow past that, we’ll be recruiting more coaches,” he said. “This is for anybody who is wanting to engage in competitive soccer.”

Henderson said the first year will be more developmental but he expects a couple of groups to be highly competitive in their age group.

“The U17 boys and U17 girls are going to be good,” he said. “The girls are made up primarily of Russell and Ashland (high school) girls. That should be a very good team.”

Henderson is the director of coaching for the club. Lazirraga is the president, Robert Clark the vice-president, Kevin Soucyi the treasurer and Barbara Belcher the secretary.

Belcher is Henderson’s mother and she helped grow a similar program in Kernersville, N.C., when her son was young. “She’s seen it grow from grassroots to something quite big,” Henderson said.

A typical season would be 20 to 30 games, including both indoor and outdoor soccer, Henderson said.

“Success is out there,” he said. “The No. 1 thing we’re focused on is player development both on the soccer field and in the athlete’s life. We’ll help them in any endeavor.”

MARK MAYNARD can be reached at [email]mmaynard@dailyindependent.com[/email] or (606) 326-264

[OrangenowBlue]

I loved baseball but your exactly right about watching it.

I coached softball for 8 years. I enjoyed it as I enjoy watching high school or little league baseball. Baseball on television puts me to sleep in about five minutes.

[CatDawg]

I haven't been into baseball since the last MLB strike. However, the kids playing is totally different.

[Cope]

I never thought I would see the day when people were so vehemently defending soccer as a "physical sport" and separately "America's pastime." My opinion on this means nothing in the grand scheme of things, but I never thought I would live to see this day. I'm saddened and hope this is not the general consensus.

[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

Well here is the thing that makes me sad and ****ed of is when people bash soccer and downgrade the people who play it when you have no knowledge of the game what so ever. The majority of you probabley could not tell me anything tactical about the beside like most people in this are who bash it "get the ball in the goal". If you had any knowlegable argument and actually discussed it rather then wipping the floor then we the ones who love the game would not have to argue. This thread is not even a discussion its just a bunch of you who think soccer is the crap hole sport that no one in EKY should play because Football, baseball and basketball run supreme and that WE the soccer community should have to change out plans and change our seasons to cater to your needs. Soccer by many has been refered to as the new American Pastime that is where my argument derives from. I never once state it was a extreme physical sport nor did I ever mention physical in my post how ever yes I do believe it does have physicality traits and you would only know that if you had played it. I have spent just as much time waiting at a hospital with friends due to soccer injuries as I have any other sport.

[HAIL PIKEVILLE!]

Having Soccer as a spring sport would benefit both sports IMO.

[GRIFFIN]

Having Soccer as a spring sport would benefit both sports IMO.

:Thumbs:

[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

Having Soccer as a spring sport would benefit both sports IMO.

and your reason behind saying this? I want an honest discussion out of people rather than just bashing and I know you can have a reasonable discussion.

[STATE CHAMP]

and your reason behind saying this? I want an honest discussion out of people rather than just bashing and I know you can have a reasonable discussion.

Soccer in the spring would greatly benefit all of KY high school football. How many teams have WR's and DB's that would be playing the real game of "football" chasing a ball around a field. Football is struggling in some communities b/c softer (soccer) is started at such a young age and kids grow up sitting around a soccer field. It is a communist game and no plays in our country!! Except when the football game is on the line and you need a FG to win...Just ask Boyle County about that one.

[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

Soccer in the spring would greatly benefit all of KY high school football. How many teams have WR's and DB's that would be playing the real game of "football" chasing a ball around a field. Football is struggling in some communities b/c softer (soccer) is started at such a young age and kids grow up sitting around a soccer field. It is a communist game and no plays in our country!! Except when the football game is on the line and you need a FG to win...Just ask Boyle County about that one.

Once again yes football benefits but soccer does not benefit from this at all. Yest again let me reiterate soccer is a sport that takes a full year of training to really improve. For local soccer teams to improve they really need the Club teams and rec. teams to get up to par with the rest of the state since it has just really became a sport in this area. I do not agree with that football is struggling because of soccer. Teams around the area with football teams have suprisingly became more succesful during the birth of soccer. I.E Pike Central and Shelby Valley. Belfry has not suffered nor has P-Burg, Letcher Central, Perry Central, Corbin, South Laurel etc. have not had any trouble by this nor has Lawrence Co. Numbers have actually increased at Pike Central and Shelby Valley also at Perry Central. A few players at schools such as Paintsville, Selby Valley, Johnson Central and Pikeville have played both soccer and football. When I was in school we had 4 soccer players who played both soccer and football me being one. Where does everyone get that soccer is a communist sport I do not understand your alls argument there. Just a little bit of history for you all soccer originated in England (monarchy) and spread to Denmark and the Neitherlands in 1889, then spread to New Zeland, Belize, Aregentina, Chile Switzerland and Belgium. The part highlighted in red say that again and explain more because I didnt really get what you was trying to say idk if there was a typo or missed a word in it. Thanks:Thumbs:

[OrangenowBlue]

I am no soccer fan but I have heard some of the most idiotic statements against soccer on this thread. I thought this country was built on capitalism and competition. If baseball and football cannot handle the competition. Thats tough. IMO the decrease in participation in football and baseball(primarily little league) in certain geographic areas is a reflection of poor management of who is running those programs.

[CatDawg]

I am no soccer fan but I have heard some of the most idiotic statements against soccer on this thread. I thought this country was built on capitalism and competition. If baseball and football cannot handle the competition. Thats tough. IMO the decrease in participation in football and baseball(primarily little league) in certain geographic areas is a reflection of poor management of who is running those programs.

Your right about that. Parents have destroyed the programs by making them so cut throat. Right now soccer in the area at that age is about fun and learning the sport, however, give it time and the parents will destroy those leagues as well.

[HAIL PIKEVILLE!]

and your reason behind saying this? I want an honest discussion out of people rather than just bashing and I know you can have a reasonable discussion.

It benefits both sports from nearly every aspect if you think about it. There are Soccer players who would like to play Football but cant because the seasons coincide with each other. And dont give me the argument that they could play both because thats just asking too much physically of a kid to play both sports( Football teams only play one game per week for a reason). On the flip side of that coin you have Football players who might like to play Soccer but cant for the same reason. If Soccer is moved to spring then it will go head to head with Baseball and Track. At Pikeville I dont know of any soccer players who play Baseball so at least from our standpoint no worries there. While I understand that alot of Soccer players run track that would be more feasible for the kid to do both because they would be conditioning for one sport while partcipating in the other. This way there is a strong possibility that both Football and Soccer would gain players and have better numbers of kids out at the smaller schools instead of butting heads with each other in the fall and thats never a bad thing. Wouldnt you agree?

[BoondockSaint]

I 2nd this motion...or we could just not have soccer at all. It amazes me that the most popular sport worldwide is this boring. Just goes to show you the world is full of idiots.

[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

It benefits both sports from nearly every aspect if you think about it. There are Soccer players who would like to play Football but cant because the seasons coincide with each other. And dont give me the argument that they could play both because thats just asking too much physically of a kid to play both sports( Football teams only play one game per week for a reason). On the flip side of that coin you have Football players who might like to play Soccer but cant for the same reason. If Soccer is moved to spring then it will go head to head with Baseball and Track. At Pikeville I dont know of any soccer players who play Baseball so at least from our standpoint no worries there. While I understand that alot of Soccer players run track that would be more feasible for the kid to do both because they would be conditioning for one sport while partcipating in the other. This way there is a strong possibility that both Football and Soccer would gain players and have better numbers of kids out at the smaller schools instead of butting heads with each other in the fall and thats never a bad thing. Wouldnt you agree?

From just looking at a high school standpoint yes this does make sense. However, once again we are failing to realized the significance of the off season for soccer players. Most of your NAIA colleges which is what benefits our local player the most their coaches recruit National players during the season due to traveling reasons and training their own players and games. During the offseason they maily due functional training at the college level so mainly the Ast Coaches due the training and exhibition matches while the head Coach travels abroad to recruit international players i,e Cumberlands, Lindsey Wilson so from that aspect it hurts the local kids. Also this change hurts club soccer, nearly all of the club programs have matches against players at the college level, also the ODP (olympic development league) travels during the spring to get more national exposure for their players. I am looking at it more from an all around aspect rather then just highschool. As I said at the high school level it does benefit football but it really hinders the development of a soccer player. Yet again yes I will make the argument that kids that REALLY want to do both sports, play both sports and many have in the past from personally experience and observation. Really this is a continum because fans of football in EKY despise soccer because they do not understand the game and see it as boring that I can understand but dont bash it by the way some of you have.

[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

I 2nd this motion...or we could just not have soccer at all. It amazes me that the most popular sport worldwide is this boring. Just goes to show you the world is full of idiots.

So I and others should not have had/or have the oppurtnuity to do something we love and get an education while we were at it??? So kids who are gifted at football should have the only recongnition just because you dont like the sport.

Here is the thing everyone I love the game of football, I love the game of basketball, I love every sport. I am just a fan of sports in general, and I firmly believe that the way it is set up right now benefits each sport equally more so if you was to split the two up in seasons. I have longly researched the causes and effects of each and have found that the increasing support in soccer in our local regional area have not changed the courses of improvement in football. Not many kids who once played football have went to soccer or vise versa so that logic is shot. Even at that rumor has it star soccer player at Pikeville Alex Vanhoose will be giving up soccer to gain more experience at football. I completley agree with the switch because he will be more succesful at football being a kicker and has proven that. I was not gifted at football in terms of size or conditioning otherwise I would have focused on football it and soccer are equal to be as my fav. sports and i hate seeing such a contoversy between the two. Soccer was boring to be as well untill I sat down learned the game and figured out how stratigical it was, it is more of a game that is determined before the match is even played and I think that has alot to play in the frustration of many and the low scoring matches. All we ask is a little respect and when i say that i mean the minimum because it gets NONE

[BoondockSaint]

Soccer is growing in popularity because its hard for anyone to tell the difference between the best player on the field from the worst player on the field. Someone said its a communist sport earlier in the thread, well, thats a little harsh but I understand the analogy. Anybody can play soccer, and not look like an idiot doing it. The other sports can make you look foolish if you haven't developed the skills for playing it, i.e. hitting a baseball, shooting a basketball, throwing a football, for example.

My main reason for saying it should be moved to Spring only is because having two seasons isn't fair to the sports that only have one. Also, football requires 11 players on the field, basketball 5, and baseball 9. Basketball is indoor, during winter so it is eliminated. Football requires 2 more people than baseball, and it wouldn't be nearly as physically enduring to play a baseball game & then go to the next field over to play soccer. Try playing soccer after a football game, or vice versa. Non-feasible task.

[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

Soccer is growing in popularity because its hard for anyone to tell the difference between the best player on the field from the worst player on the field. Someone said its a communist sport earlier in the thread, well, thats a little harsh but I understand the analogy. Anybody can play soccer, and not look like an idiot doing it. The other sports can make you look foolish if you haven't developed the skills for playing it, i.e. hitting a baseball, shooting a basketball, throwing a football, for example.

My main reason for saying it should be moved to Spring only is because having two seasons isn't fair to the sports that only have one. Also, football requires 11 players on the field, basketball 5, and baseball 9. Basketball is indoor, during winter so it is eliminated. Football requires 2 more people than baseball, and it wouldn't be nearly as physically enduring to play a baseball game & then go to the next field over to play soccer. Try playing soccer after a football game, or vice versa. Non-feasible task.

Have you played soccer before because I promise you if you play at the highest level or against a great high school team then they will make you look foolish. I went to college on a soccer scholarship and the guys around me were remarkable players and it took me 6 months to play catch up to even get to the same point as them so I DIDNT look like a fool. It is true around here you may not look like one unless someone who is watching you knows whats going on. I can tell a developed player from one who is not, but I understand that you may not be able to and thats fine it not obvious to you because as I have said not many people on here know anything about the game.

You do not have two high school seasons first off, the club teams and so on are developmental leagues just as senior league baseball, little league football and so on, high school students have these chances at every sport so try again. Once again I did football and soccer practiced from 3:30 pm untill 9 PM every night if you want it bad enough you'll do it if not then you will choose one or the other. Many of you also dont want soccer to develope in my eyes that sways your opinons. As I have said football benfits soccer does not

[OrangenowBlue]

Soccer is growing in popularity because its hard for anyone to tell the difference between the best player on the field from the worst player on the field. Someone said its a communist sport earlier in the thread, well, thats a little harsh but I understand the analogy. Anybody can play soccer, and not look like an idiot doing it. The other sports can make you look foolish if you haven't developed the skills for playing it, i.e. hitting a baseball, shooting a basketball, throwing a football, for example.

My main reason for saying it should be moved to Spring only is because having two seasons isn't fair to the sports that only have one. Also, football requires 11 players on the field, basketball 5, and baseball 9. Basketball is indoor, during winter so it is eliminated. Football requires 2 more people than baseball, and it wouldn't be nearly as physically enduring to play a baseball game & then go to the next field over to play soccer. Try playing soccer after a football game, or vice versa. Non-feasible task.

It is hard for individuals who are ignorant about the game of soccer (including myself) to determine who the best and worst players on the field. When you see teams from the mountains(for which soccer is still in its infancy state) playing teams in other parts of the state, you see a big talent difference. In reality, I do not see a problem with moving it to the Spring but I do think the theory of Soccer hurting the game of football is that just that, theory, and not fact. What specific high schools in Kentucky have been hurt by Soccer.