Yukon Soccer Club struggles to accommodate all players
Yukon Soccer Club is growing faster than their facilities can accommodate. They may be forced to turn away players in the coming years if they can not construct new fields.
Yukon Soccer Club has growing pains.
While membership is on a steady and steep incline, their facilities can hardly keep up.
Shannon Jacobs, president of the club, said they will have to turn away children in a year or two.
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“It saddens everybody,” said Jacobs. “I don't want to tell a kid that ‘you can't play soccer.'”
The club is expected to have more than 1,100 kids participating this fall. Soccer is Yukon's most popular youth sport.
The increase in participation is forcing the group to find new places to play, not only for more playing surface, but to replace the fields they play on now.
The club hosts more than 1,000 games in a season with more than 120 competitive and recreation teams. The constant games and practices kills the field's grass and leaves behind dirt patches.
The club was not allowed to set up a watering system on the grounds or build fences to protect the property.
The poor condition of their fields is perpetuated by theft and vandalism.
Jacobs said whenever there is a heavy rain, groups bring off-road vehicles onto the fields, which carves deep ruts into the mud.
Three times last month, the club's nets were cut and stolen, and their concession stand at Ranchwood field is regularly vandalized.
“These kids deserve a better place to play,” said Jacobs.
Four new fields are being built at Taylor Park, at NW 11 and Inla Avenue. Club officials hope they will be finished for the opening of the fall season.
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