Soccer program 'bursting at the seams'

When Leroy Flynn and a group of soccer enthusiasts first started minor soccer in Clarenville in 2001 the main objective was to just get the program off the ground.

There was no soccer field, so the outfield of the Shoal Harbour softball field was to be the venue for the program.

If Flynn got just 20 kids to sign up he was determined it was going to happen. He was pleasantly surprised to see more than 100 boys and girls registered.

Since then the program has continued to grow and the numbers this season are quite staggering. According to the association's president Earle Pike they are already past the 400 mark and there are still people wanting to sign on.

"It's just phenomenal how this program has taken off," says Pike, who is serving his first term as president. "We're bursting at the seams."

Thankfully, today the association has it's own dedicated facility, a regulation size soccer pitch that can accommodate the numbers.

Several divisions make up the program including, parents and tots, six and under (mixed), eight and under (mixed), under 14 girls, under 10 girls, 10-under mixed, 12-under (mixed), 14-under (mixed) and 16-under (mixed). The minor program runs from Monday through Thursday each week.

While the younger set enjoy their time on the soccer pitch a couple of times a week the adults have also gotten into the act. Sunday evenings have been set aside for adult men's and women's soccer.

To keep everything moving the association relies entirely on volunteers. Pike says while the volunteer base strong there's always room for more.

"With such a large group of participants you need to have a lot of volunteers. We've been very fortunate to have a very good volunteer base and the numbers are up, but I would like to see even more people come on board. We'll accept all the help we can get," says Pike.

One of the objectives for this season for the association is to have a standardize practice plan for all age groups as outlined by the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association (NLSA).

"Since we're affiliated with the provincial body this year the plan is to really adhere to their guidelines in how we deliver our program. By doing that the participants will learn proper soccer techniques right from the get go," he says.

Practices and house league games are all part of what the soccer program is all about. However, Pike hopes to be able to invite other centres in for a full day of friendly competition. It's all part of building the program he says.

"We can continue to run our program like we have from the start and that's fine. The whole premise is for everyone to get the opportunity to play in a friendly atmosphere.

"But we also want to see the program grow so that we can have representative teams in the various age divisions play against other centres. That's all part of program development.

"What we're look at is getting centres like Placentia, Gander and Bonavista to come in for a full day of soccer. The soccer programs in those communities are similar in caliber to ours," says Pike. "Hopefully, we can make that happen later on in the season."

Meanwhile Pike says along with the minor soccer association's program that runs each evening throughout the week there will also be a day program for soccer starting soon.

"We're fortunate this year to have four students that have been hired to run a soccer program during the day. We're hoping to have that program up and running by the middle of this month," he says. "It's a busy time, but it's also an exciting time. With 400 boys and girls enrolled in our program and more and more joining daily it's shaping up to be another great summer for minor soccer."