May 14, 2024 |
Photo – Soccer net – Bigfoot99 file photo
Citing a lack of participants, the Saratoga Recreation Department has cancelled the 2024 youth soccer season. The town’s recreation director is asking for input from parents on how to increase the player count in the future.
During the May 7th Saratoga town council meeting, Recreation Director Kim Hemenway informed the board that the upcoming spring soccer season has been canceled. Hemenway said only about half the needed number of kids registered.
Hemenway said she announced the upcoming youth soccer league last month. The rec director said she advertised online and at the local schools.
Hemenway said parents were given roughly two and a half weeks to register. By the time registration closed, only 24 kids were signed up.
Hemenway said Rawlins Recreation Director Nikki Howell invited Saratoga youth to play soccer in the city.
In a written statement, Rawlins Rec Director Howell asked Saratoga residents to contact her at the Rawlins Family Recreation Center to register for their July soccer season. Howell said the rec center will honor registration fees already paid to Saratoga.
Hemenway said the Saratoga Recreation Board is planning to release a survey asking what future changes the community would like to see for the youth soccer season. The recreation director said parents pointed to the large amount of spring activities available for kids as a reason why they weren’t participating in this year’s league.
Hemenway said holding the youth soccer league later in the summer conflicts with the town’s Adult Softball season and the Carbon County Fair.
The rec director said she and the other Recreation Board members unsuccessfully tried to come up with a way to save the season. Hemenway asked the public for ways to improve future youth soccer participation.
Mayor Chuck Davis acknowledged the difficult position the Recreation Board was put in. Hemenway said she had no other option but to cancel the soccer season.
Mayor Davis said our area’s short summer season means finding time to play all the sports is difficult. The mayor said parents tend to choose one sport for their children to do. Afterwards, families opt to enjoy the remainder of the summer together.
Hemenway told residents to look out for an upcoming Recreation Board survey asking how to increase participation in the town’s future youth soccer leagues.
If you would like to have your child play soccer in Rawlins, contact the Rawlins Family Recreation center at 324-7529.
