I’ve been playing soccer for as long as I can remember. I’ve participated in recreation leagues, travel, club and high school teams. My dad has been my coach for about a decade. While I’ve also found my way onto lacrosse, track and field and basketball teams, soccer remains my passion.

In all the time I’ve spent at tournaments and traveling to other towns and states to compete “in the beautiful game,” it never occurred to me what the costs associated with my participation were. I realize now how fortunate I’ve been and continue to be that I’m able to play the game I love without any constraints based on my family’s ability to pay the fees – not to mention paying for the clothes, the cleats, the transportation, etc. – associated with my participation in soccer.

This spring I heard my dad say that the league has raised the amount of the fees to participate in the U19 team (for high-school aged boys) to $350. And, I also found out that about half of the kids who signed up for the team havn’t paid that fee yet. My dad (one of the coaches) and the team’s trainer have always allowed anyone to practice with the group, regardless of the status of the fees, but the club has told them to prevent those who haven’t settled the balance from playing or practicing.

Well, that just doesn’t seem fair. Why should access to soccer be restricted to those whose parents can afford the $350? You know what? These kids have no other options – there’s no recreation league for this age group in our community and the high school doesn’t have a spring soccer program (even if they did, many of the players wouldn’t make that team anyway).

Right now there are about 10 teenage boys who haven’t paid the $350. Think about what 14-19 year old boys who have too much time and a lack of structure might get up to.

So, I’ve decided to set a goal of raising $3,500 to go toward those fees so everybody gets to play. I have a hope that we could possibly raise even more and fund the whole team, or next year’s team, or include other sports that require fees, or maybe even in other towns with players who are missing out… But, for now, let’s get the ball rolling! Thanks for whatever you can give.