Tyrone Area School District students who are interested in playing soccer were able to sign up today following homeroom.
The first step for any proposed program would be to find out if enough students are interested, according to Tyrone Area Athletic Director Tony Yaniello.
“The junior high kids are already playing, but there is nothing after age 14,” explained Yaniello. “That is a concern of some parents here. We have some very good soccer players in our school, who have played in the youth program. I think there is enough interest here and if there is, we will pursue it.”
More than 200 children participated in the Tyrone American Youth Soccer Organization program last year.
Interested youth will need a physical before being eligible to play. Physicals will be given on Wednesday, June 21 at 10:15 a. m. Anyone unable to attend at that time, may be able to attend during other scheduled sports physicals or by the students’ family doctor at your own cost.
The sign-up this morning marks the first step in establishing a soccer program within the district. If plans are approved by the district school board members, a co-ed team will be established for the 2004-05 school year. In the event that enough players participate, board members would then consider whether to implement a boys team, a girls team, or both for the 2005-06 school year.
One person has volunteered to coach and a soccer field and goals are available to use.
A likely plan would be to schedule scrimmages and games against local junior varsity teams for 2004-05 in preparation for joining the Mountain Athletic Conference in 2005-06.
“We don’t want to go into the Mountain Conference without some experience,” Yaniello said.
Yaniello had previously stated that the estimated cost of a startup of a scholastic soccer program would run from $10,00-12,000, with the cost per year afterwards somewhere around $6,000.
