One welcome addition to the area in recent years has been the New Albany Deanery Leagues for 3rd to 8th graders. Founded in 2006, it saw over 300 children form nine schools participate this spring.
Another worthwhile program which caters for students at an even younger age is the one at Our Lady of Lourdes in Louisville, which sees students from a number of schools grades 1 through 8 play each fall and spring.
The lone school involved from this side of the river is St Paul's of Sellersburg, which joined the league three years ago. St Paul's athletic director, Harold Davis, had been no stranger to the program, as his eldest daughter played in the same league 18 years ago.
According to Davis, over 100 children at the school -- K through 6 -- participated in soccer this year, which is approximately one third of the student population. Five teams play at Our Lady of Lourdes (K through 2), and four in the aforementioned New Albany Deanery Leagues in the spring (3rd-6th grades).
The program at Our Lady of Lourdes is committed to teaching the basics of soccer, with an emphasis on good sportsmanship, while developing children's confidence and self-esteem.
Logan Barber of St Paul's (center) takes on the St Francis of Assisi defense during a game at the Our Lady of Lourdes soccer league in Louisville this fall.
One of the coaches, Paul Barber -- whose daughters Grace and Logan are in kindergarten and second grade respectively at St Paul's -- said the league delivers on that in every way, and everyone at the school is appreciative to be a part of it.
"For me, the reward is seeing the transformation of the kids," he says. "Every year at our first practice I see two or three kids clinging to a parent's leg, fearful to participate. With each practice and kick, you can see the apprehension being chipped away. Also, because the fall soccer program begins at the same time as the first days of school, I think it helps ease the transition into a new setting, especially for the kindergartners. It is no surprise that the friends closest to my daughters at school are the ones they play soccer with."
Although St Paul's doesn't stress winning games, the school believes it does good job of coaching the game of soccer and competing.
"A lot of the skills we teach are similar to the ones kids are learning at soccer clubs such as Southern Indiana United, Net-Surfers, and Mockingbird Valley," said Barber. "The drills are fun and designed to develop skills with lots of ball touches, sparring, and scrimmaging. We encourage kids to have fun, play their hardest, and do the best they can. I feel like the word is out that soccer at St Paul's is fun, and kids as well as parents want to get involved."
For the soccer program to succeed at St Paul's, however, a high level of involvement from volunteers is crucial.
"Harold (Davis) and his wife Jan have done a great job running the athletic department, and their job is made easier by the number of people that give their time," says Barber. " There is no way St Paul's could provide this privilege without the help from many parents and volunteers. Also, St Paul's is fortunate to have the level of support from the community."
Barber said he hopes to see other schools from southern Indiana introduce soccer programs – especially public schools – to the point where a fun league could be developed for children K through 2.
"It would benefit southern Indiana and the soccer base here, that's for sure," he said.
Logan Barber of St Paul's takes on the St Francis of Assisi defense during a game at the Our Lady of Lourdes soccer league in Louisville this fall.
ENDS
For more soccer stories, check out Aidan Kelly's blog at www.socccerindiana.blogspot.com
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