But that doesn’t bother the hundreds of Floyd and Clark county children who will take to the fields this week as the New Albany Deanery Soccer League kicks off for the fifth time.
Organizers have said that because of the league, student participation among 3rd to 8th graders in extra-curricular activities has almost doubled in recent years.
The children will participate on a record 27 teams in games at two locations until the end of May.
Among the schools involved in the fun are Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Holy Family; Sacred Heart; St. Mary of the Knobs; St. Paul's; St. Anthony's; Providence Junior High; St Mary’s New Albany; and St Mary’s Navilleton.
First into action were the 7th and 8th grade teams on Wednesday, playing at Providence. It will be the turn of the 5th and 6th graders, who will play at OLPH (Scheller Lane) this Friday, April 16, while 3rd and 4th grade teams will play at Providence, starting on Monday April 19.
New Albany Deanery athletics co-ordinator Erik Furnish said the league is coeducational, mercy rules are strongly enforced, and there is no A or B leagues, with club players side by side with recreational players.
“I think what sets this apart is that it is considered a ministry of the church and includes kids who attend Catholic schools and public schools which are registered members of a local Catholic church,” said Furnish.
It was a conversation in October of 2005 that kick-started the league for a sport which is now the most popular in a number of the area's grade schools.
Steve Parker, Greg Reger, Mike Bittenbender and Bart Makowski had children who had all played on the same team at YMCA for three years. They thought it would be a good idea to form an official team at their children's school, Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Sensing more of an interest in the area for the sport than he had originally envisaged, Parker decided to contact Ray Lucas, the director of youth ministries for New Albany.
Lucas explained staff was limited but they would support a league if Parker could find the people to put it together.
Above: Alex Rich (left) and Andrew Bittenbender of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in action during last year’s New Albany Deanery Soccer League game against Holy Family. The league kicks off for its fifth year this week.
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