CLARKWATCH: Follow news and updates regarding sanctions on Mayor Clark.

Parents upset with local soccer association

May 3, 2019 | 5:17 PM

 

Medicine Hat, AB- For many, some of the fondest memories of childhood are being out on the field playing the sport they love.

But this year, for some soccer players in Medicine Hat that chance may be limited.

A fact that has a lot of parents, including Tracey Sandeau, upset.

“The fact that they didn’t inform us that there is only going to be three games for the under nines. And everything else is practices and they get a ball and a jersey at the end of the season and I don’t think paying almost $200 is worth it.”

Usually, kids playing in the Medicine Hat Soccer Association’s community league play two games a week. This year there is just three games scheduled for the season.

The rest of the time will be focused on practising their skills.

“Registration started back in February. There was not one note about the changes to the season, we were all under the assumption it was going to be just like previous seasons.” Said another mom, Dawn McBrearty.

Parents say they only found out about the change when coaches gathered all 80 kids together last week at the first session.

They also felt that overall the league seemed very disorganized.

“You didn’t know where to go. Everybody was kind of conjoined and in the centre of the field and not split up. Like teams and the colours, they should have boards up saying what colour everything is. My son is on the blue team. Well there are three different colours of blue. And they weren’t specific of what blue team he was on.”

Parents also took to social media to voice their frustrations. Some posting that they are considering pulling their kids out for the rest of the season.

“My son doesn’t want to play. Because there’s only three games.” said Sandeau.

McBrearty says that if the association doesn’t go back to how it was organized before, her son may not be playing next season.

“I really hope they have learnt from this mistake and hope they will put it back to the way it was prior to this mess. As it stands right now my husband and I are discussing whether or not our son will be playing next year.”

Chat News has reached out to the association multiple times for a comment without any response.

We did obtain a copy of email posted on Facebook from the minor director. It says the board of directors is in the process of changing it back to how it was.

Those changes could be in effect as early as next week.