Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WEST JORDAN — This spring, April showers have brought May showers, and the extra water isn't just threatening big floods and keeping farmers from planting crops.
It’s also putting the squeeze on youth league soccer schedules. In West Jordan, the kids are especially feeling the pinch—and their soccer moms and dads have felt frustrated as well.
According to some parents, at least three weeks’ worth of games have been canceled by snow and rain. Shortened seasons have led to conflicts over who scheduled what field when—whether a recreation league or competition-level team.
Add to that mix: A big soccer tournament in mid-June means that this year, everyone’s season will end early.
Because the city has sprouted from 50,000 to 100,000 residents since its 20-field soccer complex was built in the mid-1990s, demand far outstrips supply. Many of the new residents are young, soccer-age families; West Jordan residents’ average age is about 28.
By the Numbers:
| Amount | Item |
|---|---|
| $600,000 | Annual cost to maintain complex |
| $34,000 | Cost in fees for ending adult games |
| $20,000 | Cost of fertilizer for complex |
| $15,000 | Contract for Utah USA tournament |
| $10,000 | Money from youth soccer leagues |
So this year, the wet weather made for a perfect storm of unhappy soccer players.
“This year it’s been very unusual. It’s been challenging because of the weather,” said West Jordan Mayor Melissa Johnson.
The city is doing all it can, she added, but it faces limits. Recently, the City Council extended what had been a temporary restriction on adult league games into the foreseeable future.
Ending the adult games costs the city around $34,000 in use fees. The youth leagues bring in less than $10,000.
According to West Jordan spokeswoman Kim Wells, it costs $600,000 a year to maintain the complex. Fertilizer alone runs $20,000.
“We subsidize youth activities,” the mayor said, “but we will not subsidize adult activities.
The city has 30 other sports fields of various kinds. It’s offered to spray stripes on other soccer fields in many of the smaller parks, Johnson said. There were no takers. Teams prefer the multi-field capacity at the complex. And a wet soccer pitch can’t be chalked, anyway.
Soccer dad Jason Cooper says he understands the problem from different sides. Rec league teams play just for the fun of it, and competition leagues are for higher skilled players. His children are in both.
“I’m torn,” he said. “I see both sides of it.” But he wishes that at least his kids could get the full eight weeks they paid for.
The mayor wishes they could, too, but that’s not an option, she said. The only option is to refund money. “The city has no problem with that,” Johnson said.
West Jordan must honor a $15,000 contract for a major Utah Youth Soccer Association tourney this summer. Around 120 teams from throughout the country will show for the three-day event. The visitors’ spending could bring in even more money.
That limits the city’s options, Johnson said. The contract was signed months ago, and the city has tried to inform soccer families as well, she added.
“We’re willing to do whatever we can within the legal limits of what our contract will let us do.”
The tournament will close fields for three weeks. Bare patches have to be re-sodded, and it takes time for new turf to take root.
Some parents have wondered, however, who should get first priority — tax-paying residents or out-of-town players.
Johnson says it’s not that simple. The soccer complex was originally planned with the idea it would be dedicated to youth soccer of all kinds. Local leagues let kids learn the game, and tournament play gives those players something to shoot for, she said.
And the soccer fields were built through fundraising — not taxes — with just that idea in mind, Johnson added.
Still, West Jordan soccer fans may see a brighter future. The city owns land farther west where more sports fields are planned. For now though, one more problem crimps those plans — money.
With the slow economy, West Jordan has had to cut $2.5 million from its budget.
------
Story written by Ladd Brubaker with contributions from John Daley.
