A survey will soon be underway at Snyder High School to determine if students are interested in starting a soccer program.
The topic was brought up at Snyder ISD’s school board meeting Nov. 9. If there is enough interest, Superintendent Dr. Eddie Bland said a program could start as early as the 2018-19 school year.
“I think that soccer is a great thing to have at the high school,” senior Christian Quinonez said. “I have a lot of friends who love to play soccer outside of school, and my friends and I even started a petition when I was a freshman to start a soccer program here.”
According to Quinonez, many students gather at North Park on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays to play. He said that having soccer at the high school would allow them to play as part of school.
“I’ve met a lot of my friends through playing soccer,” Quinonez said. “You get to know a lot of people playing soccer, so it would be good to have at the high school for people to make new friends.”
Junior Reagan Grinnell agreed.
“I think that would be a really good thing to bring to school because we have a lot of talented soccer players,” he said. “It would also give the community something else to watch besides the sports we already have.”
Senior Brett Robertson said that bringing soccer to the high school allows another way for students to be involved in a team.
“I think it would be a cool opportunity,” she said. “I’m not a sports person myself, but it could be a cool opportunity for other talented kids to shine at what they’re good at.”
According to the students, many of their classmates say they want a soccer program and that it could open the door for potential scholarships down the line. They said it could also lead to more Snyder students attending Western Texas College for the college’s soccer programs.
“I think it’s a good opportunity, considering how many students talk about wanting soccer,” sophomore Brayden Fowler said.
Principal Janell Jones said many students are interested in the program.
“Many students have expressed interest and the desire to play. Some of those have approached coaches and administrators about the possibility,” she said. “With the school district looking into this opportunity it also give the students a voice that is being heard. Adding soccer to our athletic program would be a win-win.”
Although a soccer program would be new to the high school, it would not be the only program in the county.
The Scurry County Boys and Girls Club offers a spring soccer program for children ages four through sixth grade.
Director Ericka Dowds said that bringing a soccer program to the high school could be beneficial to both the school and the club.
“I think it’s a fantastic idea,” she said. “Our soccer program is training children in a new skill and to live a healthy lifestyle. Parents are often sad when their child has outgrown the program here, and they often ask us to do a second season in the fall.”
Dowds said the club’s program is well-received by the community and thinks a program at the high school would also be well-received. Although the age limit for the club’s soccer program is sixth grade, Dowds said that there would not be a problem with the two-year gap between the club’s program and the school district’s.
“Any skill learned as a child is something they keep with them,” she said.