Youth soccer starts fall season

AMENIA — From seventh grade all the way down to the Tiny Tots teams, players and parents trekked to the Amenia ball fields at Beekman Park for Webutuck Valley Soccer’s fall startup almost three weeks ago.

The organization is run by several dedicated individuals, and as a few involved in the program pointed out, the program is a training ground and feeder program for the Webutuck High School teams.

Webutuck Valley is part of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League, which program President David Stanford estimated serves around 17,000 youths. This year Webutuck Valley Soccer has about 180 children (or 11 teams determined by grade) under its umbrella.

Webutuck Valley, a nonprofit organization, receives funding mainly through registration costs and the generosity of the three main municipalities involved: Amenia, North East and Millerton. Each contributes funding on a scale proportionate to the percentage of children participating from its area. Amenia additionally contributes the use of the night lights and fields. The program’s budget is roughly $12,000, and last year funding ended up $1,000 short, which the board had to pay out of pocket. The board consists of Stanford, Vice President Charlie Adrian, Treasurer Ella Stevens and Secretary Tammy Nethercott.

“We want every kid to play,� Stanford said. “We never say no, and we’re always trying to bring in new kids.�

In the past, travel teams were a big part of Webutuck Valley Soccer, but as the support of several key parents dwindled when their sons and daughters outgrew the program, the travel portion hasn’t seen as much action in the fall lately. There is, however, a regular travel team in the spring.

“It’s about having a shortage of parents who are willing to make the commitment,� Stanford said. Games are usually played within an hour radius of Amenia, and parents caravan to matches.

Whether their children are just starting to learn the game or have almost outgrown Webutuck Valley, the many parents who attended Saturday’s events spoke to the positive qualities of the program.

Anne Beach’s daughter, Caitlin, is on the fifth-through-seventh grade team. This is Caitlin’s fourth year with the program.

“She loves it,� Beach said. “TJ [Campion] is such a great coach, and we like coming out and cheering her on. It’s a great opportunity for the kids.�

And on the youngest level, sometimes the important thing is just letting your child have fun trying different things.

“It gives him some contact with other kids and it teaches him about soccer,� explained Kristie Casey, mother to Tiny Tot enthusiast Nicholas. When asked whether Nicholas would be remaining in the program, Casey said it was hard to say.

“He’s 5 years old, and he changes every day,� she said.

“Girls and boys play together here,� referee Joe Matteo said. “And the boys get a healthy respect for that, because the girls are a little more mature at this age.�

The Webutuck Valley Youth Soccer program can be reached at 845-373-9519. The league meets every Saturday morning at Beekman Park in Amenia.