Dear Editor:
It has been eight years since I first started playing soccer in New Westminster. Each year has been great in its own way, and many friends have come out of it.
This year I learned I could not play soccer, not because I didn't make the silver team but because there was no bronze team at all.
What this means is that 14-year-old girls in New Westminster can no longer play soccer if they didn't try out or make the silver team. This is because there is no house team for them to play on. A house team is a team that anyone can join and be a part of, no matter their skill level.
I previously played on the silver team two years ago, but played the next year on bronze. After a successful soccer season last year, I decided to stay on bronze, and I didn't see it necessary to try out for other silver teams in surrounding cities.
That proved to be a mistake because just recently I was informed there was to be no bronze team in New Westminster, and therefore I was without a soccer team.
What made this even more frustrating was the fact that originally there were enough girls to make a bronze team, but the silver teams depleted the goalies and had a bigger roster than was needed (or called for in the club policies). I've now had to switch to Burnaby in order to be able to play soccer. Many girls at this age level are facing the same predicament (nine girls were told they would have to go elsewhere). How is that encouraging girls of my age to be active? Maybe next year's teams will be made for all the players instead of a select group; because just in case coordinators, coaches and technical directors forget this, it is about all the players having an opportunity to play and not about ensuring the 'select' teams have large rosters.
Lauren Mackay, New Westminster
