Since its humble beginnings in 1983, the Daviess County Youth Soccer Association (DCYSA) has experienced steady growth, but nothing compares to the jump in numbers experienced this spring. With 972 participants, the association trumped their previous mark by more than 300 athletes.
Board member John Congleton attributes the recent growth to several factors but says that their facility, Horse Fork Creek Park, played a significant role.
“I think we have a great facility at Horse Fork — we play at the same location every week,” Congleton said.
Horse Fork Creek Park, which was dedicated in 2007, is located on Fairview Drive just off of Highway 54 in Owensboro. The facility currently houses upwards of 10 fields making it one of the largest complexes in Western Kentucky. The park is maintained by the Daviess County Department of Parks and Recreation.
“We feel very thankful that they [Daviess County Parks and Recreation] maintain the fields and offer great facilities for our community,” Congleton said.
With leagues in both the fall and the spring, the DCYSA is growing into a family affair for several Daviess County families. One location makes it a practical source of recreation for growing families.
“We were drawn to this because we have four kids, and we have three soccer teams at the moment,” Congleton said. “If we’re on the soccer fields here — we’re here together and it’s a good fit for us — I think that fits for a lot of people.”
As one might imagine, the increase in participants has created some logistical issues, specifically, finding coaches. The association currently sponsors 77 athletic teams ranging from a four and under division to a 19 and under division. The association strives to find two coaches for each team in an effort to ease some of the workloads and lessen some of the responsibilities.
“Coaches can be our most challenging to find — we work hard on finding parents,” Congleton said. “The more active league we have with volunteers, the better off our league is.”
Finding officials is not quite as strenuous of a task. The association requires the services of several officials, ranging from as young as 12 years old to adults. With a median age of 14, DCYSA strives to place veteran officials in the older age divisions and lesser experienced officials in the younger age divisions. The 6 and under, and 4 and under divisions do not require officials, rather the coaches seek to maintain the integrity of those games.
The association most recently added all-girl divisions in the 8 and under and 11 and under age groups. They hope to find growth in both of those divisions in the upcoming seasons.
With the spring season nearing an end, registration for the fall season will begin in August. The fall season runs from September to October. Registration is conducted online at dcysaky.kysoccerlive.net. All inquiries regarding the league, coaching and officiating can be directed to [email protected].
