"What's changed" some of my neighbors ask aloud ? Why do we suddenly not have enough field space ?
Don't buy the argument that girls now play sports...they've been involved in local sports since 1980.
Don't buy the Lacrosse argument either. Lacrosse has enjoyed a slow rise in their participation totals over the last 10 years.
The kids that now play lacrosse would have played baseball or softball if Lacrosse was not available. They've just changed their uniforms. The net increase of students participating is negligible. In fact, some kids in town will play 2 sports in the same season thus contributing to the phantom total of 6000 participants.
But the most disturbing trend of late is one of Specialization. Kids are sticking with one sport for 3 seasons.
Bill Finley's (NYT) column today shows 2 NJ athletes that have already locked in on their preferred sport. Shannon Larkin plays soccer at the expense of other sports. Gone are the days of the 3-sport athlete. Scholastic Wrestling, for example, has suffered low turnout forcing teams to consolidate with other districts, i.e Emerson-Park Ridge, Wood-Ridge - Hasbrouck Hghts, Waldwick-Midland Park, etc.
What's the impact to Ridgewood...? More field time is needed to support teams that now play second seasons. Soccer demands field time in the spring. Baseball and lacrosse now request time in the fall.
Should the Village have to furnish field time for these specialists...?
That's the $64,000 question.
It's an easy answer - 'no'. Soccer parents are used to traveling great distances for practice or games. Make the RSA buy field time in Saddle River Cty park from the Bergen Cty Parks Dept. There's enough room for 3 fields behind the Oceanos restaurant on Saddle River Road in Fair Lawn.
The Specialists can pursue their passion....but it should be transparent to the residents.
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