A league of their own

Sparta - The Sparta soccer league is in need of forwards, goalies and strikers. But most of all, it needs girl players. The league, which is sponsored by the Sparta Parks and Recreation Department, is short of fifth- and sixth-grade players to form an all-female soccer league. The league is needed for more than just cosmetic reasons. Currently, third-, fourth- and fifth-grade girls are in one division and once they become sixth graders, they move up to the next division, which is co-ed. Coaches and educators believe this is not the best approach to help girls perfect their soccer skills. “Soccer is a very physical game and at this level when it turns co-ed, the girls tend to hang back because they’re physically smaller, their muscle structure is different and are at a disadvantage. The boys tend to ignore the girls on the field even though the girls play equally as tough or even tougher than the boys,” said Shauna Stanley, president of Sparta Soccer Club. “Although we have never had any actual problem because of this arrangement, we don’t think it is the best possible arrangement.” Although the Sparta soccer club has registered a steady growth in the past few season, this trend has not been consistent when it comes to the enrollment for girls. “As they enter sixth grade, they’re either joining travel or not coming back because they don’t want to play co-ed,” said Stanley. “We have found that more girls stick with the sport when they have their own divisions.” In the last few seasons, the soccer club has come very close to being able to make a separation so that it could have third- and fourth-grade girls playing together in one division, and fifth- and sixth-grade girls playing together in another division, but they have been just a few girls shy. Ultimately, the club would like the seventh- and eighth-grade girls to be able to create their own all-girl division also. So this year, the club is launching a new drive to register as many girl soccer players as possible. The club is still receiving late registrations. To register, call Christine Willis at 973-729-3328 or visit the club’s Web site at www.spartasoccer.com to print a mail-in registration form, late fees for Divisions 4 and 5 will be waived. Registration is $40. The club is also in need of coaches.