By Jamie Wachter / Sports Editor
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN —
The World Cup is over, but Meridian Youth Soccer Organization officials are hoping its impact is not.
Heading into the final two weeks of registration for the upcoming season, MYOSO is looking for the increased attention the World Cup delivered for the sport can next deliver an increase in participants.
“We normally have about 1,000 kids and really, we expect that to grow with the World Cup being hot and heavy and everybody caught up in that buzz,” MYOSO president Neil Henry said.
MYOSO offers a wealth of opportunities for potential soccer players. The organization offers leagues for children as young as 4 and as old as 16.
It also offers different levels of competition — from recreational play to travel teams.
“All those kids are playing with their ages, there’s no coed, it’s all girls with girls and the boys with the boys,” Henry added. “It’s a recreation league. Those kids are there to just have fun and play, play soccer.
“We do have the option of travel teams, for sure, and that’s something that we get in about a month after recreation has started.”
For those wanting to play, though, the registration deadline is fast approaching. MYOSO is offering one last on-site registration day at the Jaycee Soccer Complex from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 31, the final day for registration this year. Registration is also available online at www.meridiansoccer.com.
“I think everybody is so busy with their summers — vacations and baseball and softball — that they may not know this is the time of registration,” Henry added. “This is the only month we register. July kind of sneaks up on us.”
