White Plains gears up for fall sports

By Theresa Shadrix
Score! Editor

Krista and Tom Young had an ulterior motive when they joined the White Plains Youth Athletic Organization.

“Tom and I were still new to the area when our youngest, Mary Clare, started school (at White Plains) and we looked at youth sports as a way to meet new people,” said Krista. “We actually signed both of the girls up to play soccer and ended up coaching that year!”

Krista is now in her second year as soccer commissioner, has coached soccer and T-Ball, and Tom has served as an elected officer in the organization as well as baseball, soccer and basketball coach.

The soccer program began in the Fall 2002, coinciding with the formation of the White Plains Youth Athletic Organization.

Krista said the number of kids involved has increased each year, with over 100 last season. “Not bad for such a small area,” she said.

Involvement in the community has increased as well. Last fall, the 12 soccer teams were sponsored for the first time by local businesses and the uniforms took on a new look with sponsor logos. The sponsorship helped make the uniforms look “sharp,” according to Krista, and funding purchased top-of-the-line soccer goals.

While the soccer program holds try-outs and a draft at the end of July, Krista said everyone makes it on a team.

The evenly dispersed teams play against each other, as well as teams from the Heflin Parks and Recreation Department. Most Saturday games are in White Plains, with weekday games in Heflin.

This season, she hopes to continue the growth of the program with the arrangement for children to play in local tournaments and have All Star teams at the end of the season.

Rules of the White Plains youth soccer program include:

• Open to any child, age 4-13, in the White Plains school district.
  
• Divisions are: 5 & under, 7 & under, 9 & under, 11 & under, and 13 & under. Age as of Aug. 1 is used to determine division.
  
• Practices begin in August and are usually two to three times a week. All practices are local.
  
• The season begins the first of September, with an average of one-to-two games a week.
  

Krista believes White Plains has a wonderful youth athletic program that is growing every season. “We are currently clearing the land the organization purchased behind the elementary school and will begin building our fields and youth sports complex in the near future.”

Along with soccer, the White Plains Youth Athletic Organization offers year-round activities including football and cheerleading with the Coosa Valley Football for Youth program, plus basketball, T-Ball, baseball and softball.

Registration for soccer, football and cheerleading will be at the White Plains High School Blue Gym:
• Saturday, May 20, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Saturday, May 27, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

For more information on the White Plains Youth Athletic Organization, contact Tom or Krista Young at 435-3013 or any other officer: Greg Morrow at 435-7861, Verona Clay at 782-0677, or Bill Pol at 240-9627. Meetings are the second Sunday of every month at 2 p.m. in the Blue Gym at the high school.