Kids Can Play Soccer on City Fields – For Now

The Clawson Youth Soccer Association on Tuesday was granted a probationary allowance by City Council to use the city's athletic fields for their 2011 season.

The decision was made at the City Council meeting Tuesday night, after parents and children packed the council chambers, pleading with members to rescind a decision to not allow the group to use city fields.

The city had recently notified the league that it was revoking the organization's permission to use city fields for practice after the group failed to provide adequate proof of insurance and organization bylaws as requested by the city. The city recently made that request to all local sports teams that use city property.

“The city had made repeated requests for the (soccer) group to provide information on insurance and bylaws, and after two requests being unanswered, we responded to let them know we’ve not heard a response, and therefore they will not be able to use any city field,” Mayor Penny Luebs said. 

Kelly Williams, the newly appointed president of the Clawson Youth Soccer Association, acknowledged the group had some past issues but said group officials were working to resolve them and recently provided information on the group to the city's attorneys.

“I am here to ask you to reconsider your decision that will prevent more than 300 kids from being able to play soccer in Clawson,” Williams said to the Council.

A packed council chamber heard from parents of Clawson youth soccer players who pleaded with the council to rescind their decision. Chris Stepnitz, of Clawson, asked the council to consider options that could keep the teams in Clawson.

“I would think you could find a solution that could keeps these kids playing here in Clawson,” he said. “We don’t want to go to Royal Oak or Berkley to play soccer.”

Despite the pleas, the council was divided on whether to wait until the city attorney could review the team’s insurance and bylaws, or provide a provisional agreement.

“Our goal here is for the positive reputation for Clawson and for the quality of life, which includes the safety and security of our residents,” said Luebs, who was skeptical of overturning the decision.

Pete Fenwick, district commissioner of the Michigan Youth Soccer Association, said he understood the concerns of the council but said the group needed to submit its schedule to the state by Wednesday and couldn’t wait for the next council meeting.

“For us, tomorrow is the drop-dead date (for league) scheduling,” he said, adding that he personally would help the group reorganize.

Despite the concerns of the council, the deadline appeared to influence members'  decision.

The council unanimously voted on a one-year probationary agreement with the Clawson Youth Soccer Association, which will require the organization to provide proof of insurance for outdoor play and to provide copies of their bylaws to the .

“It’s an excellent decision and I can appreciate where they’re coming from,” Fenwick said, “but I’d like to make the point that they can put their trust in us.”

An ecstatic Williams agreed.

“Obviously we are very happy because we’ll have 300 kids who will be able to play soccer in the spring,” Williams said.

The first soccer game is scheduled for April 16.