Almost exactly a year ago, I created a blog post draft and uploaded this picture:
I meant to come back and write this team’s story, but I was frustrated and then time passed and I lost interest in documenting it.
In a nutshell – last year Hunter’s soccer team had a great season and had an even stronger performance in the region qualifying President’s Cup. A storm passing through caused our semi-final game to be delayed by a day which inevitably pushed our championship game to Sunday – unfortunately, our team doesn’t play on Sundays. In fact, it’s in the name of our club, EVNSFC (East Valley No Sunday Futbol club. Our no-Sunday club exists because their was a need in the competitive soccer environment for those who wished to honor the Sabbath day. We don’t all share the same faith, but we share a common mission.) We tried so hard to work with ASA (Arizona Soccer Association) to reschedule the game for another day but they refused. Although we made it very clear we would not be able to play the game, the league was surprised when we didn’t show up and was extremely upset when our coach showed up and collected our second-place medals. These boys earned those medals, in fact I would argue they would have earned the gold medal had they been given the chance.
Flash forward a year.
The team was bigger, faster and stronger then the previous year and playing better soccer than they ever had before.
They accomplished an amazing feat when they finished their state level league play with a perfect season – not a single loss. They scored 37 goals and only conceded 2 the whole season.
They were ready to take home the state title and advance to the regional tournament and represent their state.
But this weekend, in a similar fashion to last year, their season came to an abrupt end. The semi-finals game that had originally been scheduled for Saturday was rescheduled for Sunday without any explanation. We immediately reached out to ASA to work out an alternate schedule for a religious accommodation and with over three weeks before the championship game they denied our request
This team is used to forfeiting Sunday finals game but it’s because weekend tournaments don’t have time to make any accommodations. The state tournament is very different. It’s played over the course of a month and they take special requests for prom and ACT testing. Just not religious requests.
As the team manager, with the help of the club owner and directors we fought this for weeks. I pleaded with them to please not take this top performing team out of the tournament prematurely, two years in a row. Our club produces some great teams and previous ASA CEO’s have worked with us and created solutions that allowed the best teams to play – regardless of religious requests.
Regardless of all the inclusivity and equal opportunity statements plastered all over their website claiming all kids have a an equal opportunity to compete (and yes, they even point out religious differences as a protected group) this current administration made it very clear – they did not want to work with us.
Sunday, these boys took another disappointing forfeit.
It doesn’t make any sense. There was plenty of time to reschedule. Ironically, it was rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday and then the day before the game it was rescheduled yet again to start 6 hours later. It was clearly in their control to reschedule as they wanted to they just didn’t want to reschedule for us.
Our boys were disappointed and frustrated – they wanted the chance to prove themselves as state champions after forfeiting last year.
And we’re not the only team dealing with this. Currently, our club has forfeited 2 matches in this tournament and will likely forfeit two or three more next weekend. Five teams who should be in championship games were not given the chance. Another club, who also doesn’t participate in Sunday play, had a disappointing forfeit this weekend for their girls team – and their opponent even agreed to play the game on Monday – and the state still refused to accommodate.
I don’t think it’s right.
I’m wondering how seriously US Youth Soccer is committed to their inclusivity statements. It’s one thing to say you’re inclusive of all religious beliefs, but it’s another to be inclusive. 9 times out of 10, we will have to forfeit the finals game on Sunday and we totally understand that – there isn’t time to reschedule games. But this is the 1 out of 10 where we requested accommodation because it is reasonable and has been done in years past, up until last year. And with so many teams having to forfeit in this year’s tournament, ASA is obviously not meeting the needs of the players and feels no responsibility to advance the best performing teams.
I understand plenty of people don’t share our commitment to no-Sunday play, even within our own faith and that is great – it’s a personal choice. Our kids aren’t going pro – in fact they probably won’t even play in college. So as much as we are raising athletic kids who love sports, our faith is far more important and Sunday play is non-negotiable. We are grateful to have found a multi-faith club who shares that same commitment to the Sabbath day.
I don’t know what, if any, civil rights protections and reasonable accommodations exist in youth sports (with organizations who utilize city fields) but you better believe I’m going to start digging to figure it out. I have four boys in club soccer and this has quickly become a battle I’m willing to fight.
