College Considers Soccer Field

BENTONVILLE — A discussion Thursday about creating a temporary soccer field at NorthWest Arkansas Community College led to a broader conversation about the role of athletics at the school.

John Luedtke, the college’s intramural and club sports director, spoke at a Land Use and Facilities Committee meeting about the possibility of setting up a field just east of the Center for Health Professions for the club soccer teams.

At A Glance

New Soccer Coach

Marlon Ivan Leon, a former player for Guatemala’s national soccer team, is expected to take over soon as coach of NorthWest Arkansas Community College’s club soccer team. Leon, 46, will take over for Carlos Chicas, who has coached the team since 2000. This fall the team expects to play Crowder College, Ecclesia College and John Brown University, Chicas said.

Source: Staff Report

The club soccer teams — both men’s and women’s teams — used the All Star Sports Arena in Springdale for practices, but that facility closed recently. A field on campus not only would give the teams a place to practice and play, but also would raise the visibility of the club teams and of club sports in general, Luedtke said.

“The bottom line is, this field will improve the culture and image of NWACC,” Luedtke said.

The only real expense, he said, would be two soccer goals that would cost about $4,200.

The teams once had a place to play on campus, but the field had to be removed to make way for new buildings.

The college has seven club sports — baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, golf, softball and bowling — that compete in various recreational leagues throughout Northwest Arkansas.

The soccer teams will have off-campus places to play games, but now have nowhere to practice, coach Carlos Chicas said.

Joe Spivey, chairman of the Land Use and Facilities Committee, said a more visible soccer program on campus would help to draw and retain students.

Luedtke expanded on that notion, saying he always has thought the college ought to offer a wider range of athletic opportunities along with athletic scholarships. Spivey suggested Luedtke could work with the college’s foundation to see if money could be raised toward that purpose.

But Evelyn Jorgenson, college president, said she wanted to proceed carefully before expanding the school’s athletic program in any way.

“I think there needs to be some additional discussion,” Jorgenson said. “We need to have a little more than some feedback here and there. Let’s do it in a very organized way. Let’s do some real research so we know how to plan for it and how to pay for it. It’s expensive to do. We’re kidding ourselves if we think it isn’t.”

The college has had club soccer teams since 1990, Luedtke said. It is the college’s most popular club sport, regularly drawing between 20 and 25 students per year. The teams play in the fall and spring.

No action was taken at Thursday’s committee meeting. Jorgenson will discuss the soccer field idea with her cabinet next week. If the administration comes up with a recommendation on the subject, it must first be approved by the Land Use and Facilities Committee and the Board of Trustees.

Ethan Beckcom, director of emergency and risk management, said the soccer field idea is achievable from a risk management perspective. The main issues, he said, would be getting signs explaining to people they use the field at their own risk, as well as making sure the goals are anchored properly so they can’t tip and possibly hurt someone.

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