If anyone follows the local soccer scene, people know it's full of pay to play schemes, allegations of "poaching" players and coaches between clubs, everybody wanting to be king of the hill in the 775, disputes over field access between different leagues, and accusations swirling around.
This morning there were shots fired by Marc Radow, the president of the
BattleBorn Futbol Club, which is working on a private stadium and whose top men's team now competes at the National Independent Soccer Association level.
Here is part of an email Radow sent out:
"If you've been involved in sports, watching your kids or competing, you know too well, no field no game. Simply, without sports fields there can be no club, no league.
Fields are good. More fields are even better. Too many fields... well, let's not go that far. The City of Reno, Washoe County, and Sparks haven't built a new field in more than a decade. All the while our population swells and density increases, and our families have fewer places to play.
Sadly, more fields do not mean more play. More of something doesn't always trickle down to... we the people. More fields also don't mean 'better' fields. Parks & Rec departments remind us there isn't enough money or resource to maintain the fields we have. More fields will stretch that further.
Do more fields mean worse fields?
What's the big issue?
Fields are mismanaged and the allocation (who gets to use them) is the BIG problem. The bureaucratic system rewards status quo and seniority regardless of quality, innovation (new or alternative sports), or opportunity.
The league / club that used a field last year gets priority to the same field next year. It's automatic, designed that way. That's status quo. A new sport, a new league, a better pathway, a bigger opportunity... all NO!
The City relinquishes the allocation of fields to a conflicted, self-serving, personal interest back-door group that rewards itself to the detriment of... We the People...."
The email goes on to ask locals to write to the City of Reno publiccomment@reno.gov asking for a reform to field allocation.
What are your own views on this local soccer situation and who gets to use which fields?