Original plan in this story here.
Change of plans in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association’s attempt to move girls’ soccer to a full-time fall sport across the state starting in 2010.
According to officials, District 3’s request to delay the switch of girls’ soccer to the fall of 2010 was passed unanimously at a PIAA State Board of Directors meeting Friday, meaning girls’ soccer will remain a spring sport in District 3 – including the L-L League – through the spring of 2012.
So it looks like District 3 will switch to a fall girls’ soccer schedule in 2012 – instead of playing a full season in the spring of 2010, then turning around and playing another full season in the fall of 2010. Now the girls’ soccer teams will play a full season in the spring of 2012, then turn around and play another full season in the fall of 2012.
The switch should also enable current players to finish out their soccer career in the spring, while being able to play a fall sport of their choice. Girls moving through middle school programs will now have a longer time to decide which sport they’d like to concentrate on when they reach the varsity level in the fall of 2012.
It is not known how this move will effect the other PIAA districts that contest girls’ soccer in the spring. That group currently includes half of District 1, District 2, District 3, District 11 and District 12. If 1, 2, 11 and 12 switch to 2010, that would leave District 3 without state-playoff partners.
“If I would have been asked a couple of months ago to vote on this, I would have said let’s do it in 2012,” Penn Manor girls’ soccer coach Bill Zapata said. “But now I’d say I’d like to keep it in 2010 because the girls involved now are going through an emotional roller coaster. Plus, it will be unfair if we don’t have a chance to play for a state championship. The girls want that experience of playing the state playoffs.”
The L-L League has produced the last two PIAA Double-A ’spring’ girls’ soccer champs: Lancaster Mennonite in 2008 and Donegal this past spring.
Stay tuned for updates.
