This petition is simply a survey to collect feedback from our community as to whether or not there is enough support to bring a request for consideration before our HISD School Board for additional research in possibly introducing a well-loved global sport into our athletics program. 

Though my child has harbored a deep love for soccer for over 10 years, his affection for the sport is shared by many in our comimunity who currently play in area rec leagues and travel clubs. This petition is not just about my child as he will graduate in three years.  This project is about all who share this growing passion and are missing out on the opportunity to learn teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship, while striving for possible collegeate success, simply because their interest and strenghts do not lie in activities currently offered.  It’s about those kids who may not have the interest or natual talents to play football, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, swimming or even the bass club.  It’s about those students who can run like the wind and have great foot to ball to goal coordination.  It's about those looking for an outlet of energy and focus that has not yet been afforded and who may not even know is needed.  

Our high school already boasts an impressive football field with computerized field-striping machine; significant stadium seating with sound system, and the best high school concessions in the area.  We  already have a coach on staff, seasoned in the sport from his previous school district, who is experienced in training and conditioning soccer players.  Soccer season is opposite of football, so rational for upkeep of the current field, stands and concessions would be justified in continuous use and maintenance during the second semester of school.  And we can all agree that player conditioning would be brought to a whole new level for strength and stamina which helps those students who are interested in playing multiple sports.  In addition, adding a soccer program will have significant bilateral support of both male and female athletes which allows our district to comply with UIL requirements.  And due to low player number requirements, we could possibly field both a JV and Varsity team even in the first season. 

Everything being said, the infrastructure is already in place but there are things to consider other than just a set of goals, a few balls, and enough uniforms to kickstart a soccer program.  This is where additional research from our HISD Board would be needed.  Fortunately, most players in athletics already purchase their own cleats and shin guards to ensure fit and comfort, so we're estimating a start-up cost of approximately $5,000 for the initial program. And, concessions and gate fee revenue for this sport during season and possible tournaments could quickly offset this cost; however, if needed, the community could assemble a fundraiser to raise intitial funds to finance the start-up project and lessen impact to school budget.

For those not familiar with soccer, the U.S Youth Soccer Organization's 2019 report reflects that over 3 million American kids participate in youth soccer leagues each year and this growth continues to rise - evidence that there is significant interest in this sport among young people.  Including soccer into our athletics program aligns us with other districts that recognize the importance of diverse opportunities for students; thereby, attracting families looking to move into the district but don't due to this lack in our athletics offering.

At this time, Huntington Independent School District (HISD) is one of the few schools in our region that does not offer soccer as part of its athletics program in either a club or UIL-sanctioned capacity.  The good news is that the following area districts already have soccer programs, several of which we already play in football and basketball:

• Carthage
• Central
• Central Heights
• Center
• Corrigan
• Crockett
• Diboll
• Fairfield
• Henderson
• Hudson
• Jacksonville
• Jasper
• Kilgore
• Livingston
• Madisonville
• Nacogdoches
• Palestine High Wildcats
• Palestine Westwood
• San Augustine
• Trinity
• White House

Our request is that if you are an HISD parent, student or community member in favor of adding soccer to our athletics program, we ask that you please sign this notice of interest and provide any feedback for HISD School Board consideration.  Thank you.