WSA_Youth and Family Master Plan Phase I - September 2009

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the league representatives provided insight into was the barriers to participation, according to what they heard most often from families. The responses are below in rank-order. - Cost- 60% (60% of soccer leagues, 50% baseball, 66% softball, 0% football} - Location- 42% (64% of soccer leagues, 17% baseball, 33% softball, 0% football) - Time- 33% (18% of soccer leagues, 66% baseball, 33% softball, 0% football) - Equipment- 30% (40% for soccer leagues, 0% for baseball and football, 66% softball) Cost was identified as a barrier by the majority of the league respondents. This was independent of whether or not the league had high, average or no registration fees. Respondents also noted that families where several children play soccer can be barriers for some families. League competitiveness ~ player assignments Most of the leagues use skill as a method to assign players to different teams (81 %). However, 4 of the 11 soccer leagues did not form their teams based on skill. Eight of the 21 leagues used neighborhoods as a basis to place youth on different teams. Nine of the 21 leagues created teams based on whether or not youth were Santa Ana residents. Six of 11 the soccer leagues made placement decisions independent of whether or not youth are Santa Ana residents. Over half of the soccer leagues formed teams independent of whether or not youth were from Santa Ana. When soccer league administrators were asked about how they assign teams to particular fields within Santa Ana, the following responses were received: • Availability of fields- 55% • Division of play- 55% • Size of team- 36% • Location of players- 36% • Cost of fields- 9% This corresponds to previous data suggesting that the field use reservation system combined with league preferences, place youth regardless of convenience for players or community integrity. a~ti~f anon In Santa Ana, there are 9 major soccer leagues27 that provide Santa Ana and Orange County youth the opportunity to play soccer. These leagues are comprised of youth from all ages and various cultural and social backgrounds. For many of these youth, participating in these leagues provides them with an athletic alternative from the dangers and challenges that face them during their after-school hours. Of these 9 leagues, the California Youth Soccer Association was by far the largest organization with over 1,845 players representing over 30% of all the youth registered. ConquistAmerica Soccer Club was the smallest league with only 92 players. The 9 leagues can also be broken down into three categories as follows. Table 9. Santa Ana soccer leagues by size Size of League # of Players League ,® ~y California Youth Soccer Association 1,845 27 FC Barcelona and Santa Ana Football Club are not included in this analysis asthe Cityof Santa Ana does not have field-use information for them.