Soccer opposition letter: Nine Du Quoin coaches say it will hurt programs

Nine Du Quoin coaches and assistant coaches have signed a letter which largely opposes the sanctioning of a new Pinckneyville-Du Quoin cooperative soccer team by the Du Quoin Board of Education.

The letter is now in the possession of District 300 Supt. Dr. Gary Kelly and members of the Board of Education. Four of the five Du Quoin Board of Education members earlier this year approved formation of a soccer "club" under which this fall's program will operate. The vote had nothing to do with creating the cooperative team being planned for next year, nor seeking the sanctioning of such a team by the Illinois High School Association.

The Pinckneyville High School Board of Education has given its unanimous support to the new soccer program as being a good, alternative sport for some athletes.

Some of the concerns in the letter have to do with soccer practice conflicting with practice schedules for football and other sports. It also talks about concerns with respect to the number of kids participating that might make other programs suffer. The names of the nine coaches (not all signed the letter) are not being disclosed. The board will take up the issue at its September meeting.