The soccer community in Kingsville is crying foul over a false start to the season following the town’s confirmation its field rentals begin in May, after kids had already taken their cleats to the pitch. Over the weekend, both the Kingsville and Cottam soccer associations notified its members their seasons would be delayed two weeks after the town issued notice any use before May 1 wouldn’t be permitted and could constitute trespassing. “What hurts us the most, working with the town, we’ve had a great relationship. It’s really just better communication we hope for in future years,” said Michael Chabot, the treasurer for the Kingsville Soccer Association (KSA), in an interview with CTV News. Chabot says the Kingsville league started with a coaches meet-and-greet on April 14, with coaches running scrimmages and practices the following week while they waited for nets to be put up. He says that followed a conversation with town officials about the scheduled start of the season and receiving “some assurances” nets could be installed the week of April 20. “We’ve been expressing our start date for months now with the town, even as recent as April 9,” said Chabot. “At no point was there any mention that fields would be closed until May 1.” On Sunday, the town issued a statement seeking to clarify some of the ensuing confusion caused by the delayed soccer seasons. The town’s statement read in part: “While we always aim to open earlier in April when weather allows, this year’s heavy rainfall has left fields too wet for both play and maintenance.” In an interview with CTV News, the town’s director of its Parks and Recreation Department says the May 1 start date is cemented in policy and deviations are weather-dependent. “I can’t speak to why they went out on the fields earlier, I can only speak to the town issuing permits for the May 1 start,” said Nada Tremblay. “It’s not unlike any other municipality. These things happen. Folks get excited to get out there and enjoy the weather and enjoy the fields and that’s what we want.” Tremblay is asking for patience as town crews work to get the fields up to snuff. “We just want to make sure that everyone understood that we’re working on it, we’re trying to get them ready for this season and just to bear with us and Mother Nature so that we can get them going,” said Tremblay. Chabot says the schedule hiccup could impact summer plans families have made around the house league season. “They understand, you know, that we’re volunteers doing the best that we can,” said Chabot. KSA has pushed its season back by two weeks, now ending July 4 instead of June 20. Meanwhile, a statement from the Cottam Soccer Association posted online read in part: “It feels like the effort we spent getting you out on the fields early was in vain.” The KSA has 459 active registrants this year across six age divisions ranging from Timbits to U18 and 59 association volunteers, plus matchday officials, that make the league possible. Field openings In Kingsville, Tremblay notes the region’s harsh winter weather, in addition to the recent rain, has meant fields are taking a touch longer to be ready for user groups. “The timing allows for proper spring recovery following winter conditions such as thawing, drainage, [and] turf stabilization,” said Tremblay. “Opening fields too early can lead to surface damage [and] long-term maintenance issues.” In Windsor, city staff are preparing to open baseball and softball diamonds as of May 2, weather permitting. Fields for all other activities aren’t set to open until May 9. In the interim, the city has asked users to “refrain” from using the fields to allow for the turf to mature. Tecumseh town officials tell CTV News outdoor recreation sports fields are set to open in early May, aligning with the town’s typical seasonal schedule; however, there will be select baseball diamonds opening next week to accommodate an annual memorial baseball tournament. Amherstburg officials say fields are not yet open due to wet conditions and there is no opening date scheduled yet. In Essex, sport fields have opened for the season but are subject to weather closures, as was the case last week.
