Nearly 100 Tonawanda Soccer Club players and parents appeared before the Tonawanda school board on Tuesday night to show their support for a modified soccer program in the city school district.

City soccer advocates have asked the board to implement a modified program several times over the past decade, but to no avail.

“Past decision-making may have been the result of a perceived lack of interest or desire for this program within the community,” said Ronald Schoelerman, a volunteer coach with the Tonawanda Soccer Club. “We have come tonight to ensure that our desire and passion is recognized in any future decision-making regarding modified soccer for the district.”

Schoelerman said approximately a quarter of city kids between the ages of 4 and 18 play soccer; there are 500 participants in the Tonawanda Soccer Club. In addition, the financial impact to the district’s budget would be approximately $20,000, including the cost of coaches, transportation, uniforms and equipment, he said.

The financial impact represents less than one-half of one percent of Tonawanda’s current budget, according to Schoelerman.

“There is a growing need for modified soccer based on the reported turnout for youth tryouts this past fall,” Schoelerman said, adding that Tonawanda is one of two area districts that doesn’t currently have a program at that level.

Without a modified program, some players at the junior varsity level don’t get as much playing time as they could, Schoelerman said, adding that the modified program also would provide numerous physical, personal and social benefits to its participants.

Soccer club members have asked the school board to implement the program for next school year. Board President Joyce Hogenkamp said the board and Superintendent Whitney Vantine, himself a former modified soccer coach, are currently investigating the possibility.

Hogenkamp said the board talked about modified soccer six years ago when the district established its boys swimming program. “With the great interest in soccer in the community, I’d like to explore this opportunity for the kids,” she said.

In other business Tuesday night, the school board unanimously approved nine change orders totaling $109,933 to the district’s capital project. In August, the board approved $72,700 in change orders to the construction project.

Contact reporter David J. Hill at 693-1000, ext. 115.