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thursday may 30 2002 25 economist sun stouffville tribune sports and leisure skys f-i- for local soccer clubs struggle to accommodate sports popularity by john cudmore staff writer for the next month all the world is a pitch while much of the world holds its breath in anticipation as soccers world cup unfolds in japan and south korea beginning tomorrow a dilemma faces local leaders of the globes most popular sport how much success can the sport stand at the local level sure as star players will embel lish fouls in the weeks ahead it is a leadpipe cinch there will be another upward spike in soccer registration across canada in 2003 for officials administering soc cer programs already bursting at the seams in some cases capping registration for certain divisions that presents a problem much has been made of the fact soccer has surpassed hockey in recent years as canadas most popular sport at least in terms of registered players but as the one- two punch of canadian sports hockey and soccer share common ground an acute shortage of facilities the number 1 priority is facil ities from the viewpoint of train- owvavjl jl a ac4jl jl ac4 ing lighting everything said ontario soccer association exec utive director brian avey who claims projections for this year are 350000 registered players in ontario alone were trying to get on munici palities agendas because it takes longterm planning to get facili ties a lot of clubs are starting to look at copartnering with their local municipality some clubs are taking the initiative one such program is the newmarket soccer club which purchased 42 acres last year with an eye toward developing the land for outdoor and yearround soc cer facilities nsc president bill condy said his club experienced 20percent growth after the 1998 world cup in france expectations are there will be a significant surge in num bers next season after this years spectacle there will be another increase and especially on the male side soccer will have even more cachet than hockey said mr condy whose club is capped at approximately 4700 members kids are starting to see a path now to get to the manchester uniteds and top italian teams the top levels like hockey there really hasnt been that corelation in the past see soccer page 26 patrick mangion been there done that pipe dreams go off track at sick park skateboarding is a lot like golf its true one is steeped in tradition and etiquette while the other laughs in the face of such ideals after climbing back into the saddle or in this case a plank of wood with wheels i couldnt remember the last time i had to sign a waiver wear a hel met risk breaking bones or sport fresh road rash to chase a little white ball around but 20yearold todd hohberger skateboarder extraordinaire and instructor at the evolution skateboard park in maple says both sports require a lot of practice and perhaps even more patience mr hohbergers analogy rings true in another way both sports take place in an environment many consider beauti ful tucked behind the sports village on rutherford road sits a vast park filled with more than 20 ramps of varying shapes and sizes as far as skateboarding goes evolution is the mecca of york region seventeenyearold blair barber and friends greg dunn 16 and christian scenna 22 all avid skateboarders and regulars at the newmarket youth centre joined me for this exercise in humility see ollie page 26 2002 fomsmmoau auto air cd antitheft stk 217901 lease for 48 months month if down iibiervc5is t pes s irbiicr ttiom 20q2p1so super ca9 4x2 xu v6 auto air dual media mags ltd slip more stk 221844 lease for 48 months month 4 down 200 taurus 8b sedan pwr pedals air pwr group cd abs stk 213452 lease for 48 months month 4 down 2002 winpstar lx v6 air 7 pass quadruple 5 star safety rating stk 221797 lease for 48 months fmonth down tiaung aw jtuujgjbajphmcualjl alu hh equipped with 3rd row seats dual climate control dual media audio all power convenience stk 221 920 lease for 48 months month down freight administration fees and all taxes extra os leasing oac cap cost leatsee guaranteed lease end values focus sedan 19976 8480 f160 super cab 4x2 xls 30693 14420 taurus sedan 26770 9995 wlndstar lx 26770 9995 explorer xlt 39950 15995 spring bonus has been applied see dealer for details issueee ponn i n ibokfil f i wwwmarkvillefordcbm markville ford foho i if k j- i j slt fcccrrs 4 21 iniain street unionville le n kennedy road j svt i block north of hwy 40 wwwmarkvillefordcom wwwmarkvillefordcom wwwmarkville 9054741350 wwwmarkvillefordcom wwwmarkvillefordcom wwwmarkvillefordcom wwwmarkvillefordcom