The Weatherly Area School District is looking for a new soccer coach, and at least one parent is concerned whether the new coach will continue to grow the program.

At last week's school board caucus, Jen Solonoski, the mother of one of the soccer players, told the board the program has become popular under the direction of coach Steven Baade, whose resignation the board accepted Wednesday night."Over the past three years, I've watched the soccer program grow," Solonoski said. "This program currently has the largest number of student-athletes enrolled of any sport in our school district. On the high school level, with just under 50 boys and girls participating this past year."Solonoski said boys and girls have fallen in love with this sport at a school not large enough to have some other sports, like football."This past summer, they finished fourth in a tournament at Line Mountain," Solonoski said. "It was paid for by players, and reimbursed by the soccer parents. The boys and girls took it upon themselves to train on Sunday afternoons. That was paid for by players and reimbursed by soccer parents."And now, junior high school students are catching the soccer fever."Summer soccer camps got middle school students interested in playing soccer," she said. "They joined a league in Hazleton and formed their own soccer club in town. Many parents expressed interest in forming a soccer program in the community to give the high school team a feeder program."Solonoski tried to describe the degree of popularity of soccer in Weatherly."To many of these players, soccer is not a sport that is just played in the fall. They play it any time of the year, even if they are involved in other sports," she said."Many of these soccer players would play a game of soccer right now if they were given a space to play."Solonoski said she feels that despite its popularity, it is still not regarded as a "big sport" in the school district."As parents and educators, we should want to encourage our kids the right way, to involve them in physical activities and team play and programs that enrich their lives," Solonoski said.To capitalize on the popularity of soccer, the school board should be careful in the new coach they select."The Weatherly area will never have a competitive soccer program unless it is willing to make an effort to recruit a coach who will make it that way," Solonoski said. "We continue to make this program something kids want to be part of. Because of this, it is imperative the board be aggressive in pursuing filling the void left by coach Baade."The popularity of the sport has spawned talent, Solonoski said."We have eight seniors returning in the fall on the boys team, and as many on the girls team," she said. "Most of these kids have been playing together for three years. We should have a very competitive team this fall. This is not a small sport, it is a big sport. The way this situation is handled by you can make or break this sport. Please make this hiring a priority for our kids."Stuart Tripler, the Weatherly High School principal, said he asked Baade to recommend someone, but said that person would have to apply and be interviewed by members of the school board along with anyone else who applies.Board members asked David Marsiglio, the district's business manager, to advertise for applicants for the coaching position.Wednesday night, the board also approved the appointment of 2015-16 spring coaches: Diane Polchin, as assistant softball coach, and Jeffrey Furmanchin as assistant baseball coach, each at $1,394.36 for the year, and the following volunteer coaches: Leann Miller, softball; Mark Kane, junior high girls' softball; and Thomas Hinkle, baseball.Also at the board meeting Wednesday night, Donelle Stump, the Weatherly PTA president, asked about the procedure for getting clearance for PTA members to serve as chaperones at student events.Superintendent Tom McLaughlin said a background check is done every three years for events at school.But McLaughlin said a different check is needed for events outside the school property, like field trips.Distributed by TribuneContent Agency LLC