Marni Seigel, Nederland.  Peak to Peak Youth Soccer (Peak Soccer), a Teens Inc. Recreational Program, is a co-ed mountain soccer league that is heading into its 19th season. The 2018 season will start the week of August 13, 2018, with practices at the Nederland Elementary School fields. Youth aged 5, or entering kindergarten, to 13 are invited to join. Six games will be played between three mountain leagues: Gilpin County, Clear Creek County (Idaho Springs) and Nederland.

Marni Siegal is the 2018 Peak Soccer coordinator. She is contracted with Teens Inc. to oversee program operations. Marni has already begun getting things in place for the 2018 season. Practice days have been determined, game days have been scheduled and registration is currently open!

Peak to Peak soccer is expanding this fall to include middle school ages. In the past, players have “aged out” of the league after their 6th grade season. However, local parents expressed interest in their players having the opportunity to continue playing soccer throughout middle school. NMSHS was also interested in seeing Peak Soccer expand, as next year the school will be offering both boys’ and girls’ soccer teams at the high school level. All three Peak Soccer communities agreed to expand the league through 8th grade and are excited to offer this opportunity to our mountain soccer players.

With the expansion into middle school, there has been some shuffling of Peak Soccer Divisions. This fall, the three communities will continue to offer U7 (K-1st grade) and U9 (2nd-3rd grade) divisions. U12 (4th-6th grade) will no longer be offered. Instead, Peak Soccer will be offering U11 (4th-5th grade) and U14 (6th-8th grade) divisions. The three Peak Soccer coordinators feel that the new age divisions will work well, and it is an age split that local parents have also requested in the past.

This fall, Nederland Peak Soccer is anticipating fielding three U7 teams, three U9 teams, two U11 teams and one or two U14 teams. Because of this, there will be some changes to practice days this fall. U7 players will practice with their teams once a week, either Mon, Tues or Thurs. U9 players will practice with their teams once a week, either Wed, Thurs or Fri. U11 players will practice with their teams twice a week, either Mon/Tu or Mon/Wed. U14 players will practice with their teams twice a week, Tu/Fri, with a potential W/F practice option if 2rd U14 team is needed. To accommodate siblings, care was taken to ensure that each age division overlaps each other age division at least once a week.

Games for the 2018 season will start on Aug. 25 and run through Oct. 6 with Oct. 13 reserved as a makeup day. Nederland will host games on Sept. 8 and Sept. 29; Idaho Springs will host on Sept. 15 and Oct. 6; and Gilpin will host on Aug. 25 and Sept. 22. Care was taken in determining the game schedule to hold games in Gilpin or Nederland during other Nederland events, such as the Ned-Ned Race, Ned Fest and Wild Bear’s Enchanted Forest, so that Peak Soccer families would have the opportunity to enjoy these other community events.

Peak Soccer relies heavily on parent volunteers to provide everything from coaching and snacks to field lining, refereeing, concessions and overall coordination. Head coach volunteers receive 50% off the registration fee for the player whose team they will be coaching. Coaches are still needed at all levels. Please contact Marni (peaksoccer@gmail.com) before registering your player if you are interested in coaching.

Fundraising from concession sales and support from Teens Inc. allows Peak Soccer to offer limited scholarships. Please contact Marni (peaksoccer@gmail.com) to inquire about these first come, first serve scholarships. In addition, Peak Soccer is hosting a gear swap at Teens Inc. on Sunday July 15th 3pm-6pm. If you have soccer gear (including jerseys) that your player no longer needs, or if your player is in need of gear, please stop by!

Registration for Peak Soccer is open and will continue through July 31st. Late registration will open on August 4th and will incur a $20 late fee. Late registrants will be placed on teams as space allows. To ensure your player a spot on a team and avoid the late fee, be sure to register by July 31st! Registration is available on-line at www.peaktopeaksoccer.org or in person at Teens Inc. (151 East Street, Nederland). If you are interested in coaching or have questions regarding scholarships or anything else, please contact Marni Siegal at peaksoccer@gmail.com or 303-718-1025.

(Originally published in the June 28, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)