Kicking or spiking, there’s plenty of fun this fall

Staying active in colder weather takes a little more effort, but for those who like to kick and spike, there’s plenty of action available on the soccer fields and volleyball courts of Northern Colorado.

Fort Collins

The biggest problem volleyball faces in Fort Collins is a lack of spaces in which to play. “There are 15 to 20 teams all looking for some gym space,´ said Tom Zimdahl, recreation director for the city’s parks and recreation department.

The city organizes volleyball into children’s and adult’s leagues. For more information on signing up for volleyball, contact the parks and rec department at (970) 221-6643. Most of the games are played in Fort Collins, but men’s leagues travel to Loveland. “We tried men’s leagues in the past and we still have them, but they’re played in Loveland,´ said Zimdahl. “We tried to find facilities but we just don’t have them here.”

There are co-ed and women’s leagues in Fort Collins, with 70 to 80 teams organized into eight divisions. All the games are played in the evening between Monday and Friday. Times and places for the games vary. The season runs for about eight weeks. The number of games played is based on age and can vary between six and nine.

Zimdahl said the space problem affects participation. Because of a lack of gym space, the number of people playing volleyball is down this year and there will be no winter volleyball. “There’s tons of interest,” he said. “We could offer larger leagues if we just had the space. I could fit in another 70 or 80 teams.”

The Fort Collins Soccer Club (970-226-4523) handles soccer in Fort Collins. Leagues get divided up into youth teams (which don’t play competitively) advanced teams (which do play competitively) and adult leagues. Team fees are between $75 to $100, depending on if there is a shirt involved and any other equipment. Child fees are between $45 and $75. Al Minatta, director and club manager, said youth leagues start at age five and adult leagues start at 18. Competitive and adult games are played at the Fort Collins Soccer Complex at 3955 N.W. Frontage Road. Youth games are played at city parks throughout the city.

Greeley

Greeley has 40 volleyball teams organized into fall and winter-spring leagues. There is a spring league that starts March 4, 2003, but it’s for kids only. If you’re interested in joining a volleyball league, recreation director Kevin Royal said it will cost $35.

Fall volleyball league games are held at the Greeley Recreation Center, 651 10th Ave. The phone number is (970) 350-9400.

Children’s soccer in Greeley is organized by age. Four and five-year-olds play on the 30-team Mighty Mite squad. Six-to-12-year-olds play on the 60 Young American teams. Both groups play on Saturdays at Monfort and Sanborn parks. Players also practice twice a week. Cost is $25 for the Mighty Mites and $35 for the Young Americans.

Loveland

Athletic coordinator Allan Coseo handles volleyball in Loveland for the city’s parks and rec department while athletic director Tim Larkin coordinates soccer.

Coseo said between 40 to 50 teams take part in fall volleyball, each playing seven games at the Chilson Recreation Center, 700 E. Fourth St. The games are played between 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Winter leagues begin shortly after Christmas, Coseo said. To register or for more information, call the Chilson Center at (970) 962-2386.

Adult fall soccer in Loveland is co-ed, said Larkin, with the season running for eight weeks. Most of the games are played at Kroh Park. Larkin said the cost is about $300 per team and a $20 fee. Each team plays six games.

Between 1,000 and 1,500 kids play soccer in Loveland and the cost is $35 per child, according to Larkin. The children are divided into recreational leagues from kindergarten through sixth grade. Games are held Saturdays at Kroh Park.

Steven Olson is a freelance writer living in Fort Collins.

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