Soccer season kicks off in Merrick

The Merrick Police Athletic League kicked off the spring 2010 soccer season on March 27 with its first-ever intramural soccer festival at Coleman Country Day Camp in Merrick.

More than 100 children on more than 20 teams came to play, with all proceeds from the event — which raised more than $2,400 — benefiting the Forever9 Robbie Levine Foundation, which fosters heart health in children; the Chordoma Foundation, which funds research into this rare form of cancer; and the new PAL Internship program, which will bring former PAL members who continue to play soccer in the Central High School District back to help coach and teach younger players.

Some of the intramural teams — all made up of kids in kindergarten through second grade — enjoyed a sunny Saturday on Coleman's outdoor fields. Others kicked around on a versatile new indoor field, removable turf that transforms the day camp's 14,000-square-foot Grand Playhouse facility from a summertime basketball court, volleyball court and rock climbing center into a heated soccer field in the winter.

"The feedback has been terrific," day camp owner Ross Coleman said of the indoor field, which is new this year. "There is a huge demand for soccer on Long Island. It's just a big part of Long Island youth."

"This was a special day for Merrick PAL Soccer," PAL Commissioner Skip Haile said. "It was a day filled with smiles, laughs, goals and good-natured competition and sportsmanship displayed by all the players and coaches. The program allowed the youth of Merrick to play soccer together, and all players and coaches left feeling like champions."

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