Augusta Christian may begin soccer programs

Augusta Christian Schools' Board of Trustees has tentatively approved the addition of boys and girls soccer programs to begin this spring.

"There was enough interest that our board put together a committee to study the feasibility," Augusta Christian athletic director Bruce Lane said. "We feel like if it does not happen this spring it will definitely happen next year if we're able to budget it. I feel pretty confident that it will happen this spring."

Augusta Christian Headmaster Joel Woodcock said the two new varsity teams will begin play this spring as long as three contingencies are met: student interest, sufficient funding and the ability to secure coaching staffs for both teams.

The startup cost for a new soccer program would run from $25,000-$30,000, none of which was budgeted for the 2006-07 school year.

"The most critical part would be the funding because it was not budgeted for this year so everything would have to be raised," Lane said. "It will have to be based on some donations to get the program started."

Lane said interest in adding a soccer program actually began 10 years ago when Augusta Christian was a member of the Georgia Independent Schools Association.

However, the idea never became a reality because the GISA soccer season is in the fall and in direct conflict with football. Now a member of the South Carolina Independent Schools Association, the school thinks a soccer program is more feasible because SCISA offers soccer as a spring sport.

The addition of boys and girls varsity soccer would bring the number of sports teams offered at Augusta Christian to 19. The teams aren't the first to be added since Lane took over as athletic director.

"In the past five years we have added girls volleyball, swimming and now hopefully soccer. We would like to add wrestling when time and finances permit," he said.

Woodcock said a final decision on the program will be made in the coming weeks.