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Date: 7/1/2022
BELCHERTOWN – Tim Haley is about as involved as you can get in the Cold Spring Soccer Club.
He’s president and coach – and his three children have either played or currently play for the Belchertown club.
Cold Spring has 200 members, boys and girls in Grades K-8 who play soccer all year. They break down into 10 teams, based on age, gender and skill level. The club invites high school soccer players to join them for the spring season.
Haley said the club’s mission is “To develop the players, and while doing so, help them create a love relationship for the sport.”
The soccer club isn’t part of any town league or school program. It’s a member of the Roots League – hundreds of soccer clubs from Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties. They play in the spring and fall, practice in the summer and winter.
“We make sure we’re developing our kids. They’re very competitive at all ages – we’re a competitive club. But we make sure they’re enjoying themselves and the sport,” said Haley.
The goal for division one teams is to win the statewide championship. Division two and three teams compete for regional top honors.
Cold Spring and the other Western Massachusetts clubs are part of the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association, the largest youth sports organization in America. The team was founded 28 years ago and has seen thousands of boys and girls pass through its program.
“You see all the hard work you put in during practices come to fruition during the games. Seeing the results of that hard work is very gratifying to the players,” said Haley.
While the focus is on winning championships, players score off the field by making strong friendships with their teammates.
“Maybe the kids see a student in the hallways they don’t see in class. They wouldn’t know that person otherwise, but now they’re on the soccer team together. Now when they see each other in the hallways, they’re more connected with each other,” said Haley.
Players aren’t the only ones making friends at practices and games. Soccer connects adults as well. “It becomes a tight knit family. My wife and I have a lot of friends that we hang out with. The friendships grew out of us being involved in the club,” said Haley.
Throughout the year, coaches, current players and team alumni offer free clinics and training sessions to children that want to play soccer. But the club does charge to join the team. The fee is based on age and ranges from $90 for the younger players to $140 for the older ones per season. The cost of joining can also be based on a family’s income.
All the players and coaches in the soccer club have their eyes on winning a championship. But they also score when they foster a sense of friendship and community. “You see the growth of the kids and the way they interact. When they’re in school, there’s a set of rules. You have to handle yourself in a certain manner. Once they get outside of school, it’s a little more free. The kids can act in a different environment, and they enjoy the camaraderie,” said Haley.
Interested parties can find the Cold Spring Soccer Club on Facebook @CSSoccerClub.