Babylon Soccer Parents And School Face Off Over Use Of Fields

BABYLON, NY —Because of the Village of Babylon's small size, the Babylon Soccer Club, a youth soccer club, has always relied on using school fields for practices and games. But a constellation of conflicting sport league, school district and state rules around coronavirus has left the club in limbo: not sure if they will be able to commit to a fall practice schedule or games without an official nod from the Babylon school district that they will be able to utilize school fields as in years past.

Peter Wieland is a Babylon resident whose three children all play for the club. He started a petition asking the district to reconsider not allowing the club to use the fields after Superintendent Linda Rozzi originally announced the club could not file permits to use the field in August.

"We are obviously disheartened by the decision of Superintendent Rozzi and the Babylon School District Board of Education to deny us permission to file for permits to use the school's fields for the fall season. According to Mrs. Rozzi, the decision was based on the NYS Department of Health’s decision to delay the start of the fall season for 'interscholastic' sports and their concern that the school would be sued if they allowed us to use the fields and there was a coronavirus outbreak," Stefana Mueller, a coordinator of the Babylon Soccer Club, wrote on the club's website in August.

Since then, Wieland tells Patch the club hasn't been given an official word that they will be able to use the fields after September 21, the date Gov. Cuomo has said low-risk high school sports can resume.

"We'd have to scramble to get practice going and field space," he says.

"We are just looking for a firm answer. And the fear of litigation isn't going anywhere, it's still going to be there in the future."

The Town of Babylon has lent the club some use of fields, but it's not enough to get on the league game schedules, Wieland says.

"Our biggest problem is the games on the weekend. We are still in a severe shortage and we can't get a practice schedule. Why can't the district review our permit now and approve it now?"

Wieland's petition has so far garnered 640 signatures.

Babylon Superintendent of Schools Linda Rozzi's office sent Patch the following statement on the issue: "The district has kept all facilities closed since the Governor’s Executive Order in order to ensure the well-being of our students, staff and community members. As long as the governor maintains September 21 as the permissible date for school sports teams to begin, community groups will be allowed to compete on district property at that time. Such groups will need to complete a permit request, have it approved and supply the district with their COVID-19 safety plan to ensure safety measures are being followed while using all school property."

New York State has allowed youth soccer since July 6 and clubs across Long Island that use municipal or private club fields have been playing according to the league and New York State Department of Health COVID-19 regulations.