First , I would like to say that as the son of a member of the 82nd Airborne (Vietnam) and the father of a Marine who served three tours in Iraq, thank you for your service. I would like to address your recent article titled Evolution of LCC-1 High School Soccer. You repeatedly state that there are sufficient student-athletes to support a soccer program; however, toward the end of the article, you indicate that the program would be coed and operate on a junior varsity schedule. This suggests that there may not be enough students within the district to field either a boys’ or girls’ team independently.

It takes 11 players to field a team, and realistically, a sustainable program requires approximately 30 athletes per year. Based on my review of MSHSAA participation data, very few schools are able to field JV teams. As a former high school coach myself, I can say with confidence that you would likely be competing against varsity squads, making it difficult to schedule matches or remain competitive. Athletic schedules are typically arranged years in advance, often on a two-year cycle. Expecting to assemble a viable schedule for the upcoming season is unrealistic, particularly when established programs are unlikely to replace competitive matches with what would essentially function as a scrimmage.

Additionally, only three other public schools in Class1 soccer – Fair Grove, Cameron, and Lone Jake (which cooperates with Kingsville to field a football team) attempt to offer football, cross country, and soccer all in the fall season. This leaves Lafayette County C-1 as the smallest Class 1 school in Missouri attempting to promote soccer, with an enrollment gap of as many as 100 students compared to peer districts.

You have referenced conversations with ‘top officials’ at MSHSAA; however, these discussions are readily accessible via a phone call, which they will answer. I also have professional-level contacts at MSHSAA, and my son serves on the statewide advisory board for wrestling. At no point in your social media posts or published articles have you adequately addressed the financial impact on the district.

This raises several important questions. What is your plan for a playing and practice field? The main field is not configured for soccer and is not regulation size; modifying it would require significant expense. The Little League field is a multi-use space, and there have been multiple prior social media posts criticizing the school during periods when you were permitted to use it.

Have you fully accounted for the costs associated with field maintenance, transportation, officials, supervision, and coaching salaries? It appears there is an assumption that you would serve as the sole coach, but that is neither realistic nor sustainable. Additionally, given that your son will be entering high school next fall, it is fair to ask how long you intend to remain involved.

Having served on various church boards, the Higginsville Park Board, and currently as Director of Maintenance for Lafayette County C-1, I believe it is the responsibility of these institutions to exercise sound financial stewardship. Spending district funds without a clear, sustainable plan would be fiscally irresponsible and contrary to that duty. Respectfully, Jim Padley