Bakersfield College has a great soccer program for women. The only problem that I have with the program is that there is no men’s team. With so many advanced male soccer players at Bakersfield College, the question remains, “Why not?” Title IX of 1972 requires equal treatment and number of teams for both sexes, and I understand that. I think that there should be a men’s soccer team for the college. A lot of talent on this campus is going to waste. When I say “waste,” I basically mean that while these athletes do excel in their respected sports, they could go even further with a men’s soccer program that they want to have.
If adding a men’s soccer team would throw the balance off of the athletic department, then I would suggest adding another women’s team of their choice within the boundaries of what other colleges have. To add two more athletic programs would be equal and fair, but there could be financial problems.
To receive any funding necessary, the school could put together a fundraiser or fundraisers for the men’s soccer program. I would expect a huge turnout for these fundraisers because of the popularity of the sport in general at Bakersfield College and in Bakersfield and Kern County.
The cost of the equipment would not be cheap at all, but not many sports are relatively cheap these days when it comes to colleges. However, with funding, I believe a team could be made at Bakersfield College that would last for future generations.
By adding a men’s soccer program, the school could very well receive more recognition by showing that the Bakersfield area and Kern County are full of talented soccer athletes. By allowing these male athletes to play soccer, these athletes could also receive various soccer scholarships to universities and gain the school even more ground on being known as an excellent place to go to college. I can only assume at this point, but it would seem that Bakersfield College could have one of the best men’s soccer programs in the state. The men’s soccer team would play mainly against the same teams whom the women’s team plays in the fall with few changes.
The men’s soccer team could also share the same field as the women with hopefully no conflict. If there are conflicts with other athletic teams, there are plenty of other places for the team to play at Cal State Bakersfield or local high schools would be the best places. By adding just one more athletic program to Bakersfield College, it would make the school better known, and male soccer athletes would be able to transfer easier to four-year universities.
The problems that most would cite are the financial aspects and the equality issues in the athletic departments, but these problems can be solved. There are more than enough male soccer players at Bakersfield College, so there would not be a shortage of players. Furthermore, it would not be a waste of time. There could be an increase in school support as well. This would add to the support for other athletic teams on campus.
There has been an effort in the past to get a men’s soccer team together at Bakersfield College. Obviously, that has not happened. Each semester goes by without one. However, rumor has it that the men’s soccer team could very well form by next fall. If so, this would please many people in the present and in the future. I hope that it really does go through. Playing soccer for Bakersfield College would be for all no matter the gender.