“Goal!”

That was the message at the Andalusia Board of Education meeting Monday night when the board agreed to establish middle school and high school soccer programs for the upcoming soccer season.

Superintendent Ted Watson said he spoke with Alabama High School Athletic Association officials Monday and was told it was too late to get into the competition portion of the season, mainly because most teams already had set schedules.

However, the can have an abbreviated season.

Watson said the list he received was less than what was presented at the previous board meeting at which board members agreed to move ahead with a school soccer program. Nineteen boys and 17 girls from the high school signed up.

“This abbreviated season will give these kids a chance to come out and play, and to see how involved they are going to be,” he said. “If all goes well we could play a full-fledged season next year.”

Watson said the goal is to have a boys and girls team, which needs 11 members each.

They would most likely play in the 1A to 4A classification.

A team must be established by Jan. 15. The first practice is Jan. 21 and the first game would be around Feb. 23.

Preliminary figures showed the team could be established for $8,000, which supporters have already raised the majority.

Additionally, the City of Andalusia has agreed to let the teams use the their fields.

The board must also find a faculty member will to be at the practices and games.

It is unknown when tryouts will be held.