Soccer complex still a dud

When it comes to the state high school soccer tournament venue, size matters.

And the fields at the Albuquerque Public Schools soccer complex on the West Side, where the tournament has been held since 2009, are just too small. In addition, the artificial turf makes the play too fast, according to players and coaches.

Time has not made the situation any better. Complaints have been coming since the $6 million complex was built seven years ago.

Although APS did make the fields a bit bigger, they are still barely above the national minimum standards for high school soccer and smaller than the fields most out-of-state teams use.

So when those teams make it to state, they find themselves playing at a site where a goalie can punt a ball the length of the field and score a goal. It does not sit well with athletes, coaches or fans. Now the New Mexico Activities Association is looking for a new home for the second week of state tournament play, possibly by 2017. There are options: the 22 grass fields at Santa Ana Pueblo, or the Field of Dreams complex in Las Cruces, for example. Both have played host to previous state tournaments.

The APS complex could still be used by local schools for regular-season games or perhaps by younger age local youth soccer leagues, so perhaps the $6 million is not a complete waste.

But teams that have played their way into state title competition should be rewarded for their hard work by having appropriate fields that let them showcase their talent.

You can hardly blame the NMAA for seeking greener pastures.