The
Northern Columbus Athletic Association traces its roots back to the summer of
1959 when the North Linden Kiwanis started a summer ball program with 35 teams
on six diamonds. In 1966 this group changed its name to the Northern Columbus
Athletic Association. By 1970 the softball program grew to include 1500
children. In 1973 the Association purchased 25 acres of land on Clark State
Road in Gahanna for construction of ball diamonds. This land was financed
through a variety of fundraisers such as donut sales, card parties, and garage
sales.
Soccer began modestly in fall 1974. By the spring of 1975 there were 130 boys
and girls participating. That Fall, the program grew to 400 children on 33
teams. Eventually the program grew to over 2000 participants and land became a
problem. Fields were located throughout the city, problems with crowded fields,
parking, and families having games at several locations at the same time led to
the need for a new, larger site. The Clark State land was paid off in 1978, and
in 1980 was sold to provide a down payment on the current land.
In 1980 this present complex was a sloping field. Activity that first year
included clearing, grading, and seeding. Subsequent efforts included additional
over seeding, construction of parking lots, and building a storage building.
A major goal was reached in 1984 with the completion of a permanent concession
stand with restrooms and storage rooms. Proceeds from the concession stand go
directly back into our youth sports programs. The shelter house was built in
the Spring of 1991. A substantial donation from Big Bear Stores provided the
means to build two dugouts in 1991, and Seven Up has provided funding for two
more dugouts that were built in 1993. In 1999 the Association sold approx. 24
acres of land in the ravine on the north side of the property. This land was
not usable for our sports facility and was desirable for a housing development.
The complex consists of 53 acres, of which about 50 are usable. The land
development to date represents an investment of close to one million dollars.
The land was paid off in December of 1989, due almost totally to the fund
raising efforts of the children and adults participating in our sports
programs.
Our newest addition to our facility is a new entry sign featuring a state of
the art message board. This sign was purchased with proceeds from sponsorship
through 7-Up and RC Cola Bottling Co. and Riverside Sports Medicine.
The Northern Columbus Athletic Association currently has about 1100 children
playing soccer each Spring and Fall, on 66 recreational and 21 select teams,
and about 900 youths on 75 recreational involved in our summer softball and
baseball program. With room for 21 soccer fields of various sizes, and 17
permanent ball diamonds, we serve athletes from age 3 in instructional leagues,
recreational leagues, select/traveling programs, and parents and affiliates in
an adult soccer program. In 1997, we began providing an adult softball league
as a further service to our members. In 1998, we began an 18 to 20 baseball
league for our oldest members.
Beginning In 1980 years, farmland has been transformed into soccer fields and
ball diamonds that comprise the current sports complex. Our Association plans
continued improvements in the complex and our youth sports programs to make an
even more enjoyable experience for our members. These plans will take time and
money, of course, but most importantly, the continued dedicated volunteer work
that has characterized the Northern Columbus Athletic Association since its
inception.
Through the years our organization has grown to be one of the most successful
baseball and soccer organizations in Central Ohio. Our baseball and softball
programs are one of the few that still offers instructional and recreational
programs without the heavy emphasis on select and traveling teams that is found
in many other organizations. Our select soccer program has developed a national
reputation for outstanding select soccer teams that are routinely in the final
rounds of the tournaments and state games that they enter. Some of our teams
have even traveled to Europe to play in world tournaments. In 1997, our U-14
girls won such a tournament in Denmark.
One of our most successful annual fundraisers is the Northern Columbus Athletic
Association Soccer Classic. This two-day select soccer tournament is held each
summer in August and draws teams from around the country. Over the past
thirteen years, this tournament has grown from just a few local teams to over
100 of the best select soccer teams in the country. As the reputation of this
tournament has grown, so have our corporate sponsors for this event. In 1990,
our first sponsor, Donatos Pizza joined as a major program sponsor. The
competition at this tournament grows each year and with it the desire by teams
far and wide to be selected to participate in this most prestigious of select
soccer tournaments. And each year our corporate sponsors are so impressed by
our organization and execution of this tournament that they usually sign up to
sponsor the tournament the next year before the current tournament is over.
This is a real testament to the professionalism with which this tournament is
organized and run.
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