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SURF Soccer League pitches local youth training program, asks Sunnyside for field access
Summary
Alfredo Reyes, representing Washington East SURF, told Sunnyside council the club can deliver development-focused training, scholarships and free clinics; he asked to use city fields and indoor space to reduce costs for families.
Alfredo Reyes, a Granger city councilmember and local representative of Washington East SURF (SURF Soccer Club), told the Sunnyside City Council that SURF wants to expand into the Lower Valley and partner with the city to offer player-development training and youth programs.
The presentation, delivered during the council’s open session, outlined SURF’s structure, coach certification requirements, scholarship opportunities, and both free and fee-based programs. “They prioritize the development, the growth, the training,” Reyes said, describing the club’s emphasis on certified coaches and pathways to college and international play.
Reyes told council SURF operates academies for ages as young as 3 through high school, runs winter futsal sessions and hopes to place competitive teams into tournaments when ready. For a sample recreational program he described a nine-week course consisting of about 18 sessions priced at $95 and including two training shirts; scholarships and sponsor-funded fee reductions are available. Reyes said SURF has run free clinics and open sessions in nearby communities and that Granger and Grandview have donated field use for SURF activities.
Council members asked whether SURF seeks to run games or only training. Reyes clarified the club’s local focus is on training and player development rather than establishing a city-run league. “Let me clarify that training, not no running leagues,” he said. Councilors also pressed on cost and access: one councilor summarized that sponsorships and scholarships could make programs free for some families, and another noted practical barriers for seasonal agricultural workers who cannot travel to distant practices.
City Manager (unnamed) said the city lacks registration infrastructure and cannot handle sign-ups, but that SURF could handle registration and said Granger and its school district donate field use in that city. The manager also noted legal constraints around providing public resources: staff and council discussed whether offering city fields without a fee would constitute an improper gift of public funds; city staff observed municipal governments commonly allow community groups to use parks and fields for public benefit.
No formal action was taken. Council thanked Reyes and directed staff to continue conversations about facility use, scheduling and potential sponsorships so the club could provide more concrete proposals for field access and any required agreements.
Ending: Council members expressed support for further discussion while noting budget and staffing limits; staff will return with options for permitting, facility access and any required agreements or concessions.
