PBSC Athletics Adding Women's Soccer in 2021, Will Discontinue Softball in 2020

Palm Beach State College leadership has made the decision to add a women’s soccer program and discontinue the College's softball team.

The women’s soccer team will begin to play in the fall of 2021, and PBSC looks to hire a coach as soon as possible in order to begin recruiting for that season.

“We are extremely excited to be adding women’s soccer to our athletic programs,” said Palm Beach State President Ava L. Parker, J.D. “This allows us to engage with our community in new ways and continue to impact our area with new and exciting offerings.”

Over the last 10 years, participation in high school girls’ soccer has outpaced softball, and that trend has also been seen on Palm Beach State campuses. The soccer club has had record amounts of participation, with over 100 participants in the last year and on-the-field successes in the local Beaches Adult Soccer League. The club, which began in 2012, has grown to include students from multiple PBSC campuses.

By adding a women’s soccer program, the College will be able to increase the diversity of its athletics offerings, provide a new outlet for student life, and give the community an opportunity to connect with the College through the world’s most popular sport.

In order to provide this new program, the College leadership made the difficult decision to close the softball program at the end of the 2020 season. Softball at PBSC has a proud history and will leave a lasting legacy of success, sportsmanship and academic excellence.

“We are committed to the success of our student athletes both on and off the playing field.  As we make this change, we will stay dedicated to all of our teams in their academic and athletic endeavors,” said PBSC Athletics Director Tom Seitz.

Palm Beach State College is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), which has more than 525 member schools, and is also part of the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA), which is the governing body for state college athletics in Florida. PBSC has five varsity teams competing in the FCSAA and NJCAA Region 8, which include baseball, men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball.

For more information on Palm Beach State Panthers athletics, visit www.PBSCPanthers.com.