Due to a lack of volunteers, the Wareham-New Bedford Lodge of Elks #73 was unable to host its annual Soccer Shootout scheduled to be held Saturday morning at the John W. Decas Elementary School.

According to Susan Gifford, who serves at secretary for the Wareham-New Bedford Lodge of Elks, only six volunteers showed up. It was not enough to host the event, which requires at least 12 to 15 volunteers.

"Last year we had a ton of people and it was wonderful," said Gifford. "It worked out so well until this year."

Every lodge hosts a soccer shootout, said Gifford, and the winners from those shootouts will compete this coming Sunday at Decas. No one from the Wareham-New Bedford Lodge will be able to participate in it.

The shootout, which has been occurring for many years now, welcomes children ages 9 to 13 and was scheduled to be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"I can't remember a time when they didn't hold a shootout," said Paul Neely, former president of the Wareham Youth Soccer Club.

During the same time, the youth soccer teams played their first games of the fall season at the school.

Neely, who has been volunteering for the past 15 years and has served in many leadership roles for the league, stressed the importance of volunteers for all youth athletic programs.

"The whole program runs on parents and volunteers," he said. "We always need volunteers. Especially parents who are going to be here anyway. They'll be on the sidelines for 10, 12 years. Jump up and help out."