Yarra Jets players train at McCutcheon Oval in Yarra Bend Park
A FAST-GROWING soccer club may have to reject would-be members because it can't get enough space for training and games.
Yarra Jets has increased its membership from 180 players in 2009 to 412 this season, but is struggling to get access to enough sports grounds.
Club secretary Nick Petroulias said it was becoming more difficult to fit all training and games at the club's exisiting grounds.
"We have seven junior girls' teams, two women's, a sub-junior program, and next year we want to introduce a men's veteran team," he said.
Mr Petroulias said he was concerned the club would be forced to cap its membership numbers.
"We play a really important role in the community; we promote sport and healthy activity and we offer opportunity to kids who don't usually play, those from public housing and refugees."
Football Federation Victoria spokesman Christian Layland said a lack of soccer facilities across Melbourne was an ongoing issue for the growing sport.
Between 2007 and 2011, player registration across the state shot up from 42,000 to more than 65,000.
"Some of the key issues are lack of pitches, over-used playing surfaces, lack of lighting for training and unsuitable change facilities for both players and referees," he said.
"In many places facilities for women and girls are particularly poor."
Yarra City Council mayor Geoff Barbour said demand from sports clubs exceeded the space available.
"With that in mind, we have to ensure the limited resources are shared fairly," he said.
"At the moment, four soccer clubs share nine of the football grounds in the northern part of Yarra."
Work to reconfigure the oval at Fairfield Park will begin in October so it can host more games.