A soccer goal without a net might seem like it still works, but Brad Williams insists it doesn’t.

“A lot of times, you can’t tell if the ball is in the goal unless it’s in the net,” said Williams, vice president of Kaw Valley Soccer Assn. “It’s a big deal.”

Which means bad news for dozens of youngsters planning to play in KVSA games this weekend.

Monday night, after the last coach locked the practice facilities at the Youth Sports Inc. complex, 4911 W. 27th St., someone broke in and swiped every net from the goals at fields No. 1 through No. 6.

The fields typically are used by youngsters between the ages of 4 and 10, Williams said. Now, their games this weekend may not happen.

“If they don’t have nets this weekend, there’s not much we can do about it,” Williams said.

Williams and KVSA reported to Lawrence Police that someone stole 16 nets from the six youth fields. The nets, Williams said, are worth about $60 each.

“It’s just disappointing,” said Ken Meissbach, a KVSA board member whose son plays in the league. “It makes me wonder if they were really stolen or if it was just a juvenile delinquent.”

Pat Lindeman, the equipment coordinator for the league, said that in total, the nets and short-notice shipping costs would put the league back at least $1,000.

Sixteen soccer goal nets were stolen from the Youth Sports Inc. fields, 4911 W. 27th St., where the Kaw Valley Soccer Assn. plays its youth games. Brad Williams, vice president of KVSA, said he couldn't figure out why someone would want to steal the nets. Williams is shown Tuesday at the fields with empty goals.

“It’s just a crying shame,” he said.

Recently, thieves snatched metal bleachers from a nearby baseball field. Williams said he could understand that because the metal, as a raw material, has worth.

But soccer nets?

“I’ve never seen just nets,” he said. “I guess they could sell them on eBay.”

A quick search of the eBay Web site turned up a few used soccer nets – but only the 3-inch by 5-inch variety, used by Lego soccer players.

Williams sent an e-mail Tuesday to the almost 1,500 families involved in the league, letting them know about the net heist.

Responses for help came back quickly, he said.

Some parents offered money. One father, whose daughter plays in the league, offered to have his security company install closed-circuit cameras around the field’s entrance gate for free.

“The parents have been great,” Williams said.

But standing near a skeletal goal along the vast green practice fields Tuesday, Williams still couldn’t understand why.

He leaned down and grabbed one of the clear ties that held the goals in place. Like all of the others, it had been cut clean across – as if the net heist was well-planned.

Between the parents’ support and some spare goals and nets, Williams said the kids should be able to play this weekend.

But that doesn’t excuse the crime.

“They’re breaking a little 4- or 5-year-old’s heart,” he said.