The Soccer Club of Los Gatos thinks so. The group is aiming to raise close to $1 million to turf an existing grass field and turn it into an all-weather, year-round surface.

To this end, the club will host a Black-and-White-Ball Ball April 2 at the History Club of Los Gatos as a fundraiser. Club representatives hope to collect at least $65,000 to complete the first phase of the project, but their goal is to collect $700,000 at the ball.

The money will go toward artificial turf on the Los Gatos High School soccer field, allowing athletes to play on the surface year round. The field is currently not open all year, because of normal wear and tear issues.

Although the club is a private organization, Los Gatos High School Principal Trudy McCulloch said she didn't foresee any problems with the school-club relationship.

"We don't go out searching for this. If there is a need and as long as it's not affecting our school and our students' use, then it's fine," she said.

Many Los Gatos soccer organizations face problems of escalating soccer enrollment and a dwindling number of available soccer fields. Just last January, soccer enthusiasts crowded town council chambers to push for more space to play.

While the project will undoubtedly allow more players to use the high school field, the club plans to host only competitive teams on the field during the fall and spring seasons, with soccer camps in the summer.

Club coach Mike Karr said the field need in Los Gatos was most dire for competitive-level players.

"The recreational space is there in Los Gatos. What isn't there is space for those kids to continue after they turn 13. We need the same amount of space for the competitive side," he said.

The exclusive nature of the project has left other soccer organizations wondering how their members will benefit.

"With this new proposed field, I'm still not sure how it is going to work," said Ed San Juan, president of the Los Gatos United Soccer League. "We had a hard time justifying [the fundraiser] because we couldn't figure out how our kids would use the field." The league primarily draws recreational soccer players. San Juan said the league would consider joining the effort once this issue was resolved. Enrollment has grown significantly in the club's competitive league.

"We've basically gone from a position where we had 800 kids playing to double that number," said Jan Eric Nordmo, coach of the Los Gatos High School girls varsity team and president of Off the Wall, an indoor soccer facility in Santa Clara. Nordmo is helping the club raise money for the project.

Karr said the field will also help reduce injuries. Last summer, as Karr held a soccer training session, one of his players tripped on a field's uneven surface. The player twisted his knee and was unable to play the remainder of the season.

Before the project can begin however, the group must submit its plans to school board trustees, including information on funding, maintenance and use. The club is scheduled to make its first presentation before the board on April 20.

Dr. Cindy Ranii, superintendent of the Los Gatos­Saratoga Joint Union High School District, said it is not unusual to see fundraising efforts before the board takes any official position.

"I think it's wonderful that people get excited about a concept but then they need bring it to the board," she said.

If the board decides to approve the project, the club must have 90 percent of the project cost in hand before bids can be submitted.

The board would also determine how the field would be used based on its policies. High school students are given first priority, followed by community users.

For more information visit www.soccerclublg.com/ballball.htm.