ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 20, 1997 TAG: 9701210042
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
LOCAL YOUTH get their kicks in the First Union Indoor Soccer Classic.
During a weekend when the thermometer's mercury dipped to single digits - and windchill temperatures were significantly colder - a compelling case could be made for the viability of indoor soccer, even to purists who object to a hard-surfaced court, walls, unnatural light and a fuzzy ball.
But judging by the vast number of cars in the parking lot at North Cross School on Sunday afternoon, and the fact that 107 teams had registered for the tournament weeks in advance, the sport's popularity in this region is evidently on solid footing, regardless of weather considerations.
More than 600 youths, ranging in age from 9 to 19, competed in the First Union Indoor Soccer Classic on Saturday and Sunday. Fifteen divisional champions were crowned as play was conducted at the Carter Athletic Center, the North Cross gymnasium, and Alumni Gym at Roanoke College. (Results in Scoreboard. B4)
As one of four annual tournaments hosted by the Roanoke Valley Youth Soccer Club (commonly known as the Roanoke Star), this competition was unique in that it came off without Star executive director Danny Beamer on site.
Tournament director Ian Spooner, a coach of two Roanoke Star teams and a prominent member of the Roanoke RiverDawgs semi-professional soccer team, oversaw the event and handled many of Beamer's normal duties. Beamer was in Nashville, Tenn., over the weekend as a member of the prestigious National Soccer Coaches Association of America national staff.
``I told Danny he wasn't leaving until he put someone in charge of this thing,'' joked Star president Dean Jones. Although there were some minor glitches, such as broken glass in a lobby trophy case, Spooner considered the tournament a success.
``We have close to 100 volunteers - counting court marshals and scorekeepers - helping to run it,'' Spooner said. A large group of parents, dubbed ``the wall committee'' by Jones, constructed a wooden barrier on Friday night, dividing the Carter Center into two courts.
With a game scheduled every 25 minutes, nearly 200 games were played on four courts on Saturday and Sunday.
The elements of indoor soccer differ substantially from the conventional game. The playing area, basically a converted basketball court, is much smaller, and with five or six players per side (depending on the age group), so is the size of the team.
Because of the reduced area, the action is much faster, and the scoring is often more frequent. The game is composed of two 11-minute halves, with a brief respite. The intensity is evident to the players, to the fans, even to the officials.
``Things happen so quickly you don't have time to mentally work through it,'' said referee Paul Sharp, who officiated 13 games during the weekend. ``You either make the call - or you don't make it.''
Will Kesler, 11, and Omar Eli, 12, each scored a goal in the New River Rush's 3-2 victory over one of the two Southwest (Roanoke) County Storm teams competing in the U-12 men's division.
``I like indoor soccer because you can use the walls to fake out players,'' said Kesler. ``It's a mental sport.''
``Soccer's my favorite sport,'' Eli said. ``It's worldwide.''
Ken Ballard, a parent of two soccer-playing youth, endorses the sport's team aspects.
``Soccer is great for kids at different talent levels,'' said Ballard , who made his athletic mark in a largely individual sport (track and field) at Cave Spring High School in the 1970s.
``In soccer, you don't have to be the biggest, you don't have to be the fastest it's a good skill game, a good thinking game. You've got to think when you've got the ball - and when you don't have the ball.''
LENGTH: Medium: 71 linesby CNB