Miss-Delectable
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http://www.topics.com/articles/2/073663-9652-089.html
The North Side Soccer League offers a refreshing change of pace from the "winning is the only thing that matters" mentality.
With coed leagues for kids 12-and-younger, the North Side Soccer League offers an approach and an option for families wanting to interest their children in the sport without having the concerns of their child not getting to play or not measuring up to the rest of the talent.
"I want the kids to have fun," said league president Steve Roy. "We truly spend more time talking about trophies, pictures and the picnic than we do soccer rules. . . . We are about having fun with kids and if they take a few things home about soccer, that is a bonus. We want the young ones to have a great experience."
Another bonus: There are no boundaries, so anyone may join the league.
Age groups are broken into 12-and-under, 10-and-under, 8-and-under and 6-and-under. Teams have eight practices and play in eight games with every kid getting to play in every game.
"There are other recreational leagues in the area," Roy said. "We stress that time and again, but for most of these kids, it is their first experience with soccer. We try to make sure their first experience is a positive experience. This league is a true recreational league."
With action taking place at Sahm Park near the swimming pool and the firehouse on East 191st Street, seldom is there a game that continues when a firetruck's horn sounds and the lights begin to flash.
"As the kids get a little older, they know what games they won or lost, but we don't keep records," Roy said. "For the younger kids, it is about what they got at the concession stand after having some fun this week."
The North Side Soccer League was started by parents for their kids and all the work was volunteered. When those kids were done with the league, so were the parents. As a result, attendance dropped.
Approximately 120 kids from various counties participated last year.
"Ultimately, we would like to see the population get back up to 400 or 450 kids," Roy said.
With a 10- to 12-member board, the league isn't turning away any volunteers. Anyone can coach, and the league will send parents to a free program presented by the Indiana Youth Soccer Association.
"We expect every parent to volunteer in some capacity," Roy said. "They can work concessions for an hour or something to help. Not everyone helps out, but we try to get them involved."
Dan Dufek, who recently took a league development position, has incorporated some new ideas to help boost player and volunteer numbers.
The North Side Soccer League is reaching out to the Hispanic community with Spanish fliers and interpreters at practices and games. Dufek has also brought in interpreters for the deaf to make the league more attractive to students from the Indiana School for the Deaf, an area Dufek feels may have been forgotten.
"We are really looking for all different types of people to come play," Dufek said, adding that the board would like to see the league grow.
"Beyond that, soccer is just an interesting game," he continued. "I grew up playing the sport. It is, quite frankly, the only sport that is a global sport. We don't see it so much here because we offer so many sports. Anywhere in the world, people know about soccer. There is a link all over the world."
That's a link he would like to make between kids and parents alike.
Dufek notes that the North Side Soccer League is an opportunity for parents to spend more time with their kids, even if they don't know much about soccer.
"We could use anybody that wants to help out in any capacity," Dufek said. "This league is great for children without soccer experience, or parents wanting to spend time with their kids. We basically train parents or assist them in their training.
"There are always opportunities to help organize picnics, take pictures or other functions behind the scenes," he added. "For example, I also work on the Web site along with Marcie Boyer. There are all kinds of opportunities to participate."
The North Side Soccer League offers a refreshing change of pace from the "winning is the only thing that matters" mentality.
With coed leagues for kids 12-and-younger, the North Side Soccer League offers an approach and an option for families wanting to interest their children in the sport without having the concerns of their child not getting to play or not measuring up to the rest of the talent.
"I want the kids to have fun," said league president Steve Roy. "We truly spend more time talking about trophies, pictures and the picnic than we do soccer rules. . . . We are about having fun with kids and if they take a few things home about soccer, that is a bonus. We want the young ones to have a great experience."
Another bonus: There are no boundaries, so anyone may join the league.
Age groups are broken into 12-and-under, 10-and-under, 8-and-under and 6-and-under. Teams have eight practices and play in eight games with every kid getting to play in every game.
"There are other recreational leagues in the area," Roy said. "We stress that time and again, but for most of these kids, it is their first experience with soccer. We try to make sure their first experience is a positive experience. This league is a true recreational league."
With action taking place at Sahm Park near the swimming pool and the firehouse on East 191st Street, seldom is there a game that continues when a firetruck's horn sounds and the lights begin to flash.
"As the kids get a little older, they know what games they won or lost, but we don't keep records," Roy said. "For the younger kids, it is about what they got at the concession stand after having some fun this week."
The North Side Soccer League was started by parents for their kids and all the work was volunteered. When those kids were done with the league, so were the parents. As a result, attendance dropped.
Approximately 120 kids from various counties participated last year.
"Ultimately, we would like to see the population get back up to 400 or 450 kids," Roy said.
With a 10- to 12-member board, the league isn't turning away any volunteers. Anyone can coach, and the league will send parents to a free program presented by the Indiana Youth Soccer Association.
"We expect every parent to volunteer in some capacity," Roy said. "They can work concessions for an hour or something to help. Not everyone helps out, but we try to get them involved."
Dan Dufek, who recently took a league development position, has incorporated some new ideas to help boost player and volunteer numbers.
The North Side Soccer League is reaching out to the Hispanic community with Spanish fliers and interpreters at practices and games. Dufek has also brought in interpreters for the deaf to make the league more attractive to students from the Indiana School for the Deaf, an area Dufek feels may have been forgotten.
"We are really looking for all different types of people to come play," Dufek said, adding that the board would like to see the league grow.
"Beyond that, soccer is just an interesting game," he continued. "I grew up playing the sport. It is, quite frankly, the only sport that is a global sport. We don't see it so much here because we offer so many sports. Anywhere in the world, people know about soccer. There is a link all over the world."
That's a link he would like to make between kids and parents alike.
Dufek notes that the North Side Soccer League is an opportunity for parents to spend more time with their kids, even if they don't know much about soccer.
"We could use anybody that wants to help out in any capacity," Dufek said. "This league is great for children without soccer experience, or parents wanting to spend time with their kids. We basically train parents or assist them in their training.
"There are always opportunities to help organize picnics, take pictures or other functions behind the scenes," he added. "For example, I also work on the Web site along with Marcie Boyer. There are all kinds of opportunities to participate."