Soccer players move indoors to escape snow, cold, and structure
The field is a perfect shade of green, the lines crisp and white. It’s almost too perfect to be real--and that’s because it is. Indoor soccer provides players with a pristine and consistent environment to practice their shots and saves. The YMCA provides students a chance to test out skills in an annual high school indoor soccer league. There are 13 teams and every team competes once a week for an hour.
Sophomore Decorah Vienola, captain of her team, appreciates a schedule that fits into her busy life.
“My team plays Mondays or Wednesdays,” she said. “The schedule is nice because I don't have to worry about going to practice every night, which works well for someone like me who is always working or doing homework.”
Beyond the relaxing schedule, the atmosphere tends to be different than the regular high school environment.
“I don't have to stress a lot about winning or losing,” Vienola said. “There aren't any fanatics screaming in your ear or coaches to disappoint.”
As the semester comes to an end, school work can seem unbearable. Sophomore Abigail Krueger finds the indoor soccer league a place to escape the loads of unfinished math homework and studying.
“Finals are always rough,” she said. “I would go home after seven hours of school feeling stressed, and then after playing soccer with my friends, I would immediately feel better.”
Though the environment is calm and friendly, it isn’t void of competition.
“Most of the people on my team have never played soccer before, including me,” Krueger said. “We sometimes lose by a lot of points to very experienced teams.”
The league attracts all different types of players. Junior Hannah Wolf enjoys the variety of styles and experience on teams.
“I'm on teams with people from high school and with people from my club team,” she said. “I also play with people who are not as experienced, and it's their first year playing soccer.”
The league adapts to different players, allowing athletes to enhance their skills during the off-season with their teammates.
“It's an extra step of team bonding,” Wolf said. “We get to know how each other play in smaller and controlled area.”
The league provides opportunities for athletes from West to face players all from over the state without restriction by geography.
“It's not just schools from the FVA area,” Wolf said. “There are Division II schools that we don't get to play in the normal season who are hard competitors, so the YMCA gives us an opportunity to play them.”
People from all different grade levels can find their own unique benefits. Senior Micheal Tang has never played soccer before and thought the league was a great place to start.
"I'm just playing to have fun and hoping to gain more knowledge of soccer," he said. "The YMCA soccer league is beneficial because it helps me be more active and be a part of a community.”
Getting involved in local events is a good way to meet new people and expand a network.
“The sportsmanship is awesome, and I'm so grateful that this league is located in my town,” Vienola said.
Club teams aren't offered until an older age, so people who are serious about soccer can start out at the YMCA .
“I started playing in the YMCA,” Wolf said. “That's the only soccer I played until fifth grade.”
As students continue to reap benefits from this soccer league, they hope to see more people join and recognize everything it has to offer.
“I really want everyone to at least consider it,” Krueger said. “Even if you don't like sports, you might be surprised at how many benefits there are.”
by Sophie Carlin
Published January 30, 2023
Oshkosh West Index Volume 119 Issue 4