Soccer Gives Area Kids
'Hands -Off' Experience
By CARL WESTBERG
Early in life, a child is propped up
and prompted by a parent to sit up.
Once the child has mastered the abili
ty to balance on a Pamper, there
comes the necessity to learn
something new.
From the young child's perspec
tive, these early ventures into the
wonderful world of sports can be
somewhat confusing.
Mom or Dad takes this round object
and rolls it toward the unsuspecting,
swaying young'un with the en
couragement to "catch the ball."
The poor child is lost!
First of all, what is a ball? And se
cond, what does catch mean,
anyway? After all, "sit up" was just
learned a short time ago.
A round object comes rolling across
the floor and surely the child must
think he or she is being attacked. One
of two things happens: Either the
child is knocked off its Pamper like a
bowling pin, or the youngster realizes
catch means stop. So, while reaching
for the ball, the child quickly learns
the meaning of fall.
If the child is lucky enough to stop
the ball, there is the grasping and lif
ting of it. From that moment on for
the rest of the tot's life, everytime
there's a round object it MUST end up
in the hands. It doesn't matter is it is
a rattle ball, rubber ball, baseball,
hardball, basketball, or the one that's
gone bad and gotten out of shape (a
football), the hands capture it.
Then suddenly someone shouts,
"let's play soccer" and the learning
begins anew. A new word and a new
game. The ball looks the same - it's
still round - but it has these funny
black and white sections. That,
however, is the least of the confusion.
The major problem is a voice says,
"don't you dare touch that ball with
your hands!"
Then what do I do with the darn
thing? Well, you can bump it with
your head (ouch), stop it with your
chest, (another ouch), your thigh,
your knee, your leg below the knee, or
your foot. As a matter of fact, in soc
cer the hands have been replaced
with the feet.
That's right, this new game is
played mostly with the feet. The child
must be wondering, "What have my
parents done to me?"
Soccer is not really difficult to learn
or play once the child gets over the
shock of replacing the hands with the
feet, and the ouches.
For the past couple of years a fcroup
of people in and around the Walnut,
Marshall, Mars Hill and Flat Creek
areas have been helping 6- to 13-year
old children overcome the shock and
ouches.
These people have been a part of
the soccer program of the Asheville
area, specifically the North Bun
combe region.
It is a two-part program including a
spring and fall season. During the fall
season last year, boys and girls
played on four teams grouped by ages
-6 and 7, Sand 9, 10 and 11, and, 12 and
13.
This spring, registration from the
Mars Hill, Flat Creek, Marshall, and
Walnut areas was insufficient to field
a single team in either of the age
groups.
"We were disappointed with the
small number of children who
registered," said Jim Woodruff, an
active member of the soccer pro
gram. "As a result, we could not par
ticipate in the North Buncombe pro
gram."
"We had a couple of meetings to
discuss what we should do for the
children who were interested in lear
ning to play the sport. Our decision
was to have an instructional program
for the spring," Woodruff said.
This program included a once-a
week instructional session to teach
the children dribbling, trapping,
heading and shooting. Time was also
spent understanding the field of play,
the rules, positions and formations.
"I am quite pleased with the im
provement of some of the players and
how quickly the beginners learned
some of the basics," ?aid Woodruff
"We did manage to have someSatur
Program In 2nd Year
Madison County Youth Soccer has
existed now for two years. The
children play during the spring and
fall and have just completed their
fourth season.
Soccer is a sport which appeals to
both girls and boys and children of all
ages. Usually, several teams are
formed according to age: 6-to 7-year
olds, 8- to 9-year-olds, 10- to ll-year
olds, and 12- to 13-year-olds.
Practice is held one or two times a
week after school, and games arc
played Saturday mornings. Practice
was held this spring on the field at
Walnut School.
Soccer is a good, fun sport and the
children thoroughly enjoy the game,
according to soccer coaches.
Watch for details this summer
Young Madison Connty soccer players re
cently received trophies for their efforts and
enthusiasm. They are, from right to left, front
row ? Olivia Shealy, Anna Woodruff, Amy
Davis, Jody Davis, Jesse Graeter, Heather
West, Seth Treadway and Jeremiah West
? ?
berg. Back row ? Gabrielle Graeter, Logan
W Mdnff, Keith Rice, Pamela Boyd, Jason
Stone, Call an Welder, Justin Skemp, Joshua
Adams, Matthew Adams, Jennifer Woodruff
and Paula Boyd.
Gabrielle Graeter dribblet a* the weaves
through the cones daring a recent soccer prac
tice session at Walnut School. Control of the
ban, speed aad we ?f both feet are techniques
for Improving soccer skills.
day games among ourselves."
There are several people in the pro
gram now - such as Kathy Graeter
and Ed Krause - who are interested
in building what has been called the
Madison County Youth Soccer
Association. The association hopes to
expand the program throughout the
county and play teams from other
soccer programs.
"We are looking forward to the fall
progfem," Woodruff said. "We hope
.... > '.i s
to pick up several more people in
terested in helping us make the
association as good as any around.
"Hie beauty of the sport is that
children of every size can play. I see
no reason why our program could not
expand to more than 200 children
over the next few years," he said.
"Hopefully, we will develop a
league that children can participate
in and then go on to other soccer
teams that will become a part of our
school's programs," Woodruff said.
"All that is needed is for mom and
dad to teach the youngsters to kick
the ball in addition to catching it."
Tbe Madison County Youth Soccer
Association will hold a registration
period in the early fall. Persons in
terested in assisting with the associa
tion can call Jim Woodruff at
649-2223. Also, watch The News
Record for additional information
and announcements.
Baddlag soccer players go IhrNgk practice
drills at Walnut School Add. Aaaa Woodruff
works oa accuracy la passing to a teammate,
while Amy Davis, Jermlah Westberg and
Heather Wert await their turns .