The Northern Light

Media Credit: Kenna Bates Intramural soccer players get their game on in the Wells Fargo Sports Complex every Wednesday starting at 7 p.m. [Click to enlarge]

With the start of school comes the start of intramural sports and an increasingly competitive soccer season.

Started in 1994 by Julie Foster, head of intramural sports, intramural soccer has consistently grown. Since its inception, it has consisted of six teams of twelve people, with eight men and four women per team, playing seven to ten games a season, depending on how they advance during the final tournament.

This year, Foster allowed a seventh team due to openings in the gym. No longer competing with volleyball and basketball, soccer had more time available.

But with the addition comes the loss of one game overall.

"Do you give them competition, or do you play the same team twice?" said Foster. "I'd rather give them a little more competition."

Generally the fall turnout is less than in the spring, but with a boom in advertising, more freshmen have been participating. Along with general-internet, newspaper, and freshman-orientation postings, putting the information on the quad has helped increase freshman involvement. Often the people who miss the early notices decide to play after watching games when they pass through the Wells Fargo Sports Complex after class.

With an extra team in place, participants still end up on the wait-list, with most teams having three to five individuals waiting for an opening. If a member of a team is forced to leave because of health reasons, class conflicts, or three missed games in a row, the wait-listed member joins the team.

The wait is exhausting for the wait-listed players who patiently watch from the sidelines. But with an extra team, new players emerge, increasing the competition.

"I wish it would have been a full roster somebody turned in, instead of a team they turned in with extra people," said third-year player Jacob Madrid, member of the team Bruisers. "Some people missed out, but a lot of people got on a team that wouldn't have before."

For some it is not enough.

"It's crowded. It's a popular sport," said Jon Kastor, one player delegated to a wait-list. "I think we need ten teams."

Even with a few forced to the sidelines, the passion for soccer still thrives. The popularity of the sport cannot be denied. Even though several hopeful players watching the games from above the court wished for an easier way to play, they still feel that soccer is the greatest sport.

With the teams being co-ed, a girl must always play, which can cause issues. On the first night of competition, the first game was delayed ten minutes until a girl was able to play. If other female players don't show up, one girl may be forced to the play the entire game, which consists of two twenty-minute halves.

"It's intense sometimes, but overall it's fun," said Malissa Suson, of team Sharpie. "Sometimes I'll have to be on the court the whole time, which is hard, but it's worth it."  

Even with minor setbacks, the intensity of play does not let up, even with the range of abilities stretching from beginners to the most advanced. UAA sports fees cover most of the charges, with players only having to pay $10 out of pocket.

Games start at 7 p.m. every Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

Article Tools