GO Indoor

p o nt c unter o nt i o -p i nthismonth' dialectic,GOAL Indoor travels to Upland, California, where the O'Brien Family has just s opened "The Arena," and to southern France, where GOAL International founder, Michael Jago, waxes about the "beautiful game" during this propitious season. I Bill says: P laying indoor soccer in a controlled environment makes it more appealing than the outdoor game. Indoor soccer is also faster because the ball stays in play. No one chases the ball all over. The players have more touches with the ball and, therefore, more chances to improve their skills. Playing indoor soccer without the walls would be like playing the outdoor game inside. Though the players may have to control their kicks, learning to use the walls like another player makes indoor soccer players more skillful. way they use the walls. A more skilled player will pass the ball off the wall and use it to assist the play. Not all players use the walls to their advantage in scoring goals. Diana says: I don't prefer one sport to the other because they are very different games. Indoor soccer, however, perfects a player's skills. It makes players better passers because quickness is a big thing. An indoor soccer team benefits players socially. Adults may not have a place to play outdoor soccer since they are out of school. 18-25 year olds are our largest Todd says: group of players. They often want to play or me, personally, playing soccer but cannot find an organization to join. indoors speeds everything up. It's a An indoor team is a good way to combine faster way to play the game because fun and exercise. there aren't a lot of stops. Players use the walls and, since there are no off-sides, the Shelly says: ball remains in play. like that indoor soccer is a short game. I love to watch indoor soccer and It moves quickly. Indoor soccer is also outdoor. Indoor is interesting because a high scoring game. I am a goalthe players score a lot more goals. I can scorer. Indoor soccer provides more see the skill levels of the players in the scoring opportunities than outdoor F I The Arena is an O'Brien family effort, including (from right to left) father Bill, son Todd, daughter Shelly Borra, mother Diana, daughter Lindsay, and son-in-law John Borra. because the field isn't so big. Indoor soccer is also a great workout. You're running the entire time because the game is quicker than outdoor, where you may only run part of the time. I like to play on the A stroPlay turf we have at The Arena. It has more of a cushion to it than the traditional flooring. A lot of people stop playing indoor because of twisted ankles and hurt knees. Since the AstroPlay is softer, you're not going to see as many of those injuries. route to France, home of the world champions. Yesterday London's left-wing, intellectual Guardian newspaper, usually reluctant to cover any sport except chess, carried the story of Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy on the front page. I the World Cup madness because..... well, why exactly? Why aren't they caught up in it? Because Little League has started, maybe? Because it's not covered in the American media? outside, on the beach. And as members of that club you must, yes, MUST care about what happens this month in South Korea/Japan. For 47 months out of 48 I'm a broad-minded dude. I listen to talk from inside guys and Roy Keane? Mick McCarthy? Get a life, guys. If Americans didn't watch the final of the European Champions League and analyze how Luis Figo played, then they're not serious about the USA in this World Cup. Luis Figo? So there's the issue. Americans aren't caught up in Because they play indoor and not the outdoor game? Because they don't care? Guys, indoor fans, what you love is soccer, futbol, football. calcio, futebol, le foot - call it what you will - the world's most popular sport. You're joined a huge club, whether you play inside, outside guys about which is the better sport. I nod. I agree with almost everyone. But not in June 2002. Why not? Because it's the month of June in an even-numbered year that isn't a multiple of four. "Indoor fans, what you love is soccer, futbol, football. calcio, futebol, le foot - call it what you will - the world's most popular sport." GOAL's own Michael Jago t's the month of June in an even-numbered year that is not a multiple of four. What does that mean, guys? It means WORLD CUP. It means the definitive festival of soccer we've been waiting for since France '98. I'm writing this in London, en Got an opinion? It's that simple. Yes, it is. E-mail USIndoor G O A L I n d o o r • June-July 2002• 9

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