10
"That's a nice gym," says Melissa. "This year
we're contracting with two other gyms. Blue
Lake School just built their gym in May. We
were one of the first outside groups to be able
to go in and use the gym. It's gorgeous. We
rent it on Sundays. Humboldt Bay Christian
School also has a gym. It has no seating, but
spectators can bring lawn chairs."
A grant from the Humboldt Area Foundation
allows Inside Sports to offer its program to
more schools.
During the week, Melissa visits schools
that participate in Inside Sports' programs,
including their after-school program. "I
bring pop-up nets, a trashcan full of balls. I
teach indoor soccer skills to kids. We play in
cafeterias, gyms and multipurpose rooms."
PROGRAMS
"We do adult coed year-round–back-to-back
to back-to-back sessions. In the summer
we tend to do shorter sessions, like six-week
sessions, because people are going
on vacation. In the winter and spring, we
do longer sessions–eight weeks. Starting the
first weekend in December, we have our big
session. That's when we serve the youth and
the men's league." (Inside Sports has tried
to start a women's league, but it's been hit
or miss.)
INSIDE SPORTS
HUMBOLDT COUNTY,
I
nside Sports is a nonprofit, community
benefit organization that launched its highly
successful futsal program at the Samoa Gym
in Humboldt County, California, in December
2001.
"We're a little different than most programs
because we don't own a facility," says Melissa
Morrison. "We rent facilities. For many
years we've been at the Samoa Gym. It
has its challenges. It's very old. The people
who own it actually own the whole town of
Samoa. It's an old company lumber town.
Two local businesses bought the entire town.
The gym is considered part of their property
management."
According to Melissa, a beautiful plan for
developing the town is in place. The Samoa
Gym will be remodeled during the last phase of
development.
Samoa is located in the northern peninsula
of Humboldt Bay and has a population of 300
people. Right across the bridge is the city of
Eureka. Now, with more than 700 participants,
Inside Sports has expanded and plays at the
Bethel Church Gym in Eureka as well as the
Samoa Gym.
At Bethel Church Gym, chapel services take
place on Sundays, and futsal takes place on
Saturdays.
