Indoor soccer sees strong commitment

Bri Brasher 
NLJ Reporter
 
The indoor soccer season starts in mid-December and lasts until March, when the athletes jump back into outdoor soccer. Parents, players, and coaches make a commitment to indoor soccer, many of whom do so for years on end. Success in the indoor soccer season means focused practice to meet the demands of the more intense, fast-paced indoor setting, along with travel to six tournaments in the northern Black Hills. Nonetheless, all involved seem to thoroughly enjoy the sport and praise the benefits of the indoor season on the athlete’s soccer skills. 
“It’s incredible the skills that are developed through this indoor league. And that’s one of my big pushes. Its tenfold what they’ll learn,” said 12U coach Jared Evick, who coaches his daughter Gracie. 
Evick explained that indoor soccer athletes learn more ball control and passing skills, and due to the smaller, basketball-court-sized indoor area with fewer players, the kids learn to work with and anticipate one another. The game is described as “nonstop running” by Evick, who said the games are usually broken down into two 16-18 minute halves, depending on the tournament. 
“I like indoor so much because of how fast-paced it is. I like being pushed to work with my teammates more and pass the ball more. I also like that you can be a part of the attack from any part of the field,” said sophomore Hailey Wehri, adding that she enjoys the tournament atmosphere and meeting new people everywhere she goes. Hailey’s 16U team recently returned home as the silver medalist from a tournament. 
Newcastle indoor soccer teams meet steep competition at tournaments, especially because nearly all the teams they encounter are fielded by athletes who play club soccer year-round, while Newcastle athletes typically only play during the indoor and outdoor seasons. Still, Newcastle is able to compete well, according to Evick. 
“We went in there and dominated that tournament. We got to the championship and lost by, I think, one. And that’s how most of our games go. We’re always right there in it,” Evick said of the 12U team’s recent performance at a tournament in Rapid City. “Overall, I think all of the Newcastle teams have done extremely well, especially because it’s difficult playing these Rapid (City), Spearfish and Sturgis teams that play club. I mean they’re soccer 365, year-round.”
Newcastle fields the 12U co-ed Newcastle Nightmares, coached by Evick; the 14U boys Newcastle Orange Flare team, coached by Lindsey Marrott; the 16U girls Orange Crush team, coached by Codie Burleson; and the U19 Newcastle Dogies co-ed team, coached by J.D. Rhoades. The commitment to play indoor soccer extends from the players and coaches to the parents. Ann and Rick Wehri follow their daughter, Hailey, and son, Cole, from tournament to tournament. 
“The indoor season is a big commitment because for the local teams, there were I think six tournaments they could go to fairly close this year. But a lot of times you get Friday night games and then Saturday and Sunday. You end up driving back and forth or getting a hotel,” said Ann. “The thing that I enjoy about it – that’s a little different than high school sports – is you actually get to hang with the kids more. I get to know my kids’ teammates more, and the families too, because we are together a lot of weekends.” 
Ann said the teams have gone bowling several times, and Evick said the teams often enjoy meals together. Each agreed that indoor soccer in Newcastle is a true family atmosphere. Of the camaraderie, Evick said, “It’s your weekend family. It’s just what you do. It’s a lot of fun.”
Jamie Beastrom has three kids playing indoor soccer. Hailey, a sixth-grader, plays for the 12U team, while William, a seventh-grader, plays for the 14U team. Emily, a sophomore, plays for the 16U team. The Beastrom family has been involved with Newcastle indoor soccer since Emily started playing at age 10. Beastrom said that anyone can put together a team as long as coaches are state certified; teams typically form when there is enough interest. All coaches, indoor and outdoor, have to go through background checks and a concussion protocol set by the state, according to Beastrom. Many of the coaches donate their time, Beastrom said. 
Beastrom said the outdoor recreational league offers the opportunity for fair and equal play across the board in a more recreational setting focused on building skills and a love of the game. On the other hand, Beastrom said, indoor soccer is more competitive and centered around tournament play.
Practice is determined by the coaches, and  tournament fees are the teams’ responsibility, according to Beastrom, who also said the teams often fundraise and/or split the tournament fees between families. Other costs include hotels, travel and food. Despite the costs associated with the indoor league, the kids’ passion for the game continues to drive the sport’s involvement. 
“I think just the love of the sport. With Emily, you know she’s had some pretty consistent coaching from the time she was little. Just that passion that the coaches give—it’s progressed into watching the USA women play,” said Beastrom. The family even went up to Canada to watch the World Cup, which continued to spark interest.
“William moved from field player to goalie the last couple of years, and he’s enjoyed learning a new position,” said Beastrom. “And Hailey is following her sister’s footsteps. She’d absolutely eat, sleep and breathe soccer if she could.”
Beastrom also attributes the indoor league’s success to the work of the coaches and the lessons learned.
“It’s not win or die. It’s let’s build competitiveness, sportsmanship, skills and love of the game. It’s about creating the athlete, and that positiveness plays into them wanting to play every year,” Beastrom said. 
J.D. coaches the 19U boys team though he and his family have been involved in indoor soccer for years. Rhoades and his wife, Cindy, have four boys. Their oldest son, Joey, now 25 years old, started in 10U indoor soccer and was involved in the outdoor program when the sport was first adopted by Newcastle High School. Rhoades’ son, Rhyse, age 23, also played soccer, as did Marshall, age 20. Joey went on to help coach soccer at Laramie County Community College, and Marshall played at Northwest College. Now, the Rhoadeses continue to travel, coach and support their youngest son, Jacob, who is enjoying indoor soccer at age 17. 
“With the refs, you know, we know refs from different places and towns. The kids have gotten to know the refs. And then with all of the families; they’ve made a lot of good friends,” Rhoades said. “It’s neat to see people
that you haven’t seen for a while, especially when we see a lot of friends that have moved away or we only see during soccer season.”
Rhoades said that he has seen a great growth in the sport since his family’s initial involvement. There were just a few teams when Joey started in the indoor league, he said, and now every age group has at least a boys and a girls team at tournaments, with the younger age groups fielding several teams. Rhoades agrees that the fast-paced
nature of the sport helps with
ball control and skill development. He said that family members make an effort to attend indoor tournaments because the sport is truly a family activity that gets the fans involved. The game is faster-paced and often met with great cheering from the stands. Rhoades said he often sees grandparents who enjoy watching. 
With opportunities to guest play for other teams in the area and growth within Newcastle’s own league, the future for local indoor soccer looks bright. Players are enjoying their seasons, and coaches and parents are in it for the long hall. 
“I like it because it gives me something to do in the winter. And it’s another season of soccer!” said Cole Wehri. “It’s fun!”
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, and I’ll continue throughout the years. I’ll always coach a team, as long as I can get the teams together to play,” Evick said.