By Cynthia Scott

Donít even try to get a parking spot in the North Branch Elementary School parking lot past 6:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings.
By that time, cars are packed like sardines in a tin as waves of families arrive for their weekly soccer outing on the fields that surround the school.

On any given Thursday, several hundred kids hit the fields to play soccer while their parents and grandparents plop their folding chairs along the sidelines to cheer them on.

Thursday evenings belong to the little guys and gals who play in the micro division of the North Branch Area Youth Soccer Association (NBAYSA). Practices run from 6:30 p.m.-7 p.m., and games are from 7 p.m.-8 p.m.

This year, 438 kids from age pre-kindergarten to grade four are in the program. Thatís about 50 more than last year, according to coordinator Chad Johnson.

The purpose of the micro soccer program is strictly developmental. The Thursday night games are all about introducing kids to the game, teaching basic skills and teamwork, and having fun. Volunteer coaches serve as referees, and no scores are kept.

ìWe just love it,î said Denise Samson of Stacy, whose 5-year-old daughter Kara plays. The Samsons moved to North Branch from Oakdale three years ago, and Denise said she values how family-oriented and non-competitive Karaís team is.

Plus, she said, it's convenient.

ìMy son played ball and we had to run around all the time getting him to practices and games. But this is nice because practice is a half hour before games. The kids are learning so much,î she said.

Karaís teammates were eager to recite specifics: ìDonít use your handsî; ìno pushing peopleî; ìNo hitting or tripping or kicking people,î they chimed.

Though they might not realize it, theyíre also learning the value of community involvement. The coaches, organizers, board members, equipment coordinators, schedulers ñ everyone involved with NBAYSA ñ is a volunteer. For many, that makes Thursday evenings a family affair.

Take the Olinske family, for example. Dad Harley is a coach, and his two kids, Jake, 6, and Natalie, 5, play on his team. Likewise, Arianne Grubbs of Stacy decided to volunteer as a coach for her daughter Sydney's team. Grubbs played soccer for one year in high school, and her main motivation to get involved as a coach was to help kids be active.

"Too many kids now are just sitting around. Sydney's got her cartoons on TV, but this gets her out of the house," Grubbs said.
NBAYSA has been around for about 15 years, but over the past two years a throng of volunteers has added some organizational touches. For instance, last year they purchased goals, and this year they striped the fields, according to Johnson.

Next year they'd like to do more, but need more volunteers to make that happen.

To volunteer, contact Patti Murray at (651) 470-9028 or go to www.northbranchsoccer.com.

In the meantime, if you want to check out the Thursday evening activities, make sure you arrive before 6:30.

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Goals are anchored securely

Earlier this summer, an 11-year-old Texas boy died after he ran into a soccer goal post, causing it to fall over and hit him in the head.

The accident involved a moveable metal goal that was not properly anchored into the ground.

The NBAYSA avoids such accidents in a couple of ways, according to equipment coordinator John von Lange. First, goals are constructed of light, PVC-weight pipe, which is generally not heavy enough to cause injury. Second, the goals are anchored into the ground with a U-shaped metal hook (see photo at right).

ìI can vouch that our goals are anchored in a way that they wonít tip over,î said von Lange.

Other safety precautions are listed on the Web site at www.northbranchsoccer.com

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