Soccer in a Diamond

Each Thursday the community of Salcha, Alaska gathers together at the local fairgrounds to play a little soccer on the baseball field. Playing soccer on a fenced in diamond comes with its own set of rules, namely:

There is no out-of-bounds. It is perfectly okay to kick the ball off the fence, play behind the goals, and run across home plate.

Since there are kids involved our goals are extra wide, and only 4 feet high. This prevents us from kicking the ball hard and knocking Johnny unconscience.

• It is always girls against the boys.
• The girls are way more serious than the boys.
• For some reason the girls are allowed two goalies.

We brought all the kids who remained at the new playground just outside the fence. I forgot how intence soccer is, how much running is envolved, and how out of shape I've become. Seems when the ball comes my way I forget how out of breath I am and start running, kicking, running again, passing (novel concept in this game). Next thing I know I'm sucking air, bent over at the waist, and wishing I could just die.

After a long stint on the North Slope about the only thing in shape these days is my mouse finger, but oh we had so much fun.