Get Your Kicks
Local indoor facilities keep the ball rolling year-round
By Steve Croyle |
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Soccer might be the most popular recreational sport in central Ohio, and thanks to three extremely popular facilities on the north end of town, the action really heats up when the leaves start to fall.
Soccer First is located up at the Sports Ohio complex in Dublin and they feature three indoor fields that play host to a number of adult leagues ranging from a highly competitive men's open league to much more laid back co-ed recreational leagues. Soccer First also schedules youth leagues and hosts several tournaments, including one over Thanksgiving and another around Christmas, both of which are open to adult teams.
In spite of a decidedly non-urban location in Dublin near Route 161, Sports Ohio has become a soccer mecca in Central Ohio. "We have people coming from as far away as Bellefontaine and Newark," said Soccer First's marketing director, Rebecca Miller.
Soccer First schedules three indoor sessions during the winter months, and it's not uncommon to see games spill over into the Field Sports facility next door, where two more fields are capable of accommodating soccer. The first session started up in October, but a second session will quickly follow near the first of the year, depending on how the schedule plays out for each league. The final session usually carries over into April before giving way to outdoor soccer in May.
After the game, Soccer First features a concession stand, offering standard concession fare and cold domestic beer. Nothing too impressive, but it's good enough to justify hanging out after the game. Especially with that hottie you kept running into on the other team . . . Oh, the joys of co-ed sports.
Soccer First
6490 Dublin Park Dr.
(614) 793-0101
www.soccerfirst.org
Indoor Soccer is played all year at the Sports Barn at Easton, but according to several regulars, winter is where it's at. Sports Barn shifts to a strictly co-ed schedule in the spring and summer because most of the winter players either hook up with an outdoor team or divert their attention to other pursuits.
The Sports Barn offers a number of leagues that appeal to all skill levels and manages to accommodate all the action on three fields. "It gets so crowded," confided Amy, a regular who plays on three different teams during the winter, "but it's a lot of fun."
The Sports Barn also started a session in October, but soccer bums who don't mind hanging out might be able to find a team in need of some help. "Somebody's always short," Amy said. "The coed teams are always looking for an extra girl."
The Barn also has a concession area that offers beer, plus the Easton location makes it easy to find a place for postgame partying. Most of the Easton establishments seem to tolerate sweaty soccer players, though this theory has not been put to the test at Smith and Wollensky's fancy-schmancy steakery.
The Sports Barn
3599 Chiller Ln.
(614) 337-8000
www.thesportsbarn.net
The third destination for soccer is right up I-71 at All Stars, former location of the venerable Continent Athletic Club. This facility offers two regular soccer fields and can easily convert a third auxiliary field if demand is high.
"They can be pretty competitive," noted Dane, a soccer regular who has played at all three facilities. "The open league I played in was pretty physical, but I really sharpened my skills."
All Stars also sees an exodus of players during warmer months, but they book their schedules quickly in the fall. "You can post your info on our bulletin board," said All Stars associate Mark, in response to my inquiry about individual players finding a team. "But it's probably best to come down during a game and ask around."
All Stars takes refreshment a step further than its counterparts with The Fieldhouse Pub, a full service sports bar located on the building's upper level. It's probably not going to replace your favorite sporty tavern anytime soon, but as far as post-game beers go, it's got a lot to offer.
All Stars Family Sports Entertainment Center
6124 Busch Blvd.
(614) 431-8881
www.allstarsfsec.com
If you're interested in recruiting a team, each facility has different rules regarding the number of players and gender equity with regard to co-ed teams. Variances in ages and skill levels are also specific to each facility, so it's worthwhile to shop around. Fees are subject to change, but generally speaking it's about $800 to register a team and the schedules are based on the number of teams that sign up. Typically, each team plays around 10 games per session.
If you don't have a team, each facility will take your name and number just in case somebody's looking for an extra player, but if you really want to find a spot, it's best to make friends with somebody on a team. If you're willing to show up for early games or you opt to hang around during the peak of flu season, you stand a good chance of some short-handed team inviting you aboard as a last minute substitution and from there you might just find a home - but being bashful or waiting for the phone to ring won't get you on the field.
For details on registration, tournaments and other information, contact the facilities directly or check the schedule and drop in for a game. They're all open to the public, and somebody would be more than happy to show you around.
Originally Published: November 1, 2009
