For the winter and summer months,
when regular soccer goes out of season, an even faster-paced game was created
to replace it. Indoor soccer, as its
name suggests, is played inside on a turf field. People of all ages play in indoor leagues and
some even enjoy it more than traditional soccer.
Usually, the shape of the pitch (the
field) is oblong, almost exactly like a hockey rink without the ice. So, there
are the same Plexiglas walls that surround hockey rinks on indoor soccer
fields. This makes for constant running for soccer players because instead of
getting a breather when the ball goes out of bounds, players just play the off
the walls. Goals are usually inset into the wall, so a pass that slides along
the wall will end up directly in front of the goal. There is a net over the top
of the field, so that the pitch is completely enclosed and the ball always
stays inside the field. If the ball hits the netting however, the play is
stopped and the opposing team gets a free kick from directly underneath the
place the ball hit. This forces players to retain constant control of their
passes and shots.
Indoor is generally more exciting for
fans than outdoor soccer because of the higher scoring and speed of the game.
It is a smaller field and only 6 people are allowed on the field for each team
instead of 11, so there are more chances to score. Also, just like in hockey, the walls create an
opportunity for body checking, which Americans seem to have a fascination with.
The walls allow players to pass back to themselves and around opposing players,
which creates options for moving the ball down the field. Since there is no
offsides in indoor soccer, attackers can stand right next to the goal and wait
for their teammates to feed them the ball for an easy shot on goal. However,
there is a small area called the crease that surrounds the goal. Players can’t
shoot from inside the crease unless they entered the crease with the ball at
their feet.
While indoor soccer has its
variations from outdoor soccer, it requires the same technical skills and
fitness. This makes it a popular alternative for many players seeking to stay
in shape while out of regular soccer season.
I actually got to watch indoor soccer games this past winter when I had indoor field hockey. I loved being able to use the walls during my games, and I think it's cool that soccer players use them the same way we do for indoor hockey. In my opinion the extra speed that we got from the smaller field was the best part. All the running is made a lot harder because the air is harder to breathe inside.
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