The little Salvation Army on Hilltop Lane in Annapolis is a couple miles from City Dock by car, and much farther from downtown in terms of organized nightlife. But in the chill of winter, it is a nightly beacon for young soccer players. On weeknights until 10 and weekends until nearly midnight, players stream past the collection trailer of household goods, past the day care center?s fenced-in playground, to compete in the Annapolis Soccer Club winter futsal league.
Some are excellent public or private high school players, looking for a place to get some touches on the ball with their friends in the offseason. Some are recreational players, preferring a scoreboard that stops keeping track once a team gets ahead by five goals. Some live nearby, particularly in the growing Annapolis Hispanic community, and just show up looking for a team that needs an extra player for the evening.
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I dropped by there the other night, wondering if this “old school” league had changed since my kids moved on to snazzier indoor accommodations some years back. What I found was that it?s still the kind of place where kids from all backgrounds and skills can play well-organized, well-called games in an atmosphere that encourages competition but doesn?t idolize it.
“I?m not here to develop players for professional coaches,” said Jesse Simmerman, a Hewlett-Packard retiree and 31-year Annapolis Soccer Club volunteer, who supervises the 10-week winter league. “That?s not how it is here.”
Simmerman organized the league 13 years ago, when he heard the gym was unused at night and knew that local kids enjoyed soccer enough to play during the winter.
“We had a bunch of Annapolis kids who weren?t on select or Beltway teams. It was to get those kids a place to play,” Simmerman said. “We wanted to provide a place for the kids to play and just break even.”
There weren?t as many indoor facilities back then. Baltimore?s Du Burns Arena and Myers Pavilion were the main indoor facilities and a little farther than some parents were willing to drive.
These days, indoor sports facilities, including the fairly new Soccer Domes I and II and Maryland SportsPlex, demonstrate that there is a growing need for indoor playing places, for winter soccer, lacrosse and field hockey leagues and tournaments. And today families don?t blink about driving to Germantown or Waldorf to play against what they consider better competition.
But through all these changes, the Salvation Army league remains constant. About 850 are registered here this season, ages 4 through high school. This year, Simmerman brought in some professionals to work with the littlest kids, for a little variety. But mostly, it?s to play games against anybody who signs up, anybody who shows up.
It reminds me of the old gym where my husband used to play pick-up basketball. Today, he still runs into those guys he played with: business owners, bartenders, lobbyists and dish washers he knew more by their games than their names. They still have smiles and handshakes for each other, memories of those meaningless, meaningful times together.
The Salvation Army soccer league has that kind of feel.
Simmerman has maintained the same approach and the same commitment.
“I?m here all night,” he said during one of the first games last Friday. “I?ll be here all day tomorrow.”
He likes the competition, but emphasizes that the league isn?t about winning. No team jerseys here: Every player, 4-year-old to 18-year-old, gets an Annapolis Soccer League shirt at the beginning of the season and a modest trophy at the end.
The league doesn?t sweat a lot of issues affecting other places.
Over the years, some teams from the National Capital Soccer League and Washington Area Girls Soccer League have signed up: the location, fees and 10-game schedule are tempting. One coach called Simmerman some years back, to make sure it was OK to bring in accomplished players. He got the standard line ? everyone is welcome here.
Simmerman?s had some girls? teams who wanted to play in the boys? league to get better competition. That?s fine.
He?s had some teams leave for better competition. OK, too.
He sees some teams come back because they were demoralized elsewhere or because they just want to play with community friends. Welcome back.
Simmerman said the biggest complaint over the years is the late night games for teenagers. Some parents don?t want their kids playing there at 9 on weekdays or 10 on weekends.
That?s fine, he said. This is a one-court place that does what it can do, for those who want it, for those who need it.
Effie Dawson writes about high school and youth sports. She can be reached at [email protected].
