SOCCER ON A ROLL INDOORS
Published on June 25, 2002
© 2002- The Press Democrat
BYLINE: BRUCE
MEADOWS
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
COTATI
Andrew Rowley stands at ground zero of the U.S. soccer craze.
With children as young as 2-years-old buzzing across the turf at his
newest indoor soccer arena, he thinks it perfectly reasonable to
believe that among them might be another Landon Donovan -- another
superstar to help lift U.S. soccer to world-class status.
The World Cup tournament being played in Japan and Korea -- and
particularly the U.S. team's surprising success in reaching the
quarterfinals -- has focused American mainstream attention on the
sport as never before.
``Young players are inspired by what they saw the Americans do
this time,'' said Rowley, a sports entrepreneur and admitted soccer
fanatic. ``To reach that level, they know it's a commitment, and
indoor soccer allows players to compete and train year-round.''
That puts Rowley and his partners in good position to ride -- and
help shape -- the soccer boom. There are fewer than a half dozen
indoor soccer arenas in the Bay Area-Sacramento region, and now two
of those are in Sonoma County.
``Our goal is to develop better soccer players at all levels,''
he said.
The benefits for players are obvious beyond the year-around play.
The smaller playing surface allows for greater training
opportunities.
``Outdoors, some players might touch the ball very little during
a match,'' said Rowley. ``With indoor, players are constantly
getting touches.'' Thus, skills improve faster.
Rowley, with partners Rick Herbert and Wally Lourdeaux, opened Sports
City on Piner Road in Santa Rosa in 1996. The business has
grown rapidly. More than 250 youth and adult teams use the facility
for league play and practice, with more playing in the winter.
In April, the group opened the second site, taking over the lease
on a former in-line skating rink on Stony Point Road just south of
Highway 116, west of Cotati.
Sports City Cotati is the largest indoor soccer
arena in Northern California. The Field Turf surface is 185x85 feet
(vs. 76x168 in Santa Rosa) and the higher ceiling (40 feet vs. 25)
allows for more realistic play, especially for goalkeepers.
``We were jammed in Santa Rosa,'' said Rowley. The new site
allows teams to play at both sites, freeing up practice time at both
facilities.
Besides the two Sonoma County buildings, indoor soccer facilities
include Pacific Sports Center in Vallejo, World Cup Indoor in San
Francisco, Off the Wall in Santa Clara and Sacramento and a new
facility in Vacaville.
``The rule of thumb is one arena per 450,000 people,'' said
Rowley. ``If this was a stand-alone arena and we were trying to
market it by itself, we would not have opened the Cotati site,''
said Rowley. ``But we have a solid base of players and teams from
Santa Rosa.''
Cotati has a state-of-the-art, $75,000 surface. The turf was left
over from construction of the massive Tokyo Dome indoor facility.
The arena has NHL-quality tempered glass and a scoreboard that shows
not only time, but penalties and shots on goal.
There are enclosed home and visitor benches and private locker
rooms with closed-circuit TV for watching training videos or the
game in progress.
Unlike the Santa Rosa facility, there is ample room for watching
matches, with an observation deck that has bleachers as well as
individual tables. Rowley hopes to expand this area and continue to
upgrade the food service, which includes a wine and beer license.
There are also offices and Rowley offers space to leagues and
local clubs.
``This allows kids who have chosen soccer as their sport to play
year-round,'' said Petaluma Youth Soccer League president Matt
Brown.
The Sonoma County Alliance, a combination of Rohnert Park and
Petaluma leagues, already had an office at North Bay.
``What Andrew has envisioned is awesome, especially for the south
end of the county,'' said Josh Sterling, director of coaching for
the Alliance. ``The idea is to bring all or most of all the soccer
minds to one site ... only good things can happen from that, for
soccer and for kids.''
Sterling, assistant men's soccer coach at Sonoma State, added,
``bringing together all the pieces to create a great club or academy
environment is such a positive thing for youth soccer in this
area.''
"Independent soccer leagues here are scattered ... we hope
to bring these clubs and leagues together,'' said Rowley. ``We want
this to be the information center for soccer in this area.''
He has ambitious plans for the Cotati site, including a pro shop.
A conference room is already in place for activities such as coach
and referee training, guest speakers and seminars. Rowley hopes to
add another indoor field and a workout/gym area plus at least one
full-size outdoor field carpeted with all-weather Field Turf.
``We have a lot of ideas, but it depends on permits and the
economy,'' said Rowley, a Terra Linda native who now lives near
Rohnert Park. ``We want this to be a regional training center, a
European concept.''
He noted that in Europe, club teams such as Bayern Leverkusen -
Donovan's team -- are responsible for developing youth players in
their area.
``It's not that way in this country,'' said Rowley. ``That's why
our dream is to someday make this a regional training center.''
Call Staff Writer Bruce Meadows at 521-5263 or e-mail bmeadows@pressdemocrat.com
PHOTO: 2 by JOHN BURGESS / The Press Democrat
1: While the kids practice below, families can watch from a viewing
area above the field at Sports City, an indoor soccer
facility in Cotati.
2: Dylan McCallum, from left, Jason Vantighen, Ayrton Ellis, Ethan
Jones, Steven McCloskey and Sean Restivo wait for their turn for a
shot on goal in the Little Kickers program at Sports City,
an indoor soccer facility in Cotati.
Infobox: COMMUNITY SPORTS
Today The Press Democrat launches a weekly summer page that
focuses on regional athletes and local sports trends. Check out page
C5 on Tuesdays for a feature story, a ``Where are they now?''and a
column on local issues.
NORTH BAY INDOOR SOCCER
Where: Sports City Cotati and Sports City
Santa Rosa
Leagues: Sports City Santa Rosa and Sports City
Cotati are home to 250 teams, split between adults and kids. There
are men's, women's and coed leagues and a wide array of youth
leagues, including "Little Kickers" for 2-6 year olds,
where parents are involved in an interactive experience with their
kids.
Team training: Both sites are available for practice and training
by teams with hourly rental $50-$75.
Membership: An annual pass (league players are members) at either
site is $40 for adults, $25 for kids.
Special events, practices: Birthday parties and slumber parties
are available for $200. You get the place from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m.
Sites: Cotati, 6700 Stony Point Rd., just south of Highway 116;
Santa Rosa, 921 Piner Rd.
Information: Cotati, 285-GOAL (4625); Santa Rosa 526-2884. |
