[ SOCCER ]
With the World Cup still on the minds of millions of fans worldwide, the state of Hawaii is preparing for a major soccer event of its own. The American Youth Soccer Organization National Games for boys and girls under-12 to under-19 teams takes place this week at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park. Let the games begin!
By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThe first national soccer tournament in Hawaii features 192 teams from around the nation. They will make wonderful use of the 20 fields that are ready for action at the Waipio Complex.
Pool-play matches begin at 8 a.m. Thursday. If all fields are used and five matches are played on each field each day, that allows for 100 matches a day, enough to accommodate 200 teams.
There are 96 teams in the U12 to U14 divisions with 15 players per team or 1,440 participants. In the U16 to U19 divisions, which allow 18-player rosters, 1,728 players will be participating.
In addition, more than 100 children, half of them siblings of participating players, have signed up for the Soccerfest this Wednesday.
The finals for the different age groups begin next Sunday at 1 p.m.
For this week's AYSO National Games, some of Waipio's fields will be shortened for the younger age groups.
The outer dimensions of a soccer field can vary, but the field must be rectangular. All lines on the field must be no more than 5 inches wide. FIFA's Laws of the Game allows a field for international matches to range from 100 to 120 yards long and from 70 to 80 yards wide.
The outer boundaries on the side are known as touch lines and the lines at the end of the field are called goal lines. The halfway line divides the field in half and has a center mark where the ball is placed for kickoffs at the start of each half and after each goal.
It is impossible for a player to be offside in his or her own (defensive) half of the field.
The center circle, with a radius of 10 yards, comes into play only on kickoffs and keeps the defending team 10 yards from the ball until it is kicked.
Players defending a free kick, either direct or indirect, in the open field are supposed to be 10 yards from the ball. Much of the time the referee has to mark that off, as defenders love to encroach on that 10-yard space.
The penalty area or box extends 18 yards into the field from the goal line and 18 yards from the inside of the goal posts toward each touch line.
Major fouls resulting in a direct free kick become a penalty kick if committed within the penalty area. The kick is taken from the penalty mark, which is 12 yards from the goal line and midway between the goal posts. The arc on top of the penalty area is 10 yards in radius and players from both teams must stay outside the penalty area and behind the arc until the ball is kicked.
The smaller goal area within the penalty area extends 6 yards into the field and 6 yards from the inside of the goal posts toward the touch line.
There are flags on posts at each corner of the field. An arc 1 yard in radius is inscribed at each corner and the ball must be within that arc when a corner kick is taken.
An optional line 10 yards from each corner, perpendicular to the goal line, can extend into the field for 1 yard. Again, this merely limits how close a defender can be when a corner kick is taken.
The goals are 8 yards wide and 8 feet from the bottom of the cross bar to the ground. The posts and cross bar must be the same width as the goal line, no more than 5 inches, and must be white.
The game
Here are the basics to better understand the game:
>> The field is 100-120 yards in length, and 70-80 yards wide.
>> Ten players plus a goalkeeper on each team.
>> Two 45-minute halves, with a 10-minute rest period between them. The length of the game is shorter for younger-age divisions.
>> Games start with a coin flip and kickoff. The team that doesn't kick off to start the game kicks off to start the second half.
>> No timeouts unless an official calls one if a player is injured.
Key words you need to know to better understand the game: Glossary of key terms
Center: To pass the ball into the penalty area from near a touchline.
Dribble: Move the ball with feet while running.
Drop ball: To restart a game, the referee drops the ball on the ground between two opposing players.
Marking: Guarding an opposing player.
Obstruction: Deliberately standing or running in an opponent's path.
Screen: Control the ball by keeping the body between the ball and the opponent.
Volley: Kicking the ball when it is in the air.
Header: Directing the flight of the ball with your head.
Trap: Stopping and controlling a moving ball.
Touch line: If the ball is kicked past the line, a player from the opposing team throws it back into play.
Penalty area: A penalty kick is awarded if a defender commits a major foul in this zone. The kick is taken from the penalty kick mark 12 yards from the goal line.
Goal: A goal is scored when the ball passes entirely through the plane of the goal line.
Goal line: If the ball rolls past the line, play is restarted by a kick from the corner (offense) or goal box (defense).
There are several kinds of fouls you should watch for during a game: Fouls
Major fouls: A direct free kick is awarded from the penalty mark when a player commits a major foul (such as tripping, hand ball or tackling from behind) in the penalty box.
Minor fouls: An indirect free kick is awarded from the spot of the infraction.
Offside: An indirect free kick is awarded when an attacking player has no opposing players between him and the goal line when the ball is played (with few exceptions).
Not a whole lot is needed for a soccer match. The equipment
Ball: Made of leather or other approved material. Comes in various sizes, depending on the age of the players. The spots on the ball help players judge the ball's spin.
Boots: Studs are attached to the sole or molded into it.
Shin guards: Used to protect the shin area.
Schedule for the AYSO National Games
Monday
1 to 8 p.m.: Team registration and credential check at the Hawaii Convention Center.Tuesday
Opening Day Ceremonies at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park. Events are:
5 to 5:45 p.m.: Staging of teams outside the stadium.
6 to 7 p.m.: Parade of teams and referees into the stadium.
7 to 7:30 p.m.: Formal program.
7:30 to 8 p.m.: Entertainment, balloon and fireworks show.Wednesday
8 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Soccerfest at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.
5:30 to 9:30 p.m.: Youth event at the Hawaii Convention Center.Thursday
8 a.m.: Pool play all day at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.Friday
8 a.m.: Pool play all day at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.Saturday
8 a.m. to noon: Pool play at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.
1 p.m.: Start of quarterfinals at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.Sunday
8 a.m.: Start of semifinals at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.
1 p.m.: Start of finals at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.
TheBus service
TheBus will operate shuttle service for people attending the opening day ceremonies for the AYSO National Games on Tuesday at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.Buses marked "AYSO Soccer" will leave terminals at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Kuhio and Seaside avenues and Kuhio and Kaiulani avenues (Ohana East Hotel) approximately every 10 minutes between 4:15 and 5:15 p.m.
Return trips to Waikiki will leave the Waipio Complex when the ceremony is finished. Fares are $3 in each direction. Transfers and passes will not be valid payment for this special service.
For more information, call TheBus at 848-555 between 5:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. or go to www.thebus.org.
