On Detroit Street in Morton, there is a building with only one word adorning its exterior: “Soccer.” While the one-word moniker may bring thoughts of simplicity to mind, what goes on inside the walls is anything but simple.
Morton Park District director Gary Watson said the indoor soccer arena, known as the Recreation Center, was built privately by individuals in the 1990s.
“We acquired the building in 2001,” he said.
Since then, the Recreation Center has received a face-lift. A turf of pulverized rubber was put down, bleachers were added, and an indoor playground with a cushioned floor was built.
“It’s absolutely state-of-the-art,” said Ross Hovind, Youth Soccer League co-organizer.
Watson said indoor soccer is a much faster game than its outdoor counterpart because there is no offsides in indoor soccer. Permanent sideboards allow for play off walls, eliminating the need to frequently stop the game for throw-ins, corner kicks and goal kicks. Indoor games are usually under 45 minutes.
“It relies more on foot skills and passing,” Watson said.
Watson said the park district really appreciated the chance to purchase the building because “it just seemed like there was enough interest in soccer.”
Angela Martiens, Morton Park District’s program coordinator, says that each session, there are about 1,200 athletes who play soccer at the Recreation Center. The park district offers three six-week sessions each year to athletes from 4 years to adult. A fourth “sauna league” is offered to teams registered in throughout the year. It is called the sauna league because there is no air conditioning in the building.
“There are people coming from 19 towns just to play soccer here,” said Hovind. “It’s always full.”
It is not just soccer players that fill the space at the Recreation Center. Other activities offered at the facility include tumbling, ballet, yoga, morning walking, private parties and play days for young children. The building is in such high demand that there is not even time for the leagues that play there to hold practices.
Also, the Morton Blaze Soccer Club and various outdoor teams from the high school utilize the space when Illinois weather makes playing outdoors virtually impossible.
“In March the weather’s just not ready for us to practice outdoors,” said Morton High School’s girls’ soccer coach, Brian Deters. “We have this facility and the turf to use to get ready for our season. It’s infinitely important to our program.”
Morton, Ill. —
