Soccer in Alaska!-by Chenda

Co-ed Rec. Adult Soccer:
         Brian and I joined the Alaska Rush Parents Soccer team here in Anchorage.  We e-contacted the head of the club team that we are coaching an academy camp for twice a week (more on this later)and he got us connected to the adult league.  We were very fortunate to find such a fun/competitive team to play with weeks before we arrived!  I like our team manager's philosophy of just have fun and play safely bc we are a bunch of oldies that need to be able to walk the next day.  This doesn't mean that we are not intense though.  Some of us are larger than others (the ones with the Y chromosome) and use the advantage well.  A bit more aggression dispalyed than the "love fest" Monday games with CCS.
       We kicked off our season last week with a 2-0 win (I gave Brian a really nice cross from the right side of the box and he knocked it in with his left!  Quite a moment for me, since I haven't played a "real" game with just adults ever!)  We had to miss our last game due to coaching obligations, but we have been playing pick up soccer on Fridays for the kids and Sundays for the older part of the family and academy 2x/wk, though.  So we are all getting lots of playing time.
      My fav. soccer resource so far here:  the Rush soccer Friday "kids only (age.9yrs-18)" Pick-up Fridays.  There were aprox.50 kids out there last Friday with a couple of Rush coaches just supplying the pennies and balls; one ran a goalie clinic and one roamed the 3 levels of scrimmage games that went on.  1.5 hrs. scrimmages -kids rule: then 1.5 hrs. Finishing clinics (2 levels: a couple of "coaches") - Flying changes format;  All had fun and it was optional participation, so the kids that were present were the motivated ones.  Great resource, not much hassel or management, and it was free.
Coaching:
      Like I said earlier, Brian and I are coaching a developmental academy Tuesday and Thursday evenings, mostly bc we love to coach and secondly, to check out the youth soccer seen here in AK.  Plus the kids get to participate at no cost!  Win-win-win!  Really though, we do it for the T-shirts ;).
      The dedication parents feel to local youth activities is immense.  It says alot about Alaskans in general.
     It's been interesting to see how involved and hardy these Alaskans are.  I've asked the key question to parents that will speak to me:  "How do you deal with the extremes in temp. and light here?" to the people that make the world go round, heathy,- the moms.  Their response:  "You'd have to get out everyday no matter what.  Keep everyone active!"  They've got a challenging job since it could get down to -30F with wind and rain and we are just getting a taste of the mosquitoes!  Or should I say, they are just beginning to get a taste of us!  So far, I've found lots of soccer, swimming, fishing, hunting, baseball, lots of lit ski trails and dif. programs to go with them, running, hiking, boating etc., flying, lots of ice rinks (indoor and outdoor), and then there are the indoor court activities.  And have witnessed many hikers (young and old and inbetween) on the trails, even in hail, wind and rain.  These people get out!!