They never stop
Being a grandparent who grew up in the 60s, soccer wasn’t much of a thing. We might have had a soccer ball, but we mostly used it for kickball or dodgeball.
I wouldn’t have learned much about soccer if not for my oldest grandson, Henry. It was his favorite sport from a young age, so his Granny and I had to learn the rules. We still struggle with the “offside” penalty, which seems opposite to what we know from American football.
We travelled to watch Henry play soccer, as we have followed all of our grandchildren in their various sports. Soccer was not the only new sport for us to observe. Laura plays on her high school volleyball team which seems a bit different from our games on the beach in my youth. We also travel to follow our other grandchildren in baseball, basketball, football, and even T-Ball.
Henry and his family have traditionally joined us at Compass Lake for Memorial Day. Due to the construction of an addition to our house at Compass Lake, we were unable to host visitors at the lake this Summer. What alternative activities could we consider for Memorial Day?
Henry, our first grandchild, has presented the most significant challenge regarding gift selections for our family. Aside from soccer jerseys, he does not appear to want any material items. Consequently, monetary gifts have become the standard, which he quickly deposits into his savings account.
With our other daughter’s family otherwise engaged, we decided to take Henry, Catherine and Daaron to a professional soccer game between Atlanta and Cincinnati. I have been to many professional sporting events in my lifetime, but I did not expect a soccer game to be so much fun.
The fun started at Mercedes Benz Stadium, an architectural gem. Our tickets gave us access to the AMG Lounge in the Mercedes Benz Club, offering a variety of food from chips and hot dogs to fancy dishes suitable for a four-star restaurant.
The club is at field level, allowing you to watch the game or socialize close to the action. We preferred our mid-field seats for a better view of the match.
Once the match started, the players never stopped. They were quick, skillfully maneuvered around the ball, and maintained a constant pace. There are no time-outs, and the whistle is not automatically blown when a player is injured.
The absence of replays on the video boards often leads to fans loudly expressing their dissatisfaction with the referees’ decisions. The audience is highly engaged and displays a clear passion for the sport.
A midfielder, Henry’s usual position, typically runs more than any other player, often covering five miles in a 90-minute match. Midfielders are generally lean and fit, with a body mass index often in the single digits.
If you need a distraction, look at the end zone section where thousands are standing, yelling and chanting non-stop. These organized groups of intense supporters are like clubs. Members wave huge flags identifying their group, beat massive drums, and perform choreographed moves. Their passion is unmatched in almost any sport.
Flags line an area along the field, representing the native countries of the players on the Atlanta United team. Soccer is indeed an international sport, but its popularity is exploding in the United States.
The action is fast. There are no time outs for commercials, for strategy, or even for most injuries. They do not think that a draw or tie is a bad thing so there is no overtime. Start to finish, the game was two and a half hours long.
Atlanta is not having a particularly good season so far this year, so their victory over Cincinnati added to the excitement. I have learned most of the rules thanks to following my grandchildren playing soccer. I was surprised that I pretty much knew everything happening on the field (pitch).
A great time with family, an expectedly fun match on the pitch, great food, electric atmosphere and the home town won. I left a bit exhausted because like the players, the enthusiastic fans, the drummers, and the organized groups, I never stopped.
o0o
Dan Ponder can be reached at [email protected]