Starting at 9:00 a.m. and going on throughout the afternoon, there is a hidden world of activity that many don't know exists, and are happily sleeping in oblivious of.
I'm talking about Big Country Soccer leagues.
The season now is Fall Soccer, lasting for 8 weeks. There is also a Spring season.
Cars arrive in a stream starting at 8:30, turning off of Maple Street onto the dusty gravel road under the entrance to the fields near South 27th. Parents and grandparents help children unload stadium chairs, coolers, regulation-size balls. Players are dressed in elaborate uniforms of bright neon, with matching patterned socks with the likes of stars or flames.
Competition is fierce, at least for some of the parents. Many of the younger kids are still caught up in the simple joys of kicking a ball and running. They make easy mistakes like, "Which goal belongs to our team again?"
Level of play can be high though and some of the girls and boys will go on to play in high school or college.
Until then, their 'fan clubs' (again, parents and grandparents) come to watch them, wearing team colors, some using umbrellas as a shield from the sun.
One girl had a pink blanket from her bed with her to spread on the grass, and I saw a woman carrying a box of donuts.
It's quite an event.
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