A League of their own

POLSON - There's something brewing in Polson.

Last year, the Linderman Elementary field hosted a pick-up soccer game every Tuesday and Thursday night during the summer. This summer, that tradition continues with one goal in mind.

The creation of an adult soccer league.

"It's on the verge," organizer Dever Graham said. "I'm just discussing it with everybody."

Graham said that the easiest way for the league to take place would be three or four team captains that would be in charge of getting ahold of the team for games.

Having played in men's league up in Whitefish, Graham has seen the passion for the sport and thinks that a league in Polson would be an outlet to play competitive soccer.

"Once all of the kids are done with high school they don't have a whole lot of opportunities," Graham said.

The Whitefish league had between 7-8 teams but draws from a larger population area. The league also has high school players in its ranks and Graham said that a league in Polson could help sharpen the skills of their own high school players that already get plenty of sharpening in the spring youth soccer season.

Graham said that he remembers when he was a freshman in high school and Polson had an adult soccer league. It's something that he would like to see come back. The summer Tuesday and Thursday games started roughly a month and a half ago and the response has been larger than last year. So much so that now there are subs for a full 11-on-11 matchup.

"The big games are starting to come together a lot faster," Graham said. "There are people that have come and have played before that are really excited and then others

that are young and haven't played. There is a good amount of players that are 25 and older with skills."

The games usually last an hour and a half with two halves

and goes on through November with a few breaks. With how successful they've become, it could definitely be the foundation for an adult soccer league in Polson with some support.

"I'd like to get referees and have someone line the fields as well," Graham said.

While now it's still in the preliminary stages, issues like field use and lining specific fields to play could be a problem for a prospective league. Sponsorships would also be something that could help things out as for.

For more information about the prospect of the adult soccer league, individuals are encouraged to call Graham at 253-8319, or e-mail him at devergraham@centurytel.net