The ride into Georgia Soccer Park is an isolated and serene one. A single lane highway dressed with road forks that lead to ubiquitous open fields and new developments, either of which sit on historic land — an ambling driver might miss his turn. The focused motorist on the other hand, catches the quick turn into the hallowed area, decelerating for what comes next. As far as the eye can see, a well-manicured field is beset by construction complete with a graveled path for all comers. The irony of the environment is telling.
Off in the distance of the massive parking lot that is currently being resurfaced, the Southside Heat — a happy-go lucky and very determined team of secondary students — is absorbing Hotlanta’s relentless rays. Sure, it’s their offseason, but this is a testament to their love of their favorite game. Moreover, it represents a rare opportunity to learn from an Olympic developmental coach who’s shared his professional insight with some of the most accomplished athletes in the world.
While football, baseball, basketball and track routinely capture the minds and bodies of African American kids in most urban communities across the country, this bunch prefers to kick around a white ball with black hexagons. Since the 1st or 2nd grade, when most were members of another local soccer club – Amazon Sports – their bond began to form. Over the years and especially since opting to free themselves of recreational play (Amazon), for favor of travel leagues and competitive Classic level soccer, the Heat have emerged as one of the more spectacular teams in South Fulton’s Tiger Soccer Club. (https://www.tigersoccerclub.com/).
So it only makes sense that they are here – training, committing and dedicating themselves to another season – something they’ve done together, for the past seven years. It’s a weeklong camp meant to introduce new skills, schemes and tactics, while reinforcing many good habits that they have already perfected. Led by former Georgia State Women’s Head Coach Dominic Martelli and Norcross High School’s Frank Pitts, it’s a frenetic pace that even wears on its spectators.
“All we wanna do is put the ball in the back of the net and keep it out of ours,” says Coach Frank, who was recently named the Boys Varsity Coach at Norcross High. “To do that you need to be able to control the ball. A lot of people say ‘trap,’ but it’s really ‘control the ball’ or ‘receive the ball’ and then pass. You need to be able to dribble under control and do that quicker at the higher level.”
The schemes taught by the camp coaches this week are ones that are typically carried out at National Training Centers, which welcome All American Collegiate athletes and professionals, for that matter.
Unsurprisingly, The Heat, who went undefeated last season under its head coach, Reggie Askew, embraced the drills wholeheartedly and were a pleasant surprise to either guest. While some would point to the U.S. Women’s recent championship run at the World Cup as the source of their motivation, the Heat has a camaraderie on and off the field that was intact long before the summer of 2015.
“We’ve all been together for a really long time, so we know each other and we’re like a big family,” says fourteen-year-old defensive ace Trinity Kelly, who’s been a team member since the 3rd grade. “We all know how to play together because we’ve been together for [so long]. We’re all like sisters. We’re all really close friends and we just love playing with each other.”
The rarity of what they have done is easily the most adorable part of their story. Built from the grass up, player by player, with as little as a pool of fourteen to choose from, their recognition of each other is second nature. If nothing else, the Southside Heat has built an inseparable bond that will carry them through their formative years and beyond. Chances are, they’ve done much more and it’s only a matter of time before the world discovers just how rare this group of girls is.
“The real story is what those girls have been able to do with themselves,” Coach Askew affirms. “The way they represent themselves. They’re strong and competitive, have high self-esteem.
“To me they’re just a terrific group of young ladies and something we should all be proud of. It’s fascinating.”
The world can’t wait. –n. ali early
