The Splash
AUGUST 2013 • 43
PROFILES/SPORTS
Barefoot soccer tourney debuts at Pavillion Park By Josh Johnson
SPLASH STAFF WRITER
William Miller is a businessman, a sports aficionado and a driven personality, but his decision to start a barefoot soccer tournament came down more to his experience raising daughters and a mission trip to Costa Rica. Miller was in the Central American country in February with a group from Valley Assembly of God Church. He brought with him donated soccer stuff — cleats, balls, etc. “That soccer ball was their prized possession,” he said. “I had all kinds of soccer shoes and stuff; they didn’t care about those. They would play on gravel with ripped-up shoes.” But the balls, Miller said, were the can’tplay-without commodity, and most he saw in Costa Rica were tattered and flat — “In America, If one of the soccer balls kids use has stitching coming off, it’s garbage.” In particular, Miller recalled giving a new ball to a boy named Leo, who attended a chapel service in Los Guidos, Costa Rica. “He was carrying a ball ripped to shreds, kind of half flat,” Miller said. “I tried to get that ball from him, and he wouldn’t give it to me. He left carrying two soccer balls —
one new one, one together quickly to minimum of three games over the course of old one.” hold the tourna- the two-day event. IF YOU GO ... ment Aug. 17-18 at The experience Teams from U9 to adult are encouraged Pavillion Park. Local to sign up or learn more by looking up the 2013 Barefoot 3v3 Soccer Festival was the needed push friends Chaz Val- tournament on Facebook. The event isn’t Aug. 17 and 18 for Miller to get seridez, Rik Robles and associated with any particular soccer club, ous about an idea he Pavillion Park, Liberty Lake Mike Cousins ral- and special “One World Futbols” have been had been considerDivisions: Brackets are available for lied around Miller purchased to be utilized at the event. The ing for a few years U9-U15, high schools and adults. Cost to help make the balls don’t have a bladder in them, so they — putting on a bareis $150 per team and includes a T-shirt tourney happen, and foot soccer tournadon’t go flat. Miller compares the material for each participant as well as champia partnership with ment. they are made out of to Crocs shoes, proonship T-shirts for winners. another local orgaviding a “foamier, softer” but with the same “I’ve got all nization that knows For more or to register: Search for daughters, and they weight as a normal soccer ball. a thing or two about “Barefoot 3v3 Soccer” on Facebook or all played soccer, so He said the balls are great for bare feet, putting on tournaI’ve been around it visit www.barefoot3v3.com. Registration ments also contrib- but even better for use in countries like Cosfor 20 years,” he said. closes soon. uted to making the ta Rica, where all the balls will be donated “Playing at home inaugural Barefoot following the tournament. with cleats on, one 3v3 Soccer Festival “Across the world, all these kids grow up of them would often get hurt — usually the a reality. playing barefoot soccer,” Miller said. younger ones. I would say, ‘Guys, come on, www.libertylakesplash.com “We’re actually partnering with Hoopfest play barefoot.’” The plan is to turn a Liberty Lake tournaWhen they took their Dad’s advice, an in- to be a beta test with them for software,” said ment on well-manicured grass into an anMiller, explaining the event’s format will nual way to give kids like Leo the epitome of teresting thing happened. be similar to Hoopfest’s 16-team, double- prized possessions — a futbol that doesn’t “They played better soccer,” Miller said. elimination brackets that guarantee teams a go flat. “They dribbled better, controlled the play better. I’m like, ‘This is good for them.’” With a boost of support and encouragement from Liberty Lake City Council member Josh Beckett, Miller said the idea came
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WHYBREW Continued from page 42
Whybrew also teaches preschool at Liberty Lake Children’s Academy — and has since its inception seven years ago. The position at the preschool has played a large part in her connecting with local families. Whybrew said the running club hopes to form a board of directors and begin the process of seeking nonprofit status so it can do more for the community. “We are supposed to live in community with one another, and I try to facilitate that,” she said. “I try to look for ways to connect people, and I just like to do stuff outside.”
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Liberty Lake Running Club members celebrate a birthday as they prepare to launch out on another three-mile run recently from True Legends Grill.
HOW TO JOIN THE LIBERTY LAKE RUNNING CLUB Meet at True Legends Grill, 1803 N. Harvard Road in Liberty Lake, at 5:45 p.m. on Thursdays. Run three miles with the group six times to earn the right to purchase a $16 club T-shirt. For more, call 954-9806 or email kathyawhybrew@msn.com.
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