Goals Soccer Center Champions the 'Five-A-Side' Match

The Goals Soccer Center in South Gate gives participants the chance to play a particular kind of match that it claims produces better players.

In this type of soccer game, five-person teams compete in small, caged artificial turf fields with a ball that is always in play. The “five-a-side” match can improve a player’s overall ability, supporters say.

“People who play five-a-side, when they step on the 11-on-11 field, have so much time to make decisions,” said Nathan Woodridge, director of operations at the Goals Soccer Center. “Because [being used to playing] in such a confined area means you react quickly.”

The Goals Soccer Center was inaugurated in June 2010 and is the first of its kind in the United States. The company is based in the United Kingdom where it operates 40 locations with a large number of outdoor five-a-side soccer fields. The center in South Gate is made up of 10 five-a-side soccer fields and one seven-a-side soccer field. The limited space is considered ideal for improving the basic abilities of a soccer player.

“It's more about your skills,” said José Méndez, 24, who has been a regular at the Goals Soccer Center for the past six months. The small fields encourage the passing of the ball and forces the use of every player. “You don’t tend to ball hog because there are so few people.”

The passing and dribbling that results from the miniature soccer games can be good training for younger players, who are just beginning to develop their soccer skills.

“A player is able to learn more of the fundamental soccer skills and move forward to an 11-a-side game,” said Jaime García, director of marketing at the Goals Soccer Center. With fewer players on the field, the chances increase that each player will touch the ball. “When you put young players in our fields, they are not overwhelmed by the size of them.”

Soccer coaches also agree there are benefits with the five-a-side style of play for children who are just starting soccer. They say the overall dynamic of the five-a-side can improve a player's judgment and physical ability.

“When they arrive to a bigger field, they are quicker [both mentally and physically] because they are used to a smaller field,” said Victor Vega, a soccer coach from the Chivas U.S.A. soccer club who specializes in training 6- to 9-year-olds. “They become more alive and astute because everything is smaller.”

Younger players who attend the Goal Soccer Center appear to enjoy these smaller games. They say they like the fact that there are fewer people and that crowding around the ball does not happen. Young players who are just beginning to play soccer are more prone to crowding and can have unpleasant experiences as a result.  

“I like five-on-five because I do not like it when it gets crowded,” said Enrique Morales, 7, who has been playing soccer for three years. “When you get crowded you hit each other.”

To reach the soccer center, call 323-923-4650 or visit www.goals-soccer.com. The center is located at 9599 Pinehurst Ave. in South Gate. Renting a field for an hour can range from $60 to $99, costing from $6 to $9 per player.