Richard Anderson photo
Just one corner of the new indoor practice facility, located at 725 Skyline Drive.
By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org
For youth outdoor sports such as soccer, football, lacrosse and baseball, the winter months are fairly nonexistent for productive practice. Even in the spring, it can be more miss than hit.
That’s all about to change with the upcoming youth indoor practice facility, located at 725 Skyline Drive in the old Western Flea Market building.
Thanks to the board of the Laramie Blizzard Soccer Club, the new indoor practice facility, almost wall-to-wall in synthetic sport turf, will be available for youth and some adult organizations when the weather turns ugly in Laramie.
“We’re very excited about it,” James Learned of the Blizzard told Sportsline Live (KOWB/KCGY radio) hosts David Settle and Richard Anderson on Wednesday night.
An open house, hosted by the Blizzard, is set for Friday from 6-8 p.m.
“We really want to encourage the public to come by a take a look, even if you come in for five minutes," Learned said. “Believe me, that is all that it will take. Once you see the hard work that has already been done, just making the place presentable and getting everything cleaned up, you’ll see the turf and it should be a done deal at that point.”
The practice surface measures 12,600 square feet or about 90x120 feet, with an additional straight 120-feet agility area. Not only can it be used for soccer, but other sports like football, lacrosse and baseball can continue to work out despite the adverse weather conditions that can plague the Laramie area.
Jon Boyer, developmental coach for the Blizzard, said the offseason in soccer is critical in the augmentation of a player individually.
“Really, what winter time gives us is time to start working on individual skills and develop our players more than we can do in the season,” Boyer said. “In the season, you do a lot team-wise. We have that speed and agility area, so when teams are practicing, we can get in there and work on coordination because kids are growing.
“It’s going to do a lot for the community, not just for our kids in the Blizzard, but it can make all kids better athletes in general.”
Learned said an important part of the facility is that a coach can work with his individuals or teams in any sport that they want. The fields are not lined in any particular way, it’s just an open area.
“We will have the ability to divide the playing surface in half, so we can give as many groups a chance to practice as possible," Learned said. “We even have an elevated area (6-8 inches) where there is an additional level of turf that runs the length of the playing surface. It is dedicated specifically to agility training. We’ll have some people available to run some agility courses. Coaches can use the time to set up their own agility drills while they are waiting for the field to open up. We’re really thinking about as many aspects of improving athletic performances as we can.”
While the facility isn’t large enough for full-scale game situations, what it does allow, especially in soccer, is to set up small-scale game, such as 4v4 or 5v5, to work on technique, problem areas.
“I think you can do the same thing for sports like football; work on your red zone offense, divide the field to work on specific things," Learned said. “Baseball is the same thing. We might get an opportunity to put in batting cages. There will be room to do whatever your imagination allows. As creative as you want to be as a coach, this facility allows you to do it.”
Laramie Blizzard President Don Barnes said the idea of an indoor facility is something he has thought about for several years, ever since he got into coaching. With Learned and his wife, Mariah, involved in Olympic developmental soccer, they have coached and been involved in clinics across the state and country where the synthetic turf has been utilized.
With the opportunity for the indoor facility at its present location emerging, they all knew it was too good to pass up.
“It’s more uses for this facility, more chances for kids to come in,” Barnes said. “The turf guy came in from Colorado Springs, Colo., and he told me they built one there and it filled up, so they built another one. It’s just that fast. I honestly believe that Laramie will support this because it is a neat facility, a needed facility for our area."
Because there are various costs involved in not only setting up the facility, but maintaining it, fees will be charged to participate, as well as various fundraisers. Learned said there will be several opportunities for business and individual donors to be part of it all.
“Right now, it is just a youth indoor practice facility, it has not been named," Learned said. “If there is a donor who is interested, then we would be interested in any or all suggestions. We know that there is a Rochelle Athletics Center, INVESCO has a field. We know there are ways even professional teams are trying to fund their high quality facilities. Beyond that, we have sponsorship opportunities much like the high school is currently doing, being able to sell banners, and there are various levels to go along with that. Certainly, we want our sponsors or donors to be recognized for their efforts.”
The fact that the Laramie facility will be the first of its kind in the state, it is an example for the entire state, Learned said, and he credits all of the volunteer work that has made it possible.
“They are really a shining example of what can happen,” Learned said. “It’s like the cliché, 'the heart of a volunteer.' They exemplify it.”
It’s already about to pay off, as the state Olympic developmental soccer team will spend a couple days this winter in Laramie training in the new facility.
“We’ll be able to show off our wares to the rest of the state,” Learned said.
Last spring, the Laramie High School boys’ and girls’ soccer teams both won state titles and the Blizzard, year-in and year-out, have been among the state’s best programs. Barnes said this facility is going to bring that winning element to all sports.
“I think people will be copying us very quick. I think it will help our football program get back on top. You can do things on a turf that you can’t do in a gymnasium,” Barnes said.
While adult organizations can also use the facility, Learned said it will be the young athletes who will benefit the most.
“If we can get a few people together to just put an effort behind our kids, we can do some amazing things,” Learned said.
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For more on the indoor facility
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