Play while the big kids are away

May 1, 2005 - 1:14 PM by David Brinn

There’s an official, municipally-run soccer field in the valley just below my house. Green grass, white chalk lines, bright lights – the whole works.

Usually, the game played there is … soccer. Youth teams, adult leagues, Israelis are crazy about soccer, so that’s why it’s a soccer field and not a baseball or football field.

That is, until the big kids go home.

Yesterday, we set out for a stroll with our weekend guests from Kibbutz Ketura, and noticed that there was no soccer game in the field – and only a handful of people milling around with a ball or two.

Our friend’s son, who had been toting around an American football all weekend, now had his chance. We headed down the path to field – adults and kids – to play a game of touch football.

When we got there, it turned out the small group of people consisted of Brits and Aussies – some friends of mine – who get together every Shabbat for a game of family-style rugby (also touch, no tackle).

After razzing them about playing a barbarous game, we headed to the other side of the humungous field for our game. On the way, we passed a lone American-Israeli with a bag of balls and baseball bat who was hitting the balls to the other side, then going to the other side and hitting them back.

We invited him to play touch football with us – and we had a great game – 3 on 3, two adults and one kid a side. After an hour or so, our new friend asked if we wanted to shag some flies, and we took to the outfield for another 20 minutes or so.

Then we noticed a few cars pulling up, and some tall, conditioned men getting out with duffel bags, soccer balls, and team flags.

The rugged rugby players started packing up, we went to gather the scattered baseballs, we all called it a day. The big kids had shown up, and they wanted their field.

But we’ll be back next week.

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