The Soccer Box

Let’s explore Soccer (or Futbol) in Houston… 

Soccer for kids is a great way for children to get involved in a sport that can provide long-term health benefits and is a fun way to stay active. Soccer is a sport that can be played by both boys and girls of all ages and can help kids develop mentally, physically, and socially. Kids can learn to work together as a team, develop their motor skills, and gain self-confidence as they practice their skills. Soccer can also help children develop their problem-solving skills as they learn to strategize and think ahead. Finally, soccer is great for children because it teaches them important values such as sportsmanship, respect, and discipline. 

As part of our exploration of soccer in the Greater Houston Area, we’re taking a deep dive into the places to go that bring soccer to life. The team at Houston City Beat recently explored The Soccer Box – Houston Heights. The Soccer Box is a 10,000-square-foot indoor soccer facility designed to maximize a young soccer player’s development and love of the game. 

The team at The Soccer Box designed and constructed the facility to provide maximum development for young players. We toured the fields and were impressed by how they were able to design a space that replicates the do-or-die areas of every soccer game – the penalty boxes. The lengths and widths of the fields are the same as if you took away the middle and wide areas of an outdoor soccer field and pushed the 2 goal boxes together. In a game, these areas are the most highly congested and highly contested. On offense, the players must develop fantastic skill and creativity to find a bit of space and get away a shot or pass. On defense, the players must stay touch-tight and defend with great intensity and composure. 

Ryan Shumbera, the owner of the Soccer Box, explained that players who train in their small, walled-in indoor fields get tons more quality touches (they estimate greater than 10X more) than in any other training environment. More touches = More development 

What I found most interesting is that The Soccer Box is not a “new idea” per se. The inspiration for the design of The Soccer Box comes from the street style futbol you find in countries like Brazil with tight playing spaces most kids grow up playing. 

The Soccer Box works with children aged 24 months to 14 years of age. They have programs for recreational players, competitive players, and high-level competitive players. The Soccer Box offers seasonal leagues, soccer camps, skills training sessions, competitive soccer, birthday parties, and field rentals. 

Soccer Camps are a great way to improve skills in a short period of time.  Seasonal Leagues are designed to give the players the experience of playing in a competitive environment. Birthday parties need no explanation. Why bother with the hassle of having a birthday party at home when you can enjoy all the fun of your son or daughter’s birthday without the hassle of cleaning it up?  

Find The Soccer Box online at www.thesoccerbox.com 

Written by Lisbet Marquez, from Houston City Beat. Information on The Soccer Box – Heights, was provided by Ryan Shumbera, Owner.