International Soccer

● Ultra-light ball (\~1/8th as heavy as a normal 5). This allows zero chances of ball causing brain injury. (Hence the name, Soccer Zero.) It's also nice to do toe kicks! ● Injury-based foul system. This means that the rules apply even for same-team-side fouls, too. You can use your hands to protect yourself from the ball; hand balls are only called if you did it to gain an advantage. Yellow cards will cause the fouler to sit out for 120 seconds. Strong kicks of balls to anyone's head, called "face kicks", or nuts (for male players only), are yellow-card fouls even though the ball is so light it doesn't matter as much. This penalizes inconsiderate play, something we really do care about. Reckless players or anyone getting a red card is banned. (Before heading, you need to have an idea of where other nearby players are.) So, as an example, if you kicked the ball at high speed to your own teammate's head you still have to sit out for 2 minutes. ● No out of bounds. This makes it more interesting and easier to ref. ● No offsides. ● No goalies for the senior team. (The senior team is the one that is ahead in points.) This rule is used in place of an offsides rule, since it implies you cannot win by sticking some fat player who stands in front of their relatively small Pugg goal all day long. We define a goalie to be any defender intentionally within the "goal area". In turn, this *goal area* is defined as the ground in front of the goal covered by the top of the goal, were the goal to be tipped forwards onto the ground, similar to what would happen if the wind blew strongly from behind and the stakes were not secured. ● Goal resizing. Sometimes a strong player comes on mid-game after teams were picked by the two captains. If someone like Ronaldo joins a team and/or both captains agree to goal resizing to make the game more balanced the game will be stopped and the goal sizes altered to make it more even. Please don't suggest team shuffling as a better method. It destroys the team spirit. If the switched player sucks, it will add insult to injury to him or her. On the other hand, if the switched player is good, past points stack against him or her, which also destroys the game integrity, much of which is about trying to get your team to win. Goal resizing and point multiplying (each point counts as 2 for the junior team) maintains game integrity and helps maintain balance and game intensity. Games are in Silver Spring, MD. They are reffed. Clean red and blue pinnies are supplied when needed. A weekly invitation including a recap of the prior week's game is sent out to any players who want to read it. See here (https://www.meetup.com/safersoccer/boards/thread/23643732/0/). RSVPs are required. The reason is that it should increase their own enjoyment. You see, the ideal number of players for a pickup soccer game is perhaps 6x6 - 8x8; some players won't attend if they think the turnout will be low, and others will just assume the game will be cancelled even though we always play. (As a practical matter, smaller games are less fun since the comics won't have the audience they need, but, they do have two hidden benefits: shorter, more intense games/workouts and fewer face kicks/yellow cards. So we play no matter how small or large.) So non-RSVPers are a little short sighted, since they don't seem to want to maximize their own enjoyment in the long run. Rational and sane players who have a good chance of attending RSVP a week early here [and in the subgroup](https://www.meetup.com/safersoccer/). Location map (cut & paste url into a browser)(park on Plyers Mill): secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/1/7/2/600_364808562.jpeg

Join us to watch the Croatia vs. Ghana World Cup game. Game starts at 5 PM. It's likely the Panama vs. England game will also be on some of the TVs. Parking: at the restaurant or at 2843 Hartland Rd, Falls Church, VA 22043 (after 5 pm daily). Menu: https://www.openroadgrill.com/location/merrifield/#menus/

Come watch [Panama vs. England on](https://www.volosports.com/d/e7fc2064-43fb-4e85-ae03-d58e7bee7b37) **[Saturday, June 27th at 5pm at Wunder Garten](https://www.volosports.com/d/e7fc2064-43fb-4e85-ae03-d58e7bee7b37).** **What you can expect:** Great soccer and vibes 🍺 **2 Free Anheuser-Busch products** **Limited edition World Cup merchandise for giveaway and raffle** 🔥 Exclusive, soccer themed Volo Pass swag (Members Only, [sign up here](https://www.volosports.com/volo-pass)) Bring your friends, wear your Panama or England gear, and come ready to celebrate, cheer, and enjoy the game together! Note: General admission and entry to Wunder Garten is free, but the immersive Volo experience and perks are available only this registration.

Come watch [Croatia vs. Ghana on](https://www.volosports.com/d/04824773-c21d-452e-aac1-b8a8b847c152) **[Saturday, June 27th at 5pm at Wunder Garten](https://www.volosports.com/d/04824773-c21d-452e-aac1-b8a8b847c152).** **What you can expect:** Great soccer and vibes 🍺 **2 Free Anheuser-Busch products** **Limited edition World Cup merchandise for giveaway and raffle** 🔥 Exclusive, soccer themed Volo Pass swag (Members Only, [sign up here](https://www.volosports.com/volo-pass)) Bring your friends, wear your Croatia or Ghana gear, and come ready to celebrate, cheer, and enjoy the game together! Note: General admission and entry to Wunder Garten is free, but the immersive Volo experience and perks are available only this registration.

Come watch [DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan on](https://www.volosports.com/d/68a30da4-2ad0-48bc-a1e9-80e1d05f8541) **[Saturday, June 27th at 7:30pm at Wunder Garten](https://www.volosports.com/d/68a30da4-2ad0-48bc-a1e9-80e1d05f8541).** **What you can expect:** Great soccer and vibes 🍺 **2 Free Anheuser-Busch products** **Limited edition World Cup merchandise for giveaway and raffle** 🔥 Exclusive, soccer themed Volo Pass swag (Members Only, [sign up here](https://www.volosports.com/volo-pass)) Bring your friends, wear your DR Congo or Uzbekistan gear, and come ready to celebrate, cheer, and enjoy the game together! Note: General admission and entry to Wunder Garten is free, but the immersive Volo experience and perks are available only this registration.

Come watch [Colombia vs. Portugal on](https://www.volosports.com/d/27762981-4bea-4ce7-b5d0-aa55d7784997) **[Saturday, June 27th at 7:30pm at Wunder Garten](https://www.volosports.com/d/27762981-4bea-4ce7-b5d0-aa55d7784997).** **What you can expect:** Great soccer and vibes 🍺 **2 Free Anheuser-Busch products** **Limited edition World Cup merchandise for giveaway and raffle** 🔥 Exclusive, soccer themed Volo Pass swag (Members Only, [sign up here](https://www.volosports.com/volo-pass)) Bring your friends, wear your Colombia or Portugal gear, and come ready to celebrate, cheer, and enjoy the game together! Note: General admission and entry to Wunder Garten is free, but the immersive Volo experience and perks are available only this registration.

Be there or get chubby. You decide. https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/b/7/2/600_364811122.jpeg RSVPs are required. The reason is that it should increase your own enjoyment. You see, the ideal number of players for a pickup soccer game is perhaps 6x6 - 8x8; some players won't attend if they think the turnout will be low, and others will just assume the game will be cancelled even though we always play. (As a practical matter, smaller games are less fun since the comics won't have the audience they need, but, they do have two hidden benefits: shorter, more intense games/workouts and fewer face kicks/yellow cards. So we play no matter how small or large.) So non-RSVPers are a little short sighted, since they don't seem to want to maximize their own enjoyment in the long run. Rational and sane players who have a good chance of attending RSVP a week early both here and at https://meetup.com/dcsoccer , the parent soccer group.

Messi, Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, Enzo Fernández, and [Argentina take on Jordan on](https://www.volosports.com/d/175a43ba-e5ed-4e76-8804-39ccf8a8bad9) **[Saturday, June 27th at 10pm at Wunder Garten](https://www.volosports.com/d/175a43ba-e5ed-4e76-8804-39ccf8a8bad9).** **What you can expect:** Great soccer and vibes 🍺 **2 Free Anheuser-Busch products** **Limited edition World Cup merchandise for giveaway and raffle** 🔥 Exclusive, soccer themed Volo Pass swag (Members Only, [sign up here](https://www.volosports.com/volo-pass)) Bring your friends, wear your Argentina or Jordan gear, and come ready to celebrate, cheer, and enjoy the game together! Note: General admission and entry to Wunder Garten is free, but the immersive Volo experience and perks are available only this registration.

**Pick Up Soccer Sunday Mornings 9 am Who's ready to run and sweat** **What to Bring** **A positive good sportsmanship energy** **Athletic clothing** **Closed toes athletic appropriate shoes or soccer cleats shin guards** **Water** **Light or dark color shirt but we will have Pinnies to share** **ABSOLUTELY NO SLIDE TACKLING OR SERIOUS** **FOUL PLAY Or Toxic Behavior will be tolerated.**

One time Bob scored a goal with his back Bring enthusiasm and a good attitude, plus a light and a dark shirt. No slide tackling, casual play. Warnings, yellow cards, and red cards will be issued based on behavior and play. GENERAL REMARKS Given the huge demand, we had to limit the Meetups to a maximum number of players. To play, you must register for each meetup (on a first come first served basis). Once the Meetups are full, there is a waiting list and you can still get a seat if players cancel. If you are not on the list, please do not drop by, as we can only play with a maximum of players. LATE DROPOFF POLICY: Late drop-offs will incur a 1-week suspension. Repeated late drop-offs may be subject to increased suspension time. All suspensions handled on case-by-case basis. COVID19 MEASURES: IF YOU ARE SICK OR IF YOU HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS, DO NOT SHOW UP. Yellow Cards: Swearing at other player, hostile physical behavior, slide tackling, unnecessarily aggressive physical play (despite warning). RED CARDS: Initiating hostile physical conflict with another player. Repeated offense of the above yellow card behaviors. RULES: 1. Be cordial and nice 2. NO SWEARING AT OTHER PLAYERS 3. NO HOSTILE PHYSICAL ACTIONS (OUTSIDE OF COMPETITIVE TACKLES) 4. NO SLIDE TACKLING 5. YELLOW CARDS: Accumulation of three yellow cards will mean you will not be able to play for a game. 6. RED CARDS: Red card will remove you from the game and you will not be able to play the next game. 7. WAITLISTED INDIVIDUALS: Please avoid coming to the game if you are waitlisted. If players do not make it, the waitlist will be updated based on the time and date of sign up... PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE RULES. By agreeing to sign up, you are waiving us and meetup from liability for any injuries.

Come watch [Algeria take on Austria on Saturday](https://www.volosports.com/d/09a51458-55f9-45e1-8119-ad2a40c92cef)**[, June 27th at 10pm at Wunder Garten](https://www.volosports.com/d/09a51458-55f9-45e1-8119-ad2a40c92cef).** **What you can expect:** Great soccer and vibes 🍺 **2 Free Anheuser-Busch products** **Limited edition World Cup merchandise for giveaway and raffle** 🔥 Exclusive, soccer themed Volo Pass swag (Members Only, [sign up here](https://www.volosports.com/volo-pass)) Bring your friends, wear your Algeria or Austria gear, and come ready to celebrate, cheer, and enjoy the game together! Note: General admission and entry to Wunder Garten is free, but the immersive Volo experience and perks are available only this registration.

Please bring white and dark shirts Small grass field Read comments below for latest info.

⚽ Indoor Soccer Group ⚽ We have a WhatsApp group for organizing games and staying updated. 📍 Location: 28 S Hamilton Rd Columbus, OH 43213 🗓️ Every Saturday ⏰ 6:00 PM We play 6v6 indoor soccer. The cost to play is $15 per person. If you're interested in joining, send me a message and I'll add you to the group chat. Open this link to join my WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/G1lZnjl5BvYAqhgGoXGbsh?mode=gi_t

Join the CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group for a dynamic afternoon of B2B networking! This event is perfect for professionals looking to expand their business connections, share insights, and foster collaboration within the community. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this event offers a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, build relationships, and grow your network in a supportive environment. Connect with like-minded individuals, explore potential partnerships, and discover new opportunities for professional growth. Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your business network and take your career to the next level with CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group! We meet the 4th Monday of every month from 11am-1pm. Welcome and general networking from 11am - 11:30am with core meeting 11;30 - 12:30 and a final round of networking from 12:30 - 1pm.

Want to learn pickleball in a fun, low-pressure setting? I’m hosting a free beginner-friendly meetup at Olentangy Parklands to help new players learn the basics and get comfortable on the court. I’m a pretty skilled player and will walk everyone through the essentials, including rules, scoring, serving, basic strategy, and how to start playing real games. No experience needed. We’ll meet on the upper courts. Bring a pickleball paddle if you have one. If not, no problem, I’ll have some extras available for people to use. This event is meant for beginners and anyone curious about trying pickleball for the first time. Come ready to move, learn, and have fun.