Local youth soccer league provides competitive games for players of all ages

Published 11:35 pm Saturday, October 1, 2016

Six –year-old Lawson Jones has tried every sport he could at his young age.

His grandmother, Olivia Carroll, said he’s been out for football, but the long practices and layers of pads in the grueling heat changed his direction regarding his new favorite sport.

“He loves swimming, he loves basketball, he loves baseball,” Carroll said. “Right now, he’s into soccer, and he’s enjoying it.”

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Jones plays on a 5- to 6-year-old soccer team in the Vidalia youth league.
During Thursday’s practice, he split time playing in the field and manning the goalkeeper position.
Carroll said her grandson is partial to sports that are fast-paced.

“There’s a lot of action to it, and everybody has a job,” Carroll said.

The Natchez and Vidalia soccer league combined this season. The league features teams made up of players from all over the Adams County-Concordia Parish area, from as far south as Monterey.

Five-year-old Jordan Stubbs is coached by his parents, Nathan and Jessica Stubbs. He is in his third year in the league.

Jordan doesn’t have a philosophical explanation for why soccer is his favorite sport.
“It just is,” he said. “Making goals is fun.”

Jordan said he is excited about his team’s prospects this season. Along with the new friends he’s made on the field, his team is off to a 2-0 start this season.

This Sunday, Jordan and his teammates will face another 2-0 squad that will challenge his team’s undefeated record.

“We’re about to play our third one, and they’ve never lost a game. So I’m kind of scared,” Jordan said.
While Jordan said he think it would be a tough game, he’s confident his team will be able to improve to 3-0 this weekend.