Adult soccer thrives in McKinney

Over the hill and onto the pitch.

It's a mantra kicking around town, shared by single moms, lawyers and salesmen. In McKinney, adult soccer is a big deal that keeps getting bigger.

Just ask the FC Half Nuts, a 35-and-up coed team of residents from all over Collin County. Their name fits the growing trend - a little crazy must come with the competition at this stage in the game.

"I play on seven teams, six nights a week," said Amy Schasel, 45, a first-year Half Nut by sport, piano teacher from Allen by trade. "It takes a certain type of person to do it at this age."

Yet, plenty of those types are finding their way to the McKinney Soccer Association (MSA). Its adult league started simply as "Social Sundays," but has grown from 6 to 24 teams in five years.

When the Half Nuts joined the league two years ago, there were just 12. The league's split into four divisions: COPA ("C" division), Predator ("B") and Premier ("A"), all with players 19 and older; and the Over-35 division.

"We're really in a league of our own," said Tim Culberson, an original Half Nut.

About twenty players are on each over-35 team, with Half Nuts ranging from 35 to 56 years old. The four divisions share the Craig Ranch fields from 4 to 10 every Sunday evening, playing a combined 12 games a night.

And nothing's scaled back for age's sake. They play the regulation two 45-minute halves, and a 10-game season.

"This year the league was able to introduce an over-35 [division]," said Bill Drobek, member of Leftovers United FC, which this season shares a 1-1 record with the Half Nuts. "Our team quickly jumped at the opportunity. Many of us are in our 40s and there is a huge difference in fitness, speed and agility compared to a player in their 20s. The league has even had former professional players in it."

Drobek, who's played with MSA for 10 seasons, scored his first goal at age 8 in Michigan, where he went on to play in high school and college. Then, as with many others who gain a career and family, the competition faded.

"After college, there was no real opportunity to play soccer in its true form, outside on a large field," said Drobek, who six years ago helped coach his son Riley's MSA team. "It just spiraled into joining an adult coed soccer league. I was hooked big time again because McKinney Soccer Association provides the opportunity for adults to play soccer."

Other local sports leagues, like in Plano and Frisco, don't offer much past youth. Allen this year created its first women's league, in which Schasel also plays.

Adult leagues are out there, just not always convenient. Both Schasel and Half Nut teammate Eric Rohleder have played in North Texas associations, for which most games are in Dallas.

"This is filling a kind of void of people living in the far north DFW area who didn't want to make that drive to Dallas," said John Long, MSA president. "We've got a different mix of people, a huge range of skill levels."

Getting "hooked" hasn't taken long for adult players, even those without a soccer life like Drobek's. Schasel and teammate Connie Pena, 43, didn't play when they were younger.

Schasel's parents chose for her a piano over a pitch, though she said soccer was "something I always wanted to do." Pena, in her third year with the Half Nuts, grew up playing basketball, but couldn't find an area women's or coed team.

"I took a leap and signed up to do something new and meet people," said Pena, a Frisco resident with two youngsters who yell, "Too slow," at her during games. "I didn't expect to be playing three years later. I've grown as a player and learned a lot along the way."

Other leagues don't share the same competitive fun as the over-35 coed league. Friendship and fitness go foot-in-foot, with many linking up after the season for weekend pick-up games.

"It's much more recreational, and there's no slide tackling allowed so that helps keep the blood pressure from getting too high," said Rohleder, a Plano resident who started playing last spring after an 11-year hiatus. "But the women aren't afraid to trade elbows and get after it."

Pena admitted that an otherwise healthy competition "gets heated some," but that more savvy teammates give constant pointers. They even use basketball analogies to get her up to speed.

"I came in with zero skill set," she said, "and they just have this willingness to coach me, even today."

Schasel's soccer time has lengthened as her kids have gotten driver's licenses. Divorced with three teenagers, Schasel said she eases their minds when she leaves the house in cleats and shin guards instead of lipstick and heels.

Her sons Adam and Matthew often pile on the constructive criticism coming back from games, to which she responds, "Dude, I'm 30 years older than you."

To adult players' outer circle of over-the-hills, soccer likely seems a distant pastime or "for the kids" - but not to them. It's every Sunday on the pitch.

Even if they have to be a little nutty.

"The league has responded to the skill sets, competitiveness and age groups to ensure it can be sustained and the players can continue to come back year after year," Drobek said. "Everyone wants to be competitive and have the hope of regaining the glory of a win."

For MSA information and schedules, visit mckinneysoccer.org.

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