Jacob Burns still cannot believe his annual six-a-side soccer tournament has reached its 10th anniversary.
What began as an idea to allow the former Perth Glory captain and Socceroo kids to play through the summer has blossomed into a permanent fixture on the calendar, with a home north and south of the river.
The JB 6 A-Side Summer Soccer League is celebrating a decade at Rosalie Park in Shenton Park and its second iteration at Tompkins Park in Applecross.
Burns admitted he was still stunned there had been enough interest to not only sustain the competition but also help it grow.
“I’m absolutely chuffed that we started this when I was a player and it continues to grow and it’s something that I’ve never thought would get so big,” he said.
“I started it for my own kids because they wanted to keep playing. There wasn’t anything out there that allowed them to kind of stay with the round ball game, so being able to kind of facilitate and create that was huge; the appetite just continued to grow.
“There’s so much structure and over-coaching throughout the winter months, but I think we’ve got to be mindful of the over-coaching at grassroots and junior level, and we make sure kids are really still enjoying the game.”
Burns said while the competition was centered around fun, kids were also able to develop their skills.
“Because it’s a reduced format — there’s five players out on the field and the ‘keeper — you’re getting more touches on the ball, you’re playing in tight spaces,” he said.
“The technical aspect of your game is enhanced because you’re forced to think quicker, you’re receiving the ball in tighter spaces, so when you take that whole technical aspect into the bigger field, you’re better for it.”
Holding the competition in summer also aligns with the A-League Men and Women seasons, allowing kids to play all year while also allowing them to play at the same time as the best players in the top domestic leagues.
“The kids, they’re actually not aligned with any of the stars or the teams they support because their season comes to an end just as the A-Leagues kick off,” Burns said.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to spend most of my career in Europe where it’s in your face, it’s on every channel and every paper, it’s all year round, and it’s there for you.”
Registration for this season’s competition opens on September 1 at jb6asidesoccer.com.au, with the competition starting the week of October 25.
Both the Shenton Park and Melville sites will have under-six through to under-15 divisions, as well as women’s and men’s open, masters and veterans.
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