The Ball State University soccer team found a new use for its soccer ball at practice Wednesday - kickball.
After weeks of tiring road trips and practices, the Cardinals let loose as they ran around laughing, shouting and taking friendly shots at their teammates.
"[Tuesday] was a very competitive day with what we did. The first part of [Wednesday] was very competitive," coach Michael Lovett said. "It was like, 'We're home, let's just have fun. Let's play a game to have fun, to relax, to be loose and feel what it's like to be in fifth grade again.' The girls, they had a lot of fun with it. They weren't worried about rules. It was just, 'Let's play. Let's have fun. Let's laugh,' and they did."
Although both soccer and kickball rely on a player's ability to kick a ball, not all of the Cardinals' soccer abilities translated to kickball, making Lovett feel secure none of his players would give up soccer.
"Some were lacking in kickball," Lovett said with a laugh. "I think that some forgot what it was like to be in fifth grade and just use your toe. Soccer players from about fifth grade on are taught not to use your toe, so I guess it's a good thing. I found out that some girls can catch the ball, and some girls don't need to be catching the ball. So it was just a lot of fun for me to watch."
Midfielder Katelyn Alexander, who was part of the team that won the inaugural kickball game 19-8, said the game was a fun change of pace after spending so much time practicing soccer.
"It was nice to switch it up," she said. "It's always nice to change the routine rather just playing soccer every day, all the time. It was a good change."
In addition to the relaxing kickball game, the Cardinals (1-3) also get a break from the stress of playing on the road. So far all Ball State's games this season were played on the road.
"We're ready to be home," Lovett said. " It's nice to get away sometimes, but we've spent our first three weeks on the road, literally coming home for a couple days of classes and hitting the road again. That's been tough, and it's taken its toll."
Alexander said, the advantage Ball State has by playing at home is not having to travel. The rigors of traveling to games take a lot out of players, the senior said.
The players also get the advantage of having the home-crowd support, Alexander said.
The Cardinals open the weekend with a 4 p.m. game against Eastern Illinois University (0-5-1) at the Ball State Soccer Field. They will then play Southern Methodist University (1-2-1) at 1 p.m. Sunday.
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