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Julia Howley attempts to block a kick from Jackson Waggoner during the 2022 Goalkeeper Wars on Saturday in Decatur.
DECATUR — Soccer goalie Julia Howley spent Saturday morning diving, kicking and blocking soccer balls.
According to the 9-year-old athlete, kicking is the best technique for making a goal, versus throwing the ball from the goal line.
“It can go faster and make a better goal,” she said about kicking. “Since the wind’s going so fast, the ball will just fall out of your hand.”
Julia and other soccer players competed in the Midstate Soccer Club’s Goalkeeper Wars, held Saturday morning in the Midstate Soccer Complex near Stephen Decatur Middle School, for local soccer players, both goalies and other positions.
Amelia Coleman, 8, attempts a goal during the Midstate Soccer Club Goalkeeper Wars on Saturday.
The event is an annual tournament in which two players compete against each other in three-minute rounds. The athletes can attempt regular shots, throw the ball with their hands or punt the ball to score. At the end of the round, the goalie with the most points wins.
“It’s a good warmup for games,” Julia said. “And we just have fun.”
This year is the third Goalkeeper Wars Colin Bonner has organized. Soccer players from various positions are allowed to compete.
“The kids just want to shoot a goal,” Bonner said. “You get a lot of shooting practice here. But they also get to dive around and be a goalie as well.”
The soccer players range in age from 7 years old to adults and are separated into seven divisions, which includes boys, girls and co-ed. Approximately 35 athletes traveled from Springfield, Arcola, Bement and other areas of Central Illinois to compete. According to Bonner, the goal positions were separated into three lengths, at 12 yards, 18 yards and 24 yards.
“We go after the National Goalie Wars standard,” he said about the categories. “But this is just the local tournament that we host.”
Jackson Waggoner, 7, blocks a kick from his opponent during the Goalkeeper Wars on Saturday in Decatur.
Ben Coleman cheered on his 8-year-old daughter Amelia as she competed during several rounds Saturday morning. “We have a lot of fun with this,” he said. “And they have a good time.”
Coleman encouraged his daughter to attend the tournament to keep up her soccer skills between seasons, which starts in August. “It’s kind of a fun, different way to play soccer than they normally do,” he said.
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Amelia’s position during a typical soccer game is defense or midfield. The goalie requires different techniques and moves, according to her dad. “You have to be willing to put your body on the line,” Coleman said.
Julia’s parents have been attending similar events with the Midstate Soccer Club since her 12-year-old sister Mya was a toddler. “We’ve been part of the program for nine years,” said dad Jim Howley.
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According to the parents and players, the goalie’s skills are used by other players throughout the game.
“You win by goals,” said mom Maggie Howley. “You want your goalies to practice blocking, but you need the strikers to practice kicking the ball, too.”
“And you have to not be scared of the ball,” Julia said.
The 16 venues picked to host World Cup matches in 2026
Arlington, Texas
AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, is the largest venue in the NFL. The stadium, which opened in 2009, has a retractable roof and an artificial surface. Its capacity is about 93,000, but the stadium set an attendance record of more than 105,000 for an NFL game the year it opened. It also hosted the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. The nearby city of Dallas hosted games at the 1994 World Cup at the Cotton Bowl.
Atlanta
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is one of three NFL-MLS venues. The Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United both play home matches at the stadium, which opened in 2017 and seats about 75,000. The stadium has a retractable roof and an artificial surface. It was set to host college basketball’s Final Four in 2020, which was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Just across the Hudson River from New York, MetLife Stadium opened in 2010 as a replacement for Giants Stadium. Both the New York Jets and New York Giants play NFL games at the venue, which has a seating capacity of about 87,000 and has an artificial surface. The previous stadium hosted several matches at the 1994 World Cup and the 1999 Women’s World Cup.
Foxborough, Massachusetts
The Boston suburb of Foxborough hosted games at the 1994 World Cup, but Gillette Stadium is a different venue, built near the old Foxboro Stadium. The new venue opened in 2002 and has a seating capacity of about 70,000. The stadium, which has an artificial surface, hosts home games in football for the New England Patriots and in soccer for the New England Revolution. The town is about 30 miles south of Boston and 21 miles north of Providence, Rhode Island.
Guadalajara, Mexico
Used mostly for soccer, the Estadio Akron opened in 2010 and hosted the Copa Libertadores finals that year and the opening ceremony of the Pan American Games in 2011. Mexican soccer club Chivas plays its home matches at the venue, which has a capacity of about 48,000 and a grass surface. The city hosted matches at both the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, but at a different stadium.
Houston
NRG Stadium hosts football, soccer and even some rodeo. The stadium, which opened in 2002, is the home of the Houston Texans and has staged World Cup qualifying matches for the United States. But it also serves as a home venue for some Mexican national team friendlies. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo also is held annually at the stadium, which has a seating capacity of about 72,000 and an artificial surface. Its retractable roof and air conditioning will be important given the area’s summer heat and humidity.
Inglewood, California
Built on the site of the Hollywood Park RaceTrack and opened in 2020, the stadium hosts both the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL. It has a seating capacity of about 70,000, an artificial surface and a fixed roof. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena hosted games in 1994, including Brazil’s victory over Italy in the final.
Kansas City, Missouri
Arrowhead Stadium is the home of the Kansas City Chiefs. The stadium opened in 1972 and has been renovated several times, last in 2010. The seating capacity is about 76,000, making it the sixth-largest NFL stadium. The stadium is famous for its noise records, with opposing teams sometimes struggling to communicate because of the racket. It has a grass surface.
Mexico City
Estadio Azteca became the first stadium to host two World Cup finals when Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 in the 1986 title match. It previously hosted the final for the 1970 tournament, when Brazil defeated Italy 4-1 — with Pelé scoring the first goal. Perhaps even more famous was the 1986 quarterfinal match at the stadium between Argentina and England, when Diego Maradona scored a goal by punching the ball into the net. The stadium opened in 1966 and has a capacity of about 87,000 with a grass surface. The venue’s record attendance for soccer, however, is said to be 119,853.
Miami Gardens, Florida
Located in suburban Miami, Hard Rock Stadium hosts both NFL and college football games. The Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami both play at the venue, which has a seating capacity of about 67,000, a grass surface and a roof that covers spectators but is open over the field. The stadium opened in 1987 and also hosts tennis tournaments.
Monterrey, Mexico
One of the newer stadiums in contention, Estadio BBVA opened in 2015 and has a grass surface. Mexican club Monterrey plays it home matches at the stadium. Seating capacity is about 53,000. Three matches at the 1986 World Cup were held in Monterrey, but at Estadio Tecnológico.
Philadelphia
Lincoln Financial Field opened in 2003, and its first event was a soccer match between Manchester United and Barcelona. The stadium serves as the home venue for the Philadelphia Eagles and Temple University. The 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup final was played at the stadium, with Mexico beating Jamaica 3-1. The stadium seats nearly 70,000 spectators and has an artificial surface.
Santa Clara, California
Located about 40 miles south of San Francisco, Levi’s Stadium opened in 2014 and has hosted several major football games since, including the Super Bowl in 2016. It serves as the home stadium of the San Francisco 49ers. The stadium has a capacity of about 71,000 and a grass surface. Stanford Stadium, not far away, staged matches in 1994.
Seattle
Lumen Field is the home stadium of two professional soccer teams and the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. The stadium, which opened in 2002 and has a capacity of about 69,000, hosts the Seattle Sounders of MLS and the OL Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League. The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network records shaking in the stadium caused by the crowd. The stadium has an artificial surface.
Toronto
BMO Field is the home of the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL and Toronto FC of MLS. Originally constructed as a soccer venue, it has hosted several international events since opening in 2007, including under-20 World Cup games for both men and women and rugby matches. In 2010, it became the first venue outside the United States to host the MLS Cup. The stadium also hosted matches for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. It has a capacity of about 28,000 and a hybrid surface, and the bid envisions an expansion to about 45,000.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Opened in 1983, BC Place has served as the home of the BC Lions of the CFL since its inauguration. The stadium also hosts home games for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS. The stadium has a capacity of about 54,000 and was last renovated in 2011. It has an artificial surface.
Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR
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