Largo's Pinellas Indoor Soccer Academy celebrates 1-year anniversary

Terry Griffin believes the best soccer in the world is often played in alleyways and on the tiniest strips of open space.

"For example, two of the great players, Wayne Rooney (of England) and Ronaldinho (of Brazil), both learned by playing street soccer,'' Griffin said.

At the Pinellas Indoor Soccer Academy of Largo, Griffin is doing his part to expose the community to the quicker-paced, albeit shorter version of the sport.

On Sunday, the business held a one-year anniversary celebration. Included in the festivities were adult pickup soccer games, soccer tennis and soccer dodgeball for the kids, as well as watching England's Premier League, in which Chelsea defeated Liverpool 2-0, on the giant screen TV.

Griffin, a 39-year-old, hails from Liverpool, England. He played his first game of soccer at the age of 3. He and his wife, Kim Griffin, opened the facility a year ago this month.

Griffin describes indoor soccer in comparison to outdoor as more intense and with more speed.

"The best clubs in the world play short-sided games, and the truth is when you go from here to outdoors, you feel like the game is easier,'' said Griffin, who can be seen frequently on the artificial turf with his sons Cole, 10, and Liam, 8.

Griffin, who is a building contractor, decided to open the facility because he wanted to combine his work in construction with his love of soccer.

In the past year, the number of adults who participate in weekly leagues has gone from 200 to 400 players. Pinellas Indoor Soccer Academy also has established youth play. It now boasts 180 regular players participating in clinics and seasonal play.

Griffin hopes area coaches of outdoor teams will start using his facility more for training opportunities.

"I have perfectly flat surfaces, and, for example, my sons have learned how to work on their pass by working on the wall," he said. "They've learned if they kick a perfect pass at the wall, it'll come back perfect.''

Soccer players from Montverde Academy, a private high school outside Orlando, were on hand for the festivities. The team consists of nationally ranked student players from around the world.

After a scrimmage in front of a standing-room-only crowd, Chuck Monteleone, Montverde's coach, described Pinellas Indoor Academy as "the best indoor facility in Florida.''

"It's because you've got technical directors who honestly love the game," Monteleone said. "It's who they are. American soccer coaches need to develop the idea that it is not all about winning, and for Terry, he's already got that. He lives and breathes soccer, and that will trickle down to kids walking in the door.''