One of the main features of indoor soccer is the ability to pass and play off the walls, keeping the ball in play at almost all times. A men’s player makes a pass off the wall during a game at Talents Athletic Center.
Carter Eckl/Nevada Appeal
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One of the most popular places to play soccer in Northern Nevada is about to hit its busy season.
Talents Athletic Center has become a staple for many in the community over the last decade and its familial atmosphere makes it a popular spot that many frequent throughout the year.
Managing partner Shams Mobaligh says his main focus it to have a space for members of the community to come after work or to get away from home where they can feel comfortable.
“The main focus of the ownership of this business is to have the doors open for the community. To have people that come in here and enjoy an evening,” said Mobaligh.
One of the main draws to Talents is the indoor soccer leagues, which are available for men, women and children.
The leagues are so popular, the business can be forced to make some tough decisions as daylight fades and the colder weather comes in.
Mobaligh says in the winter Talents will have to turn teams away who want to participate in league games due to an increase in demand.
The business – 2749 N. Carson St., Suite B, next to Harbor Freight Tools – will be full seven days a week in the winter as indoor soccer leagues ramp up.
A big reason why demand for playing time is so high is based around the environment Talents is able to create with its clientele.
Food and drinks are available for anyone playing or watching, and families will gather throughout weeknight evenings to take in the action inside the walled soccer pitch.
“It looks kind of closed up, but it’s safer than outside,” said Mobaligh. “It gets dark. A lot of these people they work until 6 p.m., so it makes sense for them to come here and enjoy tacos and beer and something after the game.”
The indoor soccer arena spans most of the length of the building and is lined with a wall on the west side along with glass panels on the east side to keep the ball in play.
Above the glass is netting to catch any errant shots of deflected kicks.
Given the small arena, shots on net can come from up close or from down on the other side of the field.
Though the walls keep the ball in a limited area, the freedom to take defenders one-on-one is much more common in indoor soccer.
A look at the indoor soccer field at Talents Athletic Center during a men’s league game. In winter, the indoor field is booked seven days a week for men’s, women’s and youth leagues. Carter Eckl/Nevada AppealAVAILABLE LEAGUES AND COMMUNITY OFFERINGS
Talents offers youth leagues from 6U up through 14-and-under along with women’s, men’s, co-ed and masters league.
In the winter, the men’s league can feature as many as 36 teams from Carson, Minden, Tahoe and Reno.
Meanwhile, the youth leagues will bring in anywhere from 400 to 500 kids.
They also offer a flag football league as well.
Youth leagues tend to run on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings while the adult leagues compete during the week.
As Mobaligh eluded too, the atmosphere extends beyond the walled arena.
Out front, folks can be found cooking tacos, making the entrance into the facility one of the best smelling places in town.
The food can be such a draw that the parking lot becomes just as much of a community place as inside the building itself.
If that’s not enough to draw you in, a chance to score a few goals may be the next allure.
The family atmosphere isn’t just built around the soccer leagues either.
If league registration costs are burdensome, Mobaligh said that Talents understands that sometimes people may need some extra time to make payments. Talents prides itself on its flexibility and they said that’s a big reason why players continued to come back year-after-year.
The business also lends itself to the community in times of need, too.
Mobaligh said three to four times a year the space will be able to be used for free for families in need of raising funds for medical bills or funeral costs.
If interest folks want to throw a party, that’s available too.
The business also has plenty of entertainment options available and the space can be rented as well.
Along with the leagues, Talents offers a place for families to get together to watch games and host other parties and events, too.
A GREAT PLACE TO LEARN
The youth leagues are where one local player initially found his interest in the sport.
Justin Gonzalez Cruz, a sophomore at Carson High School, first learned how to play soccer at Talents.
He says he’s continued to play in leagues at Talents because of the environment.
“It’s a friendly atmosphere. It’s something different because they have a little store. You know a lot of people there,” said Gonzalez Cruz.
Gonzalez Cruz now plays on Carson High School’s junior varsity team, but he said he wouldn’t have had the same introduction to soccer if not for Talents.
“I started playing there. If it wasn’t for Talents, I wouldn’t be playing soccer now here at Carson High School,” Gonzalez Cruz said.
He first started playing at the age of seven and has continued to play at Talents over the years.
The pace of the game is what continues to draw him in.
“It’s fast. It’s really different from outdoor soccer,” he said.
He’s also seen firsthand how family friendly the business can be and has taken advantage of the food options available.
Viewers can sit on the side of the field or behind the goal on the north end at Talents Athletic Center, getting a good view of the action from several sides of the field. Carter Eckl/Nevada AppealOTHER OPTIONS
Families can rent out event space in the back or host parties where the staff will close the building for special occasions.
Along with the ability to play soccer, the field can also be rented for flag football, too.
“The field is good. There are no potholes or anything like outside,” said Mobaligh.
The event space can be rented for various events from gatherings to birthday parties and other occasions.
The “star package” is the cheapest option for birthday parties and can have up to 12 guests for 90 minutes of uninterrupted enjoyment.
If interested parties are looking for longer times or more guests the package options go up in price to $250 or $300.
All the packages include pizza, drinks, personalized decorations, party supplies, a bounce house as well as setup and cleanup.
The banquet hall in the back of Talents can be rented out for other events, too.
Talents also says rental prices for the banquet hall can be done at an hourly rate and discounts can be given for multiple hours or around other purchases for the space such as alcohol, beverages and food.
The banquet hall is available on the weekends to avoid interference with the league schedule during the week.
Along with the amenities, the business also has an in-person and online store.
There’s a laundry list of items available from jerseys and cleats to soccer balls, backpacks, shin guards and hats.
Everyone who plays at Talents or through AYSO can receive a discount on store purchases.
All the league standings and schedules can be found through their website.
For information visit www.talentsathleticcenter.com or call 775-220-8610.