Local Soccer Field Unites Students From Different High Schools over Their Love for the Game
Originally published in the December 2023 print edition.
Although they’re more often rivals on the court and the field, last year, students at Jewish Community and Gateway High School organized friendly pick-up soccer games after school at Kimbell Field.
“We didn’t even know them that well but it was just really fun to play and connect through the beautiful game,” said JCHS 12th grader Ari Cohen looking back on the scrimmages last year.
Located at the corner of Geary, Kimbell Field is one of the busiest fields in the city. It is often scattered with cleated feet and balls, as school teams practice in some areas and spontaneous after-school scrimmages pop up in others. Its welcoming and expansive public sports space is within walking distance of many local schools including Creative Arts Charter, Gateway Middle School, Gateway High School, KIPP Academy, and Jewish Community High School. Its proximity to these schools allows students easy access to exercise and fun sports.
“I played at Kimbell a lot last year after the season ended,” said Gateway 12th grader David Hernandez who participated in the pickup games. “Part of that was due to the fact that I didn't join a club, so I had a lot of free time after school to hang out with my friends and play.”
In addition to easy access, Kimbell's bustling activity fosters a sense of community and liveliness in the Western Addition. On especially crowded days, it’s common for groups who play together to share the space.
According to Jeff Choy who manages sports facilities for San Francisco Recreation and Parks, Kimbell formally issues permits to over 20 different schools in addition to the camps, youth leagues, and adult leagues that also use the space. JCHS and Gateway students are among the many who use the field for season practice as well as just for fun.
Throughout the year, lunchtime scrimmages and juggle sessions at JCHS grew more frequent; but, it wasn't until late spring that current 11th-grade student Daniel Schweig decided to bring the fun to the field. Once people started playing at Kimbell, it became more organized, and word spread. “It all started when I was at school once [the] volleyball [season] had ended and I wanted to do something active,” said Schweig. “We were playing soccer at lunch so I wanted to continue that more formally at Kimbell after school. Eventually, after a few days of playing with JCHS kids, we saw some Gateway kids and they asked if we wanted to play more regularly.”
It is often thought that athletic rivals on the field picture each other as enemies. These games dispelled that myth, creating a less strict environment for players to experiment, come together, and have fun without the barriers and pressure of competitive soccer. For Gateway’s Hernandez, his favorite thing was meeting new people and getting to know them better. “It was fun to get to know and interact with [people] I had never talked to.”
They highlighted the importance of mutual respect and teamwork not just in soccer, but in life. These relationships even carried to the soccer season in the fall, when players from Gateway and JCHS greeted each other with friendly waves and smiles before kickoff. What was meant to be a casual after-school hangout turned into a community.
