What makes a good pick up team with Robby Smukler of Icarus Football
You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, and actually, you can pick your pickup team. We talked to Robby Smukler of Icarus Football and the Icarus Cup about who they are, how they got started, and what you need to know about putting together a pickup team that can take on any rival.
The Icarus Cup is self-described as a festival of football. How did it start and where do you see it going?
The tournament started with CASA Soccer as a way to bring together our community of teams for a low-stress, fun day of soccer. We wanted to bring back the tournaments of our youth: multiple matches, orange slices, and banter under a shady tree. Our goal is to build the premier grassroots football tournament where teams of all levels and identities can come together and relive the best parts of our youth, this time with an adult beverage in hand.
Icarus is famous for its kits. How much does looking the part impact the on-field chemistry of a team?
Look good, play good. There's truth in that. Getting matching kits that represent your team's culture and identity goes hand in hand with having a team that meshes, plays well together, and works hard for each other. If it doesn't look good off the pitch, you shouldn't wear it on the pitch.
What is the one "off-field" ritual that you think is mandatory for a team to develop a real identity?
The obvious answer here is post-game pints. But any activity that brings teammates together and allows everyone to drop their guard and actually get to know each other matters. Camaraderie and a sense of belonging are what most of us look for when we join any team or club.
If you were building an ideal team based purely on vibes, which historical figure or fictional character would be your first-choice captain?
Socrates. Every team needs an accountable, wise, and probing center middie.
What’s a hobby outside of soccer that makes for a strong team member in a tournament?
This is an easy one: camping. You need someone with survivalist instincts, but more importantly, you need someone to bring a canopy, coolers, and snacks.
