Indians put refreshing twist to old 'soap game'

If you're going to the soap game tonight in Jackson, don't bring soap.

"It's a Gatorade game this year," Jackson coach Carl Gross said.

While the soap game tradition dates back to at least 1981, according to Gross, Jackson actually has collected other items in the past, including towels.

"You go through so many of them," Gross said.

This year, the collection of sports drinks will help players quench their thirst and replace electrolytes after games and practices.

Gross expects no less than 1,000 fans to come out to the game, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Jackson's game field. The price of admission is one bottle of a sports drink.

"A lot of people are kind enough to bring six packs," Gross said. "For admission, we just kind of ask for what we need, and the community has been very supportive.

"The soap games have changed with the addition of jamborees. You have one week less to prepare [for the soap game]. It's more of a controlled situation."

St. Vincent coach Keith Winkler said his team may have a very controlled scrimmage -- one that is not a public gathering.

"It's more for the coaches," Winkler said. "We used to have a soap game before we got into the jamborees. Now we concentrate on getting prepared for those."

St. Vincent will host a jamboree next weekend that will include three of its five conference rivals -- Crystal City, St. Pius and Grandview.

Perryville, which also used to have a soap game, has replaced it with a dinner for players and parents.

"It's a family meal that we put together," Perryville coach Rick Chastain said. "I didn't care for the soap games because we have jamborees now."

Chaffee will have a scrimmage tonight that it calls a soap game, but those that attend aren't asked to bring anything, first-year coach Charlie Vickery said.