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Flippin' out: East Lake forward goes head over heels for soccer

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BY ERIC HORCHY

THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: December 13, 2008

EAST LAKE - Without a team roster in hand, there is always one failsafe way to spot East Lake forward Javon Bostic from his teammates on the field.

Aside from the junior's long, lean build, distinctive afroed out hairdo and on-field athleticism, just wait for an Eagles throw-in deep in opposition territory - then he can't be missed.

He'll be the one running full tilt toward the sideline, going head over heels into a front handspring and then whipping his body back down to his feet while slingshotting a ball into play that leaves one wondering when - or if - it may come back down any time soon.

To say the very least, it's an impressive sight.

The majority of players take little more than a couple of steps or a single lunge toward the sideline before planting his or her feet and tossing the ball - on average - about 10-20 yards.

Bostic's style, in contrast, delivers a meteoric launch that can travel up to 50-60 yards in distance and to nearly equal heights.

While the technique, known simply as a flip throw-in, is not unique to Bostic, it is something of a rarity in the sport - perhaps similar to seeing a knuckleball pitcher in baseball.

The flip may seem like a gimmicky, crowd pleaser to the lay fan, but its advantages can be substantial on the attack.

"It can be a pretty good asset," Bostic said, mentioning that he doesn't even practice the move anymore and just goes out and performs it in games. "It obviously goes farther than a normal throw-in, so if you're near the corner flag it can act as another corner kick. It's a very good scoring opportunity."
Corner kicks can allow the offense great looks at the net and most teams usually get only a small handful of the opportunities throughout a game. The added benefit is something East Lake coach Sergei Stopek said he feels fortunate to have.

"You're able to direct it better than a kick, so if we're ever in that area it's a huge weapon," he said. "The fact that he can throw it about 50-60 yards is big."

"Our only scare is sometime where he might just throw it over the other sideline," Stopek joked, though the possibility is indeed realistic.
Bostic said he has been utilizing the flip for about five years now after first seeing it in the movie "The Big Green."

Adding to its impressiveness is that Bostic taught himself the move.

"The first couple times weren't too pretty," Bostic said with a laugh. "But after I got used to it, it got easier."

Hearing how the skill came about is something Stopek said did not surprise him at all, given the junior's free-spirited style and nature.

"Knowing him, he probably did do that," Stopek said smiling. "I can definitely see him just seeing the movie and going out to do it."

"It fits his personality."

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