BALL BOUNCES NICELY FOR CASA STARJAMAICA ROSS HEADS YOUTHFUL SOCCER SQUAD

There's nothing Jamaica Ross enjoys more than fooling her soccer opponents,

who assume she'll move slowly because of her size.

But the 5-foot-8, solidly built athlete speeds down the field and

mesmerizes defenders with her deft maneuvering of the ball.

''They see I'm big and they don't think I'll be fast, but there I come. I

know I can do a good job and have good speed, and I know the game like the

back of my hand,'' says Ross, 17, a poised, outgoing person with a bright

smile and a head full of long, skinny braids.

Ross, a Casa Grande High School senior who has played varsity soccer since

her freshman year, is team captain, and coach Judy Richards depends on her to

motivate her teammates and assist with practices.

''She gives about 110 percent to the game. She's a team leader and a team

player, and she'll play any position good naturedly and help any player,''

Richards says. ''When we have a game, I rely on her. She always tells me

what's going wrong or right on the field. Her natural leadership is a little

overwhelming.''

Things are going fairly well this season for the Gauchos, who are 5-3 in

Sonoma County League games and 5-5 overall.

Ross began playing soccer at age 5, and has kept at it since. She has

played for regional girls' teams, including the Premier team, a squad that

draws players from Sonoma and Marin counties. She also plays during the winter

on a Rohnert Park team.

Ross usually plays sweeper, center and midfielder positions, but is

versatile enough to step in wherever she's needed.

''I prefer defense because I like the responsibility, knowing I can stop

them is very important. I love the contact you get when playing defense,'' she

says. ''I always played forward when I was little, and I scored every goal.''

A year-round athlete, Ross plays softball and basketball for the Gauchos.

She has been playing softball since third grade, and started basketball in

junior high school.

Soccer is her favorite sport, and Ross likes teaching strategy to others as

well as being part of the action. Last year she helped her stepfather, Vic

Brooks, coach her brother Lucas' Petaluma Youth Soccer League team.

For three consecutive summers, Ross worked full time as an instructor for

John Brooks Soccer Camps, teaching soccer and related games. While most of the

camp participants were enthusiastic about soccer and eager to learn, Ross

says, ''We get kids out there who hate it and would rather play football, but

their parents make them go.''

During late summer and fall, soccer is an all-consuming pastime in Ross'

household, since her mother, Debbie Brooks, is chairman of the board of the

youth soccer league. She also is one of Jamaica's most ardent supporters,

cheering her on at most home and away games.

Ross would like to coach her own team, but youth league regulations say she

must be at least 18 before she can take on that responsibility.

While Ross is comfortable in a leadership role on the Casa team, she

laments the loss of players with comparable soccer skills. A few of the more

experienced girls graduated in June, leaving Ross as the most experienced on

the team.

''It's frustrating, because I'm at a different level than almost any other

girl on the team,'' she says.

A high-energy teen-ager on and off the field, Ross is immersed in school

and cultural activities. For eight years, she sang and performed with the

Petaluma Boys and Girls Choir.

She was president of her class her freshman and sophomore years, and as a

junior handled public relations for the Associated Student Body.

This year, Ross was elected ASB commissioner of activities. Her

responsibilities include planning for Casa's homecoming Saturday. Ross has

been working since July on the event and, as one of 22 candidates for

homecoming queen, has delegated some of her tasks to others to avoid any

conflicts of interest.

Ross plans to attend college next year, with hopes of becoming a teacher.

She finds it gratifying to teach soccer to disabled children and is

considering an education degree to work with such youngsters.