Soccer

DeltaSigStan · #1 12-31-2002, 02:56 PM

I see many of you have played the beautiful game. I ask for you to post your entire experience.

I played 1 yr indoor and 3 yrs AYSO. I realzed I was never going to be great at it but I still loved the game, so I became an official. I have my section level badge in AYSO and State 8 in USSF. I hope (if I can get in shape) to get to FIFA one day, joining the ranks of Brian Hall and Pereluigi Colina.

I also wanted to say that I'm tired of the anti-soccer sentiment in this country. If Jim Rome, Jeff Probst and every other hater doesn't like the game, fine, leave it alone. We're not trying to take over the major 4 sports. Especially Jim Rome, who resorts to brining up every stupid generalization about soccer many ignorant Americans think, like "one named South Americans" and "long haired Euros".

Just because you can't use your hand doesn't mean it doesn't require skill, and 0-0 happens less often than you'd think. Hooliganism is a small microcosm of fans. I think they don't want to admit that more and more Americans are starting to warm up to it.

Anyway, go Man. United, Chivas, Barcelona, Juventus and the LA Galaxy!

moe.ron · #2 12-31-2002, 03:49 PM

First of all, my dear man, it's football. Please do not butcher her royal english anymore.

I played since 3rd grade, or as the british would say, standard 3.
I started out playing fullback but then my coach realized i'm better with my hand and put me in the net. Ever since then I've been the goalkeeper.

Fave team: Arsenal and Deportivo La Coruna

Do u mean getting into the European league? FIFA is the governing body of football. They're the one that host the world cup, kinda like the IOC with the olympic, but less corrupt. Anyway, always wanted to play in the Championship League.

DeltaSigStan · #3 12-31-2002, 04:35 PM

NO, I meant becoming a FIFA level REFEREE. By doing that you're qualified to referee in any league that FIFA sanctions, inculding MLS, Serie A, EPL, and yes, all the cups that UEFA and CONMEBOL hold. Having a badge in a national federation is one thing, but having a FIFA badge on the left side of your shirt means you're one of the best (unless your name is Byron Moreno).

I know FIFA is the one that holds the World Cup, they're the head of 207 countries that have national soccer federations.

And if you don't think they're corrupt, one might wonder how Sepp Blatter was able to keep his job, and how Germany got 2006.

astroAPhi · #4 12-31-2002, 05:50 PM

I was a late bloomer... my parents protected me a lot when I was little so I didn't start playing until I was 12. Luckily, I'm naturally athletic so I was off to a good start. After only a year of rec soccer I made a traveling U14 team. I started off as defense there, mostly because I wasn't very fast and my coach thought it would be a good place of me to learn. I also learned how to play goalie on that team. I didn't get any formal training, but I had good hand-eye coordination from playing softball for 3 years. I also became a licensed referee at age 12, and referreed throughout high school.

In high school I was stuck on the freshman team while all of my teammates were put on the varsity team, because I was throwing up the day of tryouts and couldn't play. In the end, it ended up not being too bad of an experience because I developed a lot of my leadership qualities there and improved on my defense skills. I rotated mostly between sweeper and stopper (when we really needed to score). I also played on a U19 travel team in the off season with the other varsity girls and played keeper on that team because of an ankle injury. I had to take a season off of indoor though for physical therapy.

The next 3 years of high school I played under 4 different coaches and was moved up to either midfield or forward. 2 of my coaches weren't very good and the unity between the girls was pretty bad. My love for the sport was the only thing that kept me going. The varsity coach had a grudge against me and kept me benched most of the time. When a new, much better coach took over, I found myself shafted again as he mostly concentrated on developing the superstars of team (girls who played U16 National level). I was the only senior not to be a captain and it was pretty much a sucky experience. Travel soccer wasn't too bad except that I was one of the best players on the team because the other girls my age went to a new club team that I couldn't afford (Chicago Sockers F.C.), and most of our players were bad JV or Sophomore team players.

The past 2 1/2 years of college there wasn't a varsity women's team, so I played intramurals in a men's league. There were a few seasons where I was the only girl in the league, and I was frustrated because many of my teammates were still in the pre-teen mentality of "girls suck at sports, so I'm not going to pass to her. Ewww, cooties."

Then, the university formed a new women's soccer team. We had tryouts a few weeks ago, and it went great. The coach has a big focus on academics, and I was really scared that I wouldn't be able to keep up with my grades because I'm a junior in aerospace engineering, and most of our athletes are majoring in business or psychology. At tryouts they asked me to play center midfield, which is a good position for me because I enjoy playmaking. At tryouts, I was probably the 3rd or 4th best player there, so it looks like I will be starting and the coach was talking about making me a captain because of my experience and ability.

I'm very excited about this new team and we start when I get back.

AchtungBaby80 · #5 12-31-2002, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltaSigStan
Anyway, go Man. United!

Bite your tongue! You know Liverpool FC is the best!

moe.ron · #6 01-01-2003, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltaSigStan
And if you don't think they're corrupt, one might wonder how Sepp Blatter was able to keep his job, and how Germany got 2006.

I know they're corrupt, just less then IOC. I supported the African candidate. That guy had a lot of good ideas. Too bad money came into the realm and Blatter got re-elected. He's not as bad as the IOC old secretery general though. That guys is an a-hole.

LeslieAGD · #7 01-01-2003, 10:56 AM

Where I live, almost everyone plays Soccer/Futbol. As a kid, I played "Zone Soccer" for two year (the field is set up in boxes so that kids learn to play their positions) and then I played up until high school.

I went to Spain about 5-6 years ago and got to see the Barcelona/Madrid game. It was awesome!

SigmaChiCard · #8 01-04-2003, 01:48 AM

I started in 2nd grade, and actually got moved up my 2nd year to playing with older kids. My friends and families built soccer in my small town, opening a spring league session, then select clubs that were among the top 4 in the state. Through this year I've generally been on three teams a year since freshman year in high school, and two teams since I was in 5th grade. At camps, my squad would generally win, and even defeated an Olympic Development squad, the guys which I would later play on the camp all-star teams with against the colleges.

I considered trying to do the soccer in college thing, but had decided that it was time to move on, but my only regret is having not done Olympic Development.

I began as a striker, and averaged around 2 a game, but then I began to fall back, and sophomore year I started as a left footer, having learned to be fully functional with it, and later that season worked my way into starting at the central mid spot, where I've been contentedly ever since (with both feet, now).

Betarulz! · #9 01-05-2003, 11:54 PM

Hell yeah Soccer rules...

I started playing USYSA-affiliated leagues (Dont' get me started about what is/was wrong with AYSO) back in first grade b/c all my friends were doing. Didn't stand out too much until my dad started coaching and became a student of the game. I suddenly became better at reading the field and short passes are still the strongest part of my game (good pace and placement for the reciever).

Started playing indoor in eighth grade so I was basically playing all year. Fall would start practice in early august, first indoor session would begin in November (which usually had make up games from rainouts still being played). Second session of indoor would start the week after the game to decide final position in the standings (ie 1st v. 2nd, 3rd v. 4th) That would be in January run till the week before spring break at which point practice for outdoor in the spring would have started. Spring outdoor ran into late May, and then June 14th, as per USYSA rules, would signify the opportunity to change teams w/o buttloads of paper work. So of course that meant tryouts from June 14th to July 14th. I think one week I had a tryout every night, trying to make 3 different teams.

Played all the way up until Junior year and the JV level where my HS was ranked as high as 11th in the nation. Quit my senior b/c my heart wasn't in it. bunch of other stuff I wanted to do and I was pissed that on JV most games it wouldn't be until we were up 3-0 that I got playign time. I was more of a practice player than a gamer. Luckily we rocked that year and there was only one game that I didn't get in during the first half, but the principle pissed me off.

Started refferreeing in 6th grade for my feeder soccer club, dealign with the U-7 and U8's. Got licensed at 14 (youngest age possible) as a USSF grade 8 but I haven't been re-certified in close to 4 years.

Started coaching kindergartners my sophomore year of HS and that has been my favorite part of the game. Moved up to first graders my senior year. I hope to start my own traveling club someday and build it up to having teams in every age group boys and girls. My system is going to be based on playing a 4 forward attacking formation...lots of speed, very high pressure form of the game, much like the system John Walker has had at times with the Nebraska Women's program.

I'm looking into getting my E coach's license in 2003

DeltaSigStan · #10 01-06-2003, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Betarulz!

(Dont' get me started about what is/was wrong with AYSO)

Ok, I HAVE to ask since I referee both AYSO and USSF. What's wrong with AYSO? The quality of play is not as bad as people think. AYSO started a club program where they play CYSA teams, and they've been kicking ass.

DeltaSigStan · #11 01-07-2003, 11:50 PM

bumped for Betarulz

White_Chocolate · #12 01-08-2003, 11:08 AM

our high school didn't get a soccer team until my sophomore year and it was an all-boys team. well, i decided to ask the coach if i could play because i knew that i was good even though i had never played before. he told me that he didn't care so i showed up for practice. now, i was going up against some seniors for a spot as a sweeper. the coach worked me hard and the boys were mean. however, by the end of the second week of practice, i was the only sophomore starting varsity on an all-boys soccer team. i'm quite proud of myself because junior year i got an award(i'm a mean SOB when it comes to defense).

my fave team is DC United but I like Tampa Bay Mutiny too.

DeltaSigStan · #13 07-28-2003, 12:12 AM

Bumped so I can post this rant:

1) I wanted Brazil to beat Mexico, but the more I watched this game the more I started to cheer for the tricolor. Brazil, if you don't know, are crybabies. Any type of physical play, they'll dive, flop and drop to the ground tryingt o get a foul. If you saw Brazil/Turkey at the WC last yr, you know what I mean. Anyways, I'm glad Mexico won, doesn't really mean much, doesn't affect qualifying.

2) Bruce has a lot to do before qualifying starts. Cory Gibbs still hasn't proven much except that he doesn't know how to hide a hanball correctly, and their defense, while consistent, still needs to be tighter in the trenches, especially in set plays.

3) Why do Latin soccer players gotta act like such b*tches when they're losing? Manchester United, as expected, beat Club America of Mexico 3-1. When they were down 2-0, America would elbow, slide, tackle, grab and push Man U every chance they'd get. A Man U player stole the ball from an America forward, so he pulled the Man U player's shirt to get the call so he wouldn't have a breakaway! One America player got into it going for the ball with Ruud Van Nistelrooy, and when Ruud put his hand out to shake it, the America player just walked away in disgust. I swear, Jim Rome always gets on the Euros, it's the LATINs that give soccer a bad name.

Thank god the rest of the tour is mainly against Euro clubs, maybe we'll see a little class on the field.

I played soccer at the Tiajuana border. We have a term for losers like that:

POLLOS

Oh, and Betarulz, answer my question please

SigmaChiCard · #14 07-28-2003, 03:54 PM

I agree completely about latino style....it may be very composed...but it's too damn feminine for me. I'm a small player so i'll go to the ground if I need to, but latino's disrupt all chance at a flowing game by going down every other play.

Blanco is the shit, but he's also the biggest bitch of them all.