The Points are Not Always the Goal in Soccer
Famous soccer player Kevin Keegan, also affectionately known as “Mighty Mouse,” once claimed that soccer was a painfully simple game that simply required that one team “score more goals than the opposition.” While this may be true to some extend, the points are not always the goal in soccer. As a matter of fact, while winning might be important to many, it is not the beginning and the end of the sport. For this reason it is not surprising that soccer enjoys so much enthusiastic follower ship from fans of any age.
Here a some other goals in soccer, that you may not have thought of,
Soccer is an action sport. Unlike American football, it is not a collection of plays that are followed by extended breaks, regrouping, and arguments with the referees. Instead, soccer looks like a well-choreographed dance troupe that uses a ball. To this end, the harmony of the team, the ability of players to play as part of the whole, rather than star of the team, is oftentimes stressed.
Team spirit is a natural outcropping of this attitude. In order to be a good soccer player, you will have to first and foremost be a good team player. Hot dogs, as players are referred to when they are out for fame and fortune for themselves, do not do well in this discipline, and as a matter of fact are usually discouraged from playing in the team setting.
Since there is no breaking between game play, another goal of soccer is that of supreme physical fitness. There are no breaks, no two or five minutes to stand and cool off. Instead, you will need to be fit, constantly on the move, and able to ascertain, analyze, and process changing game play.
While passing is an important aspect of the game, accurate long distance passing is almost more important. It is not enough to simply pass the ball to a nearby player. Instead, you will need to be able to learn to propel the ball over the heads of your opponents and to the feet or head of your team mate.
Analysis in American football appears to be the domain of coaches and team captains. Yet in soccer, the ever-changing positions and the rapidly developing game opportunities demand that each player is able to analyze the field. Does it look like the opposition is attempting to break through the defense? Does the striker set up for a goal shot? Are you able to move to a hole that seems to be forming, so as to provide a go-to person for a midfielder that is looking for someone to pass the ball to? All these ideas need to go through your mind as you are preparing to play. Similarly, you will need to keep a strong eye on any and all developments that may be affecting your particular position.
If you are in a position to take a ball from an opposing player, you will need to be able to do so without breaking your stride or the stride of your opponents. At the same time, you will need to gain possession of the ball without committing a foul against the other player, so that your team will not get penalized.
In addition to learning their individual positions on the field, soccer players will also need to learn the overall intricacies of team positioning. The ability to think spatially is highly valued in soccer, and this ability is honed frequently in practice games or friendly games.
As you can see, there is so much more to playing soccer than simply scoring a few goals. If it were this easy, you would not see games where no goals are scored until overtime. Similarly, even if you have a team of goal scorers, a well-choreographed team will almost always outplay them in the long run, since even the most advanced goal shooter will get tired, yet the seasoned team player will work his team to score the goals rather than going it alone. If you think you have what it takes to become the next soccer player, why not go ahead and join a league? Soccer is a wonderful game that develops more than just muscles, and you will be sure to be challenged on a number of levels. So go ahead and sign up – you will be glad you did.
Tags: playing soccer, soccer player