Who says soccer players are wimps?

[Hector]

At least football ....lets not call it soccer....players wear no padding apart from shin pads...and as for Rugby players.....now no way are they anywhere near wimpish

I live in the USA...we call it soccer here.




But then again, I lived in Mexico from ages 7-14...we call it fútbol there.

[Bo8a_Fett]

then call it futbol and we'll both be happy

[Hector]

Fútbol it is then.

[Adam West]

I was thinking about Soccer the other day compared to other sports.

Soccer is one of the most difficult sports to play at an elite level for a variety of reasons.

I was told in a coaching class that eye foot coordination is much more unnatural and difficult to develop than eye hand coordination. It seems like it is possible to become a professional player in American Football without having played the sport a lot (for example if you were a really fast sprinter, tall, and had enough athletic ability to catch a football, you could make it...not as a quarterback or a position like that but definitely one of the other positions). Same with basketball. I don't know about some of the other sports like baseball, tennis, golf.

Soccer is different though. I honestly don't think it is possible to begin playing as a teenager let's say and be able to make it to an elite level. You have to begin much earlier. My daughter is 11 and has been playing competitive soccer for 2 years and although is extremely athletic, I consider her average. But I don't think someone could come in not having played the game right now at her age and even be able to compete with her.

[toystalker]

you wouldnt want to call roy keane a wimp to his face

there have been many many hard men over the years in football

and the fans are even harder

[Bo8a_Fett]

you wouldnt want to call roy keane a wimp to his face

there have been many many hard men over the years in football

and the fans are even harder

well said sir
with nicknames like Chopper Harris, Norman "bite ya legs" Hunter, Stuart "Psycho" Pearce, Andoni 'Butcher of Bilbao' Goicoechea, and many more.

[AUSSIE-Rebooted-AMM]

Some Scottish and Irish mates here in Oz used to play indoor Soccer.

I used to go and watch. . .I have no ball skills as did not grow up playing the game.

One of the reasons I went. . . the Violence. Even in friendly local games. . . it just seems to inspire violence. . .which is great entertainment.

One of our mates was so entertaining. . .he broke another players nose, got charged with assault and band from the venue. He is the nicest nicest Irishmen. . . but put a soccer ball in front of him. LOL! Mind you. . .the smug Italian git really brought it on himself. . .crossing the line with super smuggy-gittishness.

One of my brothers used to referee when we were at school. He stopped a game because of torential rain. . .it was a game for under 10's. The parents chased him, and he had to run for his life,. . .was hid in the venue and snuck out a back way with the help of others. . .and then had to start running home, and called from a road side phone booth for someone in the family to come and get him/save him. Not long before this. . .another Soccer ref of another kids game, was actually IMPALED on an umbrella by an angry parent disagreeing with a decision.

NOT a game for whimps. . . tempers boil over into violence all the time. . .even with kids games. . .and especially with spectators.

[Bo8a_Fett]

football even has a war named after it...
July 14, 1969 - The Football War begins as El Salvador invades Honduras. In the late 1960s, tensions between the two Central American nations increased due to issues regarding immigration and land reform. These resulted in riots during two qualifying matches for the 1970 World Cup as the one nation played the other. Splitting the games, each nation felt a resurgent sense of national pride. As the situation continued to worsen, El Salvador broke off diplomatic relations with Honduras on June 26 and skirmishing began along the border. Early on the morning of July 14, the Salvadoran Air Force attacked targets in Honduras opening the conflict. This was followed by an invasion on the ground. Pushing into Honduras, Salvadoran forces made steady progress before a lack of fuel and ammunition halted their advance. This was largely caused by successful attacks by the Honduran Air Force against logistical targets in El Salvador. Intervening, the Organization of American States was able to negotiate a ceasefire on July 18, which took full effect two days later. Though El Salvador withdrew from Honduran soil on August 2, a final peace settlement would not be concluded until 1980.

[AUSSIE-Rebooted-AMM]

Wow Roger . .that sounds just like one of the indoor soccer games I went too!

You see. . . Futbal/Football/Soccer, must be the greatest game in the world. . . if people are going to start wars over it. . .How many wars has the American Football started. . .huh. . .HUH???? LOL!

Like I said earlier. . .soccer is like a religion to many. . .and most wars are fought over religion. . .soccer is just a different flavour of religion with many worshipers!

[Bo8a_Fett]

If american football did have a war named after it the soldiers would all go in padded up...only take 10 yards of territory at a time and change from offense to defense every so often.....lol

[Adam West]

American Football hasn't started any wars because no other country in the world can or will ever be able to compete....but believe me, it is bitter within the states. I have heard Philadelphia is one of the worst stadiums. If you are wearing the opposing team's uniform, you can expect to have someone try to start a fight with you. I have seen words exchanged at FedEx field at Redskins games (mostly when they play the Cowboys) but usually it's just words.

I wonder what will happen if U.S.A. Soccer actually gets competitive and it starts to catch on. Right now, I find the MLS games to be one of few professional sports where you feel comfortable taking your kids and not feeling like lots of profanity is being blurted out but it might not always be like that.

We have had problems at youth soccer games. We basically have a no tolerance policy. If a youth player gets a red card, automatic suspension and has to a disciplinary meeting before he/she can play again. Coach gets a red card...disciplinary meeting and depending on the cause of the red card, you can be banned from coaching ever again. If a parent gets out of control, the referee has been instructed to immediately stop the game and a forfeit issued to the team with the obnoxious parent...they just don't tolerate it around here.

I play indoor soccer and we can get rough but not to the point of breaking noses or anything. I can guarantee if that happened, you would be banned from playing at the field again, would probably be arrested for assault if it was intentional, and a lawsuit brought against you.

[Bo8a_Fett]

In the states you have the benifit of all the rest of the worlds experience with hooliganism and violence in the sport to actually change the approach to it in it's infancy over there...sounds like you've made a good start with what you've posted.

[AUSSIE-Rebooted-AMM]

So . . . without any violence. . .what do you do for entertainment at a soccer game???

No - That all sounds good. I think they have done similar with the kids games here too. . . they had too. . . .it was getting life threatening for refs as you can see in the examples I gave from . . . well 25 years ago now.

[Bo8a_Fett]

you could always get a hot bovril and a meat pie?????...or tea

[Bo8a_Fett]

do you remember the days of terraces and rattles....scarves and flasks of tea...kids being moved down the front for a better view...the witty chants and songs....the cold wet saturdays....the dodgy burger stalls and programmes...the knives and bottles....ah those were the days