Do any of you PLAY?

[Green Tabasco]

Have any of you played organized soccer?

In my Childhood: Played Barefoot down a dusty dirt road. Mostly free for all, I fancied myself a Striker.

In Jr High: Varsity, Second String, Midfield.

High School: Varsity, Starter, Center Midfield.

College: Too busy getting wasted, Occasionally at a Kegger, usually around 2 or 3 in the morning.

Today: What color is a soccer ball again?

[LotharDSM]

Over the past 26 yrs of playing:
Started playing in Virginia in rec, moved up to Select teams, missed the state team by one cut in tryouts.
Then moved to MO and started over again, Mom had to start a league for me and my sister to continue playing, so she set up a "league" and we played against local towns and cities. This includes the High School years since there wasn't a team set up for "Commie Ball" in school. I kicked for the American style football team.
Then I played college soccer.
Now I play local Men's Open League and Coed "Over-the-Hill". I have played for Iowas Over-30 team in regional tournaments.
Even though I'm still playing I still have a hard time seeing my bootlaces!

[Naco]

High School: Left winger. Only a sophmore. :D.

Sean

[Green Tabasco]

Originally posted by LotharDSM
Over the past 26 yrs of playing:
Started playing in Virginia in rec, moved up to Select teams, missed the state team by one cut in tryouts.
Then moved to MO and started over again, Mom had to start a league for me and my sister to continue playing, so she set up a "league" and we played against local towns and cities. This includes the High School years since there wasn't a team set up for "Commie Ball" in school. I kicked for the American style football team.
Then I played college soccer.
Now I play local Men's Open League and Coed "Over-the-Hill". I have played for Iowas Over-30 team in regional tournaments.
Even though I'm still playing I still have a hard time seeing my bootlaces!

Wow. Your Mom sounds like a wonderfull lady. How did she do it? Set up a league and all...

[jp77]

Probably started kivking the ball around 2 years-old.......Town league at 8 years-old

Travel team: 12 - 19 years old

High School: 4 years (Started 3 years @ Sweeper/Stopper position)---Jr. year: 2nd team all-state---Sr. year: Honorable mention on league team (Hurt half the season with ankle injury, which still lingers today)

Indoor teams off and on for about 5 years in the winter


College offers for D2 and D3, but injury and distance of schools too much......it's ok though

Company team the last two years in the Hartford Independent League

[IASocFan]

I discovered soccer over 37 years ago at the age of 22. Played in company league and over the hill while learning how to coach and referee - which is my major outlet. I'm still playing organized over 40 and kick around with friends and kids. Had an assist in last Saturday's O40 game.

It feels so good when the game's over. :cool:

[whirlwind]

Started in youth rec leagues when I was 9. My high school didn't have a team, so I helped form a club team, 4-year starter there. Went on to play at U of M (again, a club team, no school varsity squad) actually made it into 2 NCAA games at goalkeeper.

Now playing year-round in whichever of the 3 Over 30 rec leagues I'm in is active, both indoor 6v6 and outdoor 11v11.

[urtel]

I'm a late bloomer. I didn't start playing until I was 13. I was behind a lot of guys on the squad but I worked hard and ousted 2 other keepers for the starting job.

I played there and at another club team for 5 years and last year I played with ViiPV in the Finnish juniors division.

I'm training now, and by the start of next season, I'm trying out for some teams in Finland.

[LotharDSM]

Originally posted by robincd
Wow. Your Mom sounds like a wonderfull lady. How did she do it? Set up a league and all... We did nothing but play soccer in Virginia, so when we moved it was a shock not to play. There was a Lions Club league for kids up to 10 yrs old and then nothing after that, so she got some info out to area parks & rec to see if there was interest. Teams were already established in the cities (closest was 60 miles away), so we traveled a bit once we got a team together. A couple teams got together with the kids from a military base 30 miles away. It then just snowballed from there and now there's a soccer park with several fields in a town of 13,000 and the year I went to college they began high school soccer!

[comme]

I've been playing football for as long as I can remember. Still playing it now I'm at uni.

[SccrDon]

Didn't play as a kid - took a class in soccer in my last semester at U Md. Played on a co-ed team and learned lots more - also met my wife playing. Had 2 kids, moved to CO, coached both of them, and now I "organize" a pickup soccer game one night a week over the summer, playing with my wife and kids, their teammates and friends, and whoever else shows up.

[MikeyPez]

Ages:6-9 played soccer for JCSL
Ages:9-13 played little league for jersey city
ages:13-14 played for jersey city rec. football(amer.)
ages:14-18 played football(A.)

I became to big to play soccer for high school and would be ery rusty. My HS team was good so making the team was less than likely. 1/4 of our team was from KEARNY.

Now i mostly play pickup games, nothing organized. Although i have offers to play in a league, i feel skills lacking. I can defend and take away the ball but can't really pass.

PS winter in NJ sux

[Northside Rovers]

Played until 6th Grade.
Played American Football in Jr High.
Ran Cross-Country and Track in High School.
Played Intramural and City League soccer my last 3 years in college. Thru 1992.
Played on and off, mostly off, from 1994 - 1997, mostly as a slow fullback.
Started a comapny soccer team in 1997. Played defense until 2001. Then I started training / practicing / losing weight.
Now I play right half / center-mid and left half but can sub in anywhere. I am 35 - play year round and can run circles around many players 10 years younger than me.
I play on 2 teams during the summer and one in teh fall/spring seasons.
And I will play until I die. Or at least I hope so.

[kckicker23]

I'm eighteen years old and I've played since I was four.

Rec leagues until I was 10.

Competitive from then on, city champs at U-13 and U-14 levels.

High school played right winger and striker: my senior year we made it into the second round of districts before losing 1-0 to the undefeated top-seed.

I plan on playing club soccer in college. I love this game.

[Green Tabasco]

Originally posted by IASocFan

It feels so good when the game's over. :cool:

Yup. After the game it's really nice to reach over to the cooler and pull out an Ice Cold Cerveza.

[JRstriker12]

Heck YEAH I play!!! I love this game. I'm no Pele, but I can hold my own on most occasions.

-Played soccer in a youth league (Bear Creek, PA)
-High School Soccer (Wilkes-Barre, PA
-College Recreational league (Pittsburgh, PA)
-Adult Rec Soccer leagues (Pittsburgh, Maryland, Virginia)
-Currently I manage an adult-coed team in North VA (Ruffigans FC). We play outdoor in Spring, Summer and Fall then go indoor for the winter.

Most important team traditon is the cerveza frio after a game!

[LotharDSM]

Originally posted by Northside Rovers

And I will play until I die. Or at least I hope so.
Werd...


We played a local college team Monday night and the old "felt good when it was over" definitely applied, over half of us are over-30. But that feeling of being completely spent and knowing you gave it all up on the field feels so good.
Only lost 2-1 too, bring on las cervezas!

[JRstriker12]

Originally posted by robincd
Have any of you played organized soccer?

In my Childhood: Played Barefoot down a dusty dirt road. Mostly free for all, I fancied myself a Striker.

In Jr High: Varsity, Second String, Midfield.

High School: Varsity, Starter, Center Midfield.

College: Too busy getting wasted, Occasionally at a Kegger, usually around 2 or 3 in the morning.

Today: What color is a soccer ball again?

robincd,

If you don't mind me asking, what's stopping you from getting back into the game?

Are the leagues where you live or at least local pick-up games?

For me life without a soccer game here or there (at least a little pick-up) is like no life at all.

[socrne1]

Originally posted by LotharDSM
We did nothing but play soccer in Virginia, so when we moved it was a shock not to play. There was a Lions Club league for kids up to 10 yrs old and then nothing after that, so she got some info out to area parks & rec to see if there was interest. Teams were already established in the cities (closest was 60 miles away), so we traveled a bit once we got a team together. A couple teams got together with the kids from a military base 30 miles away. It then just snowballed from there and now there's a soccer park with several fields in a town of 13,000 and the year I went to college they began high school soccer!

LotharDSM - Was this in Mexico Mo by chance?

Have been playing about 27 yrs now, started when I was 4 in Illinois youth programs, played on select teams and travel teams, played two yrs of college and then to intramural college, have been playing in sports groups either co-ed or mens majors and pickup like a mad man. Keep it coming is what I say.

I dont understand that either, how someone can play forever it seems and then give it up, all though I see it all the time its to much fun!!

[Finnegan]

Started playing when I was 4

First organized team at 6

County League and then Select Travel Teams from 8 till I was 18

Played High School Ball (1 Year J.V., 3 Years Varsity)

Was primarily a right mid but also played GK. Moved to GK full time when I was about 13.

Four Year Div. 3 College Ball - Started all 4 years, all conference blah blah blah

Briefly entertained fantasies of going pro but believe it or not soccer opportunities in 1995 were far fewer than in 2003 (oh and I probably wasn't good enough :))

Stopped playing organized soccer for about 3 years (burnout I guess).

Tried out for the Portland Timbers this past year at the ripe old age of 29 and actually made it through a couple days of cuts!

Now I play as much ball as possible. I play on 4 teams which keeps me mega busy but God do I love it!

And the cerveza after the game is a great tradition!