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Soccer for dummies
Wait... What is soccer?
How Did Soccer Come To Be?
How did soccer come to be?
Soccer has been around for a long time! We're talking almost 3,000 years ago, during the Mesoamerican time period! Back then, the game used a rock instead of a ball. The fate of the losing team's captain? Oh, they'd be sacrificed to the gods. Good thing we don't incorporate that into our soccer games.
Britain is credited with the origins of the soccer we know today! The original version of soccer once looked much like American Football. It was quite violent, and it involved punching and kicking the ball. At some time, this violent version of soccer would become forbidden due to causing rampages in the street... sometimes even death! But, in the 17th Century, it was brought back with new rules: you could not touch the ball with your hands or trip any of your opponents.
The sport's popularity grew during Britain's Industrial Revolution, used as a form of entertainment for factory workers. Eventually, teams would be created via co-workers, and tickets would start being sold for matches. because of the newfound popularity, the teams would start paying players to play for them.
Starting in the 1800s, soccer would then move to non-European countries. The first-ever international tournament of soccer would be held in 1883, during the era of British Colonialization. Many factory workers would be sent to countries such as Sweden and Argentina, where the popularity of the sport among foreign audiences would grow.
Soccer would grow as a loved international sport. It would create what we know today as The World Cup, which is currently the largest individual sporting competition in the world!
How do you play soccer?
How Do You Play Soccer?
Soccer consists of two teams, usually of 11 players of which about half are on the bench. The game consists of two 45 minute halves. There are no timeouts or breaks.
On both sides of the field there is a goal. The aim of the game is for players to kick the ball into the back of the goal's net. The team that scores the most goals wins the game! The game starts with a kickoff from the middle of the field (pitch). Players cannot use their hands to touch the ball, but any other part of the body is free game. The only team member that can use their hands is the goalkeeper: the team member situated at the goal to prevent the opposing team from scoring. The only other time that players can use their hands is called a 'throw-in'. This occurs when the ball goes over the sidelines (also known as the touch line), and is considered out of bounds. The players will throw the ball back in bounds where the ball originally crossed the touch line.
The team positions
The Team Positions
Within a team, there are usually three kinds of players. Defenders, midfielders, and forwards (attackers). These main positions of the team are broken down into more specific titles. These are the specific positions for indoor soccer.
The Goalkeeper (#00): The player that tries to prevent the opposing team from scoring a goal. They are in charge of intercepting or stopping the ball before it crosses the final goal line. These players are usually tall, lanky, have quick reflexes, and the ability to cover a lot of space. They carry a lot of responsibility for their team, so their mental and physical qualities have to be sharp. They also have to maintain great communication with the rest of their teammates. In indoor soccer, the goalkeeper's role is considered to be one of the hardest and involves the most pressure.
Defenders (#2, #8, or #25): There are usually two players as Defenders. There's a Right Defender and a Left Defender. The Right Defender is positioned in front of the goalie on the right side of the field while the Left Defender is positioned on the left side of the field. Both Defenders usually have the same responsibilities. Both defenders are responsible from preventing the opposing team from getting to the goal. Right Defenders cover against counter-attacks by staying in their position, and they try to lure the opposing team away or legally block them. The Left Defender has an additional responsibility of getting the ball back into play after a stoppage. They put the ball in play again by kicking it back into the center of the field whenever a foul or timeout is called. The Defenders have to have good communication skills.
Midfielders/Wingers (#11, #13, #14): Midfielders play on... you guessed it... the middle of the field. This group can be broken down further into attacking midfielders and defending midfielders. They're the ones you rely on to have possession of the ball for the team, as well as pass the ball forward strategically. Midfielders can fill a variety of roles as well, from being on defense to shooting the ball. For indoor soccer, there is a Right Midfielder, a Left Midfielder, and a Center Midfielder. The Right Midfielder responsibilities revolve around creating scoring opportunities. They pressure opposing defenders when they have the ball. They have to have the ability to score, as well as to know when to back off of an opposing defender. The Right Midfielder is positioned on the right side of the field. The Center Midfielder has the role to constantly be in a position to retrieve and pass the ball, as well as disrupting the play of the opposing team. They have the responsibility of creating scoring opportunities and helping defend against the opposing team. Centers act as a bridge between defense and attack. Therefore, they must have skills to easily pass the ball and steal the ball. They have to be all-around skilled to perform a variety of tasks for the team, have a good sense of the field, and the ability to make quick decisions and anticipations. The Left Midfielder is responsible for covering the left side of the field and providing support for other teammates. They are positioned on the left side of the field. They try to create scoring opportunities by crossing the ball into the box or taking shots at the goal themselves. They also help with defense when needed to stop the opposing team from getting too close to the goal on the left side of the field. All Midfielders must have the ability to communicate well with each other, as well have the ability to cover a wide area of the field. They have a wide range of motion and can be seen crossing up and down the field.
Strikers (#7): The striker's main responsibility is to score goals as often as possible. In indoor soccer, they are positioned in the center of the field and closer to the opposing team's goal. They're often in a position between the opposing team's midfielders and defenders. A primary difference between a Midfielder and a Striker is that a striker plays primarily in the center of the field. Strikers must have the ability to score goals and create scoring opprotunities for their team. They also are expected to track back on defense when needed. A Striker needs good stamina and energy as they often run up and down the field. They also need the ability to control the ball well and to pass consistently away from the opposing teams' defenders.
Offenses/Penalties
There are many different kinds of penalties within soccer. The following actions that are not allowed are as follows: tripping, pushing, tacking, holding, charging into, or pushing into an opponent, as well as touching the ball with your hands (called a handball). Breaking these rules will result in a whistle from the referee, as well as a fitting penalty based on the severity of the offense.
Free Kick: A free kick is called when a penalty takes place outside of the goal area. The name basically describes it: it's a free kick that cannot be opposed to resume the play of the game.
Penalty Kick: If a player on the defending team is called for a penalty inside of the goal box that they are defending, then the attacking team will get a Penalty Kick. The attacking team will get to choose one player to have a chance to score a goal one-on-one with the goalie. A penalty kick is given if there is a handball.
Offenses/Penalties
There are two different kinds of cards that the referee can use, and when they use these cards are up to their discretion.
Yellow Card: A yellow card is used for more serious offenses. A yellow card is used as a caution, for if a player gets two yellow cards in a game they are ejected.
Red Card: A red card is used for the most serious offenses. If a player gets a red card, they are immediately disqualified from the rest of the game. Red cards can be used for a variety of violent offenses such as serious fouls, violent actions, provocative language, and/or the use of hands as a direct attempt to protect one's own goal.
Why is it sometimes soccer...
and sometimes football?
In American English, the sport is referred to as 'soccer'. However, in British, the sport is referred to as 'football'. Why is this?
Well, soccer wasn't the only popular sport in Britain! There was also Rugby football, which was a variation of the game where players could carry the ball and run with it towards the goal. When the no-hands rule was added in the 1800s by the England Football Association, the name of soccer would become known as 'association football'.
The names of these sports would eventually become shortened. Some students that went to the University of Oxford in the 1880s would call Rugby 'rugger' and association football 'assoccer', to which it would be further shortened to 'soccer'. But, in Britain, soccer never became more than just a nickname.
In the 20th century, rugby football would be mostly known as 'rugby', while association football would be shortened to just 'football'.
Meanwhile, in the United States, a brand new sport was created in the late 19th century. This sport would combine the elements of both rugby and association football, and would grow to become more popular than both of them. This sport was gridiron football. But... a lot of people decided to not use the first word. Thus, those in America who played association football would use the term 'soccer' to refer to their sport while gridiron football would become known as football!
Due to this, it's often assumed that the word 'soccer' is an Americanism.
Soccer VS Football?
Do the Jersey numbers matter?
Do the Jersey Numbers Matter?
There is a tradition with the numbering of player's jerseys! But, in order to understand that, you'll need to understand team soccer formations. The earliest and most common formation was the 2-3-5: two defenders, three midfielders, and five forwards. This formation was used when numbers on jerseys were being introduced around the 1920s.
Soccer players didn't have names on the back of their jerseys, so numbers would be used to identify them easier! These numbers would be from 1 to 11, and the numbers would be given to specific player positions. Players would be numbered from back to front and right to left, starting with the goalie. Defenders got lower numbers while attackers got higher numbers.
Today, the 2-3-5 formation doesn't exist. The 4-4-2 position is used more often today: 4 defenders, 4 midfielders, and 2 attackers. But, it gives us a good idea of why player's jersey numbers are the way they are.
1 was usually given to the goalie. 2 & 3 would be the Right and Left Backs. But, during the 2-3-5 formation, these positions wouldn't be played wide but centeraly. The two deepest defenders would be given 2 and 3. 4 and 5 would be given to the Center Backs. 6 and 8 were given to the Center Midfielders. 6 is given to the defensive midfielder, while 8 is given to the more attacking midfielder. 7 and 11 are the Wingers, being positioned in the widest positions on the pitch. 9 and 10 are for the Forwards, and Strikers for their centermost forward position on the field responsible for goal scoring.
Now, in modern soccer, the number tradition isn't as strictly followed. Players have been given the choice to wear whatever number they'd like! That's why there are larger numbers on soccer player's jerseys.
Indoor Vs. Outdoor
There are a lot of differences between indoor soccer and outdoor soccer! The Wolves takes place in an indoor soccer field. It's important to know the differences between the two variants of soccer. This information is provided from The Indoor Player.
Indoor VS. Outdoor
Indoor soccer
The field in indoor soccer is played inside an enclosed field. These fields are often inside a sports complex or arena. The field is usually around 100 feet by 50 feet. The field also usually has walls or boards around the edges of the field to keep the ball in play.
The ball used for indoor soccer is the same as the one used for outdoor soccer: a size 5 soccer ball.
Each team for indoor soccer consists of five to seven players, this includes the goalkeeper. Substitutions of players are allowed at any time. Each team is usually allowed a certain number of player substitutions per game.
The game is usually divided into two twenty to thirty minute halves. This depends on league or tournament rules. Indoor soccer is more fast-paced and high-scoring than outdoor soccer. This is due to the fewer players and small field size.
The rules of indoor soccer are as follows:
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The players are allowed to use the walls and boards to their advantage.
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There is no offside rule. The offside rule is that an attacking player must have at least two opposition players (including the goalkeeper) between them and the opposing team's goal when in the opposing team's half of the field. This rule does not exist for indoor soccer.
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The Two-Line Rule: Players cannot pass the ball over two lines. This means they can't pass the ball from one end of the field to the other without it touching another player or the wall. This rule encourages more active gameplay.
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Kick-Ins: If the ball ends up out of bounds, it is returned to play with a kick-in. The ball is kicked back into play from the sideline.
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Fouls: Fouls are called for any contact made against an opponent, just like outdoor soccer.
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Free Kicks: If a foul is committed, the opposing team gets a free kick. This kick is taken from the spot of the foul.
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Indoor soccer shoes have flat, non-marking rubber soles that provide good traction on smoother, indoor surfaces. Indoor soccer shin guards are required. They're lighter and less bulky than outdoor shin guards because they don't need to provide much protection against tackles on harder outdoor surfaces like grass or turf.
The rules of indoor soccer are often more relaxed than outdoor soccer. Indoor soccer is governed by several different organizations (World Minifootball Federation WMF and the Federation Internationale de Football Association FIFA). FIFA recognizes only futsal as the official form of indoor soccer. Indoor soccer has a lot of popular leagues and championships around the world. One of the most well known is the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL), located in the United States. This league features teams from all across the country. Other popular indoor soccer leagues include the Liga Nacional de Futbol Sala (LFNS) in Spain and the Premier Futsal League in India.
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Indoor soccer is fast-paced and skill-intensive. It can help develop a wide range of skills in an athlete. Key skills are having good ball control like dribbling, passing, and retrieving the ball in tight spaces. This is because of the smaller playing surface and heavy ball. Players need to make quick decisions and quick reactions. Indoor soccer helps develop quick thinking and decision-making skills. Players need to have good agility and balance. They need to be able to change directions quickly and maintain their balance in tight spaces.
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Indoor soccer can be played year-round no matter what the weather is like. It's a faster game with more scoring opportunities. But, indoor soccer can lead to more injuries. This is due to the walls and boards, plus the less emphasis the sport has on stamina and endurance.
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Countries where indoor soccer is most popular are the United States, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Argentina, and Iran. In the United States, even though the sport isn't as popular as outdoor soccer, the country has many indoor soccer leagues like the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) and the United Soccer League's (USL) Championship Indoor League. Many children and teenagers in the United States play indoor soccer leagues and tournaments during the winter months when outdoor soccer isn't possible. In Brazil, Futsal is played in schools, community centers, and sports clubs where it is very popular. Brazil has some of the best Futsal players in the world. In Spain, the Spanish National Team is one of the best indoor soccer teams in the world. They've won two FIFA Futsal World Cups and seven UEFA Futsal Championships. In Portugal, Futsal is played at amateur and professional levels. Italy's Futsal tradition is big and the country is home to some of the most exciting Futsal leagues. Argentina's Futsal team is one of the strongest in South America, where they've won two Copa America de Futsal titles. Finally, in Iran, Futsal is played in schools, parks, and community centers across the country. The Iranian National Futsal Team is one of the most successful teams in Asia. They've won five AFC Futsal Championships.
Outdoor soccer
In outdoor soccer, the field is larger and does not have any walls or boards. The fields can vary in size. Usually, an outdoor soccer field is between 110 yards by 70 yards or 130 yards by 100 yards.
The ball used is the same as indoor soccer, a size 5 soccer ball.
Each team in outdoor soccer usually consists of 11 players, this includes the goalkeeper. Player substitutions are allowed, but they're usually limited to a certain number per game or per half.
An outdoor soccer game is usually divided into two 45 minute halves, with a 15 minute break in between. This means a full soccer game is usually around 90 minutes. Outdoor soccer is usually slower-paced, but still energetically played.
The rules of outdoor soccer are as follows:
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Off-Side Rule: The offside rule prevents attacking players from getting behind the defense before receiving the ball.
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Goal Kicks: When the ball goes out of bounds over the goal line in outdoor soccer, the defending team is awarded a goal kick, which is taken from within their own penalty area.
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Corner Kicks: When the ball goes out of bounds over the goal line but was last touched by a defender in outdoor soccer, the attacking team is awarded a corner kick.
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Goalkeeper Restrictions: The goalkeeper is not allowed to handle the ball outside of their designated penalty area.
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Throw-Ins: When the ball goes out of bounds, it is returned into play by a throw-in. The ball must be thrown in with both hands from behind the head and delivered from the point where it crossed the touchline.
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Fouls: Fouls are called for any contact made against an opponent. This includes tripping, pushing, or holding. Players can be penalized for offside, which occurs when an attacking player is closer to the opponent's goal than the ball and the second-to-last defender.
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Free Kicks: If a foul is committed, the opposing team is awarded a free kick. This free kick can be taken from the spot of the foul or from a designated distance away.
Outdoor soccer shoes have cleats or studs on the bottom of them. This provides traction on grass or turf. Outdoor shin guards are required for players to protect them from injuries. They're more bulkier than indoor shin guards to prevent injuries on the harder outdoor surfaces like grass and turf.
Outdoor soccer is primarily governed by FIFA. FIFA is responsible for organizing major events and international tournaments. One example of these tournaments that FIFA is responsible for is The World Cup. Outdoor soccer also has many numerous leagues and championships around the world. The most popular of which are the English Premier League, La Liga in Spain, and the Bundesliga in Germany. The biggest international tournament is The World Cup. The World Cup takes place every four years and is considered the biggest sporting event in the world.
Outdoor soccer requires a wide range of physical and mental skills. Endurance and stamina are needed because players are required to cover a large playing area for extended periods of time. Players should have good cardiovascular fitness. Outdoor soccer also requires a lot of running, sprinting and changes of direction to create opportunities to score goals. So, good speed and agility is a skill needed for outdoor soccer. Players need to have good passing skills to move the ball around a larger field. Players need to also be aware of their position on the field and the positions of their teammates and opponents.
Outdoor soccer is more traditional and widely recognized. The larger field of outdoor soccer promotes teamwork and endurance, and it has a greater emphasis on endurance and stamina. But, outdoor soccer is dependant on weather. Therefore, the sport is unable to be played year-round in certain areas and countries.
The countries where outdoor soccer is most popular are Brazil, Argentina, Spain, England, Germany, Italy, and France. In Brazil, soccer is considered to be the international sport. Argentina has a deep love of soccer with some great players. In Spain, soccer is an integral part of Spanish culture. Spain is also home to some of the world's most successful outdoor soccer clubs, two of which are Real Madrid and Barcelona. In England, soccer has a rich and long history. England is also the home of the English Premier League, which is one of the most popular and competitive outdoor soccer leagues in the world. In Germany, outdoor soccer is known for its disciplined, efficient play style. Germany also has some successful, popular soccer clubs like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Italy has a rich outdoor soccer tradition. Italy is also home to astute, stylish teams like Juventus and AC Milan. Finally, in France, outdoor soccer is a vibrant culture. There are some gifted soccer players from France like Zinedine Zidane and Kylian Mbappe.
For more resources about indoor soccer, check out these websites!
Women's soccer vs. Men's soccer
Women's VS. Men's
What are the differences between mens and womens soccer? A huge section is the pay gap, which is covered in the World History portion of this site under The Gender Pay Gap section. But, other than that, are there any differences in terms of rules? Play style? Physicality?
Well, both mens soccer and womens soccer uses the same ball: a size 5 soccer ball. The amount of time the game lasts is the same. This is a huge contrast to other sports like Tennis. In Tennis, men will play a match of five sets while women will only play three sets. A soccer field is the same size for both men and women. The average goals scored per game are also similar. For example, in the 2022 Men's World Cup there were a total of 172 goals scored in 64 matches, with an average of 2.68 goals per game. In the 2019 Women's World Cup, there was an average of 2.81 goals per game.
Mens soccer can be more aggressive. Players in men's soccer tend to spend more time with the ball and draw more contact from their opponents. This causes higher penalty rates in mens soccer games. In women's soccer, players tend to do safer passes. According to Soccer Nation: "Many American male soccer players are too focused on being great athletes with power, and are not as focused on the more technical aspects of soccer." In men's soccer, strength and speed are key. While, in women's soccer, finesse is key. Focus is placed more on technique. The style of women's soccer resembles that of European soccer than men's soccer. A quote form former U.S. player and current coach of the Women's Professional Soccer League's San Diego SeaLions Jen Lalor-Nielsen says: "Men's and Women's soccer in America is very different. Women's soccer is softer, more thoughtful. Men tend to react without thinking, whereas women tend to contemplate their moves more."
A quote from the London School of Economics and Political Science website written by Caitlin Fisher states: "Cross-culturally the women's game is commonly positioned as a weaker, slower, less exciting version of the men's game. One of my guy friends in college used to call women's soccer 'underwater soccer' because our long balls were shorter, our timing slower, our shots softer, our jumps lower, and our sprints less explosive. But slower, shorter, softer than what? -- than the men's game, of course. Well, so long as the women's game continues to be positioned as a worse and less exciting version of the men's game, then certainly people are going to always opt to watch the men."
Notably, the pace of both men's and women's soccer games differ due to the men's soccer being more aggressive. Men's soccer is often interrupted by fouls and penalties, which doesn't occur as often in women's soccer. Another thing that is very popular in men's soccer is 'flopping'. This is the act of faking injuries. Men's soccer has more breaks because flopping occurs more often than in women's soccer. A recent study composed and led by sports medicine physician Daryl Rosenbaum compares the issue of faking injuries between men and women. In this study, he examined a group of supposedly injured soccer players. The researchers discovered that only 14% of those players "met the criteria for a definite injury". They concluded "that women who do go down are twice as likely to be truly injured compared to men who hit the ground. To investigate, he and colleagues started by reviewing video footage of 89 men's soccer games from four tournaments. The researchers counted a total of 980 supposed injuries. But, they reported last year in the International Journal of Sports Medicine, only about 7% of those qualified as definite injuries. A 'definite injury' was defined by either visible bleeding or withdrawal from the game." This differs drastically from women's soccer games. The Chapel Hill's soccer coach of the University of North Carolina, Anson Dorrance, states: "Any time a male player is nicked, there's rolling around, grabbing body parts, trying to sell the ref on some egregious fall to get a yellow card. Women play the game with greater personal integrity and honor."
For more resources about mens and womens soccer, check out these websites!
College Showcases
What is a college soccer showcase? A showcase is much like a normal soccer tournament, but it's specifically designed for young athletes who are looking to play in front of college coaches and scouts in hopes to be recruited. College showcases are arranged typically for high school age groups. They're put together between different regions so that high volumes of NCAA and NAIA soccer coaches can attend and assess players from all over the country. There's major value in getting coaches to games and meeting coaches in-person. Coaches like to recruit new players in-person, but there are some obstacles like travel budget and the number of players they're interested in. Coaches want to assess traits such as if you're a good teammate, what your attitude is like, and do you practice good sportsmanship.
There are many different kinds of processes that go through inviting coaches to a college soccer showcase. Recording some of your best highlights as a player can show off your skills and interests as a college recruit. Highlights are recommended to be short and sweet, ideally between three to five minutes long. They're also recommended to be up to date.
It's critical to do some research in schools before reaching out to coaches. There are a lot of different options for good programs that may be a good fit for you. Soccer programs can be broken down into various details like collegiate division, region, tuition, and several other components. Other things to research are team record, team roster, and the school's coaches' contact information. Most soccer clubs around the country offer resources and college pathway programs that include help, advice, and resources to assist with college search for players.
There are many tips to standing out in a college soccer showcase. The best one is to prepare! Healthy eating habits and consuming proper nutrients are vital to your best performance. Recommended foods like carbohydrates, lean protein, vegetables, and lean fat. It's also very important to hydrate days in advance. According to Children's Health: "Almost every measurement of performance - aerobic endurance, strength, power, speed, agility and reaction time - decreases with as little as 2% dehydration." Other things that you can focus on is practicing the week before to ensure match fitness. Training up to the game as game-like as possible will keep your fitness levels high. Don't let minor details reduce your performance! Once you're at the college showcase, you may feel a bit of pressure but that's totally okay. Play ready to impress. Coaches are looking for a variety of skills from you; your intensity, skills, high IQ, and your personality. Coaches attending your game have many other players to see during their time there, so make the most of the time you have. Don't be afraid to try things, coaches want to see the skills that make you a great player.
Depending on your age group, you may be able to interact with the coaches during the soccer showcase. Take advantage of interacting with the coaches! Putting a name to a face is powerful for players. Interacting with the coaches is your time to learn about them and engage with them after and/or between games. A few questions that you can ask college coaches are down below:
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How has your season been going? How did your season go?
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What does your current recruiting class look like? Any specific positions you're focused on for the upcoming class?
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Do you have any ID Camps coming up on campus for me to attend?
The goal is to find out as much as possible about the coach's college soccer program while you have them in person with you. This is the first step to your relationship with any given coach! If a coach was able to come to the college showcase, thank them for coming to the game. Try to learn more information about the college program they represent, their interest in you as a player, and discuss about future official visits and possible scholarship opportunities. This conversation is hopefully for you to get an official college offer! If coaches were unable to make it to the games, that's okay! You can share any personal highlights from those games to help build up your portfolio.
In summary, college soccer showcases are a big opportunity for any soccer player to find a school for them if they're interested in pursuing soccer further. There are many different opportunities between high-school soccer, NCAA soccer, and professional soccer. Along with that, they each come with their own helpful benefits.
The specific college that is mentioned in the script is Texas A&M University. In the Texas A&M sports programs, there are at least 764 athletes that take place in at least one sport in the school, this is divided further to 396 men and 368 women. There is sports-related student aid available at Texas A&M College Station. The average award is around $16,302 per athlete. Breaking it down by gender, $17,897 is awarded to men and $14,586 is awarded to women (read more about The Gender Pay gap in the World History section of the website). Texas A&M's soccer program is great. The women's soccer team is made of 37 players that are guided and trained by a head coach and 3 assistant coaches. The women's soccer team has an academic progress rate of 989. So, for context, Texas A&M is a great college soccer program!
College Showcases
For more resources about college showcases and Texas A&M, check out these websites!
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