Those who have played competitive soccer know that it is not just an extracurricular activity, it is a lifestyle. No one quite understands what it is like to endure the endless practices, constant hunger, and never-ending traveling like the dedicated players on competitive teams.
1. Turf beads. Turf beads everywhere.
You even find those little rubber chips in your underwear. And I know during half time that you pile them up in your hands or on your legs, don't deny it.
2. You have weird tan lines the entire year.
The only places that are actually tan are our knees and forearms.
3. The most nervous you have ever been was during a PK shootout.
May the odds be ever in your favor.
4. The most frustrated you have ever been was when your team hit the cross bar 1,000 times, but never scored.
The "Soccer Gods" just don't want you to win today, sorry.
5, The most anxious you have ever been was at practice after a bad game and your coach says, "Get on the line."
You might as well prepare to condition the whole practice.
6. You dread the stairs after conditioning.
Equivalent to climbing Mt. Everest.
7. Your least favorite person is the referee.
"I SWEAR I didn't push her! I had my hands up!"
8. Then when you become a referee and understand their pain...
"Ma'am, they are six years old. I think you need to calm down."
9. You practice the art of "flopping" in your free time.
It really is a strategic art form.
10. You carb load 24/7.
"I'll burn it off later."
11. During the season, you don't have time to do anything else.
"I can't, I have practice."
12. People give you strange looks because you have turf burn and bruises on 50 percent of your body.
It's even worse if you are a goalkeeper.
13. You have taken at least one of these pictures in your life:
And you probably went to prom with your teammates, too.
14. You have also attempted to take at least one artsy photo with your team.
From experience: it doesn't always look this cool.
15. You have a second family: your team.
There is no one quite like them. There is no one you'd rather endure conditioning with or eat large amounts of food with. Whether you guys win or lose, you are a team, and there's no one you'd rather play with.
