1. Being so sore you can’t move… and liking it.
Seriously, who would enjoy being so stiff you have to waddle all day?! But it is pure satisfaction when you have worked so hard, standing up the next day is a struggle. Only an athlete with dedication to their craft would understand.
2. Forever having a shin guard/sock tan line
My shins will not tan, sunburn or get any color at all. I don’t know if it’s because of hundreds of hours in the sun with socks on has made that impossible or if I am so permanently white that I can’t absorb any color, but I blame it on the shin guards and socks.
3. Hating Running… and hearing “but you play soccer”
I hate running, and every time I say it I get the response “but you’re a soccer player.” People don’t get that there is a huge difference between running with purpose, beating a player the ball with forceful contact, and just running in a circle or up and down hills, with absolutely nothing to distract from the pain. Give me a ball and an opponent to battle with and then I’ll run my heart out.
4. Breaking pre wrap headbands
It takes great skill and a lifetime of practice to get the perfect sized and tied pre-wrap headband.
5. Spending a bit more to have cool colored pre-wrap
Who doesn’t want bright neon yellow pre-wrap or hot pink or red or blue? Have a little fun!
6. The 30 minute pre-game ritual
Always be there 30 minutes before the game. Why? The pregame ritual. Whatever gets you ready for a game, everything needs to be perfectly assembled. Put your shin guards on in exactly the right manner, so that they don’t slip. Tying and re-tying your shoes so they are tight, but not too tight. Not to mention taping and retaping injuries. And of course getting your headband just perfect.
7. That “Brand New Soccer Socks” feeling
They are so fluffy!! And they smell so good and you know that will not last, so you have to soak it all in in the first moment of pulling them on.
8. Sitting the bench… then being expected to run full out
I don’t know how much you have sat the bench in your lifetime, but it stinks. You’re sitting there in the pouring rain (or snow) doing everything you can to keep warm, because you’re not on the field running around. Then your coach calls you on, and your knees and legs are frozen, but you are the fresh legs and your team is counting on you. You will not let them down, not to mention this is your chance to prove yourself!
9. Really bad blisters, that you wished qualified as an injury
Blisters are without doubt the worst noninjury a soccer player could have. Our feet are everything. Our cleats are the most important piece of equipment to get right. If our feet are not 100% it will affect our performance, no matter how much we fight through the pain. So though blisters are not an injury, they can be just as damaging.
10. Think nothing but soccer for 4 months of the year... or more
During season soccer is everyday, even weekends! Don’t even think of making plans with a soccer player during season and sometimes even off season will be full of more soccer.
11. Braking in new cleats
Bringing it back to the blisters. But not even just that it takes a while to get used to a new pair of cleats. Everything is different, the way you kick, the stickiness (or non-stickiness) for you ball control is different. So if you are unfortunate enough to have to buy new cleats in the middle of season, may God be with you.
12. Playing hours of keepaway
Keepaway is a very fundamental drill that coaches love. It may come in different forms but the concept is the same. Any soccer player knows the feeling of endless keepaway.
13. Smelly Keeper hands
Here’s one for the keepers! Some of my very good friends are goalkeepers and believe me you want them to thoroughly wash their hands after practice. But if your keeper’s hands and gloves don’t reek of sweat then they did not work hard enough. It’s like if after practice your feet didn’t smell.
14. Permanent soccer smell in your car
Speaking of smell, you know for at least 3 months of the year your car/room will smell of soccer. The sweat, grass and blood all wrapped up in your soccer bag.
15. Your team is family, at least on the field
