More like Xavi, less like Scholesy.
March 20, 2012 10:28 AM Subscribe
I need help staying calm and relaxed on the soccer pitch, but still play assertive. How do I reach that balanced zen?
I've been playing soccer for about 3 years. I started off in a fairly relaxed co-ed adult league that accepts all skill levels, doesn't allow tackling, and is really focused on having fun and not winning. I really like this league but it's only one game a week and I wanted to improve my skills/get more touches, so I joined an indoor women's team that's meant for beginners, but I really couldn't imagine a beginner surviving a game in the league. It's fairly competitive and physical. I'm a defender, which might be part of the problem.
Two of our most recent indoor games were probably overly physical, though the refs didn't call as many fouls as they should. I know soccer is a physical sport, but there is definitely a line of what's acceptable and what's not. I really try to stay on the acceptable side - I know you have to muscle your way to get the ball and block the opponent, but that doesn't mean grabbing them, throwing elbows, or late kicks. Both of my recent games where I could tell I was losing my cool and playing recklessly. I don't want to be that kind of player, but it's really hard when you're getting hacked in the ankles and knees or getting slammed into the boards.
The final straw was last night when the woman I was marking snapped at me when I was marking her backfield. She was clearly rumbled and angry. We had been playing a cat and mouse game all night with me marking her and things were pretty rough and we were both fouling one another. I felt it was as "she's dishing it out, so I have to as well" situation. After she told me not to touch her again in a threatening tone I backed off somewhat, realized that it wasn't worth it. I tried to apologize but that just pissed her off more.
I think my hurdle right now is staying composed and stringing together different skills and improving my play. I know tend to panic. I also know when inexperienced players panic they often do stupid things, like foul their opponents. I also know when players get frustrated they do stupid things, like bad passes and cheap fouls.
How can I mentally reset myself in the game so I don't go down that path? I really don't want to be one of those players. I want to be tough and assertive, but not menacing. What can I do to help maintain a level of composure throughout the game so that it doesn't boil over and I need a mental reset? I don't want to totally mentally check out or play like I don't care at all, but I guess I need to detach a little.
TLDR: What can I do to stay calm when I play soccer but still effectively defend?
I've been playing soccer for about 3 years. I started off in a fairly relaxed co-ed adult league that accepts all skill levels, doesn't allow tackling, and is really focused on having fun and not winning. I really like this league but it's only one game a week and I wanted to improve my skills/get more touches, so I joined an indoor women's team that's meant for beginners, but I really couldn't imagine a beginner surviving a game in the league. It's fairly competitive and physical. I'm a defender, which might be part of the problem.
Two of our most recent indoor games were probably overly physical, though the refs didn't call as many fouls as they should. I know soccer is a physical sport, but there is definitely a line of what's acceptable and what's not. I really try to stay on the acceptable side - I know you have to muscle your way to get the ball and block the opponent, but that doesn't mean grabbing them, throwing elbows, or late kicks. Both of my recent games where I could tell I was losing my cool and playing recklessly. I don't want to be that kind of player, but it's really hard when you're getting hacked in the ankles and knees or getting slammed into the boards.
The final straw was last night when the woman I was marking snapped at me when I was marking her backfield. She was clearly rumbled and angry. We had been playing a cat and mouse game all night with me marking her and things were pretty rough and we were both fouling one another. I felt it was as "she's dishing it out, so I have to as well" situation. After she told me not to touch her again in a threatening tone I backed off somewhat, realized that it wasn't worth it. I tried to apologize but that just pissed her off more.
I think my hurdle right now is staying composed and stringing together different skills and improving my play. I know tend to panic. I also know when inexperienced players panic they often do stupid things, like foul their opponents. I also know when players get frustrated they do stupid things, like bad passes and cheap fouls.
How can I mentally reset myself in the game so I don't go down that path? I really don't want to be one of those players. I want to be tough and assertive, but not menacing. What can I do to help maintain a level of composure throughout the game so that it doesn't boil over and I need a mental reset? I don't want to totally mentally check out or play like I don't care at all, but I guess I need to detach a little.
TLDR: What can I do to stay calm when I play soccer but still effectively defend?
Watch some professional league games on TV. Really. See how defenders position themselves and mark different people and try to emmulate that. You really don't have to be on top of a player the whole game to effectively defend. You should know where to position yourself to intercept passes, prevent breakaways, and when you step up to pull someone offsides.
Understanding the speed and skill of the person you are defending and adjusting your tactics accordingly is important. If you are faster, you can give them a bit more spce. If they are faster, you need to find where to position yourself relative to the play of the game to compensate.
If your method of marking is to be less than an arms length from the person all the time and using the body all the time, then you are missing taking a more strategic view of the play on the field. Containment and shielding is just as important, or more so, than tackling (body bumps, foot tackles and slide tackles).
And on tackling, it should be containment, then capitalizing on mistakes you force them to make versus sticking your foot in all the time.
If you are getting you legs hacked all the time, then you aren't shielding effectively. Adjusting the way you position your body can make a big difference.
It's not always about get the ball, get the ball, get the ball all the time.
posted by rich at 11:26 AM on March 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Understanding the speed and skill of the person you are defending and adjusting your tactics accordingly is important. If you are faster, you can give them a bit more spce. If they are faster, you need to find where to position yourself relative to the play of the game to compensate.
If your method of marking is to be less than an arms length from the person all the time and using the body all the time, then you are missing taking a more strategic view of the play on the field. Containment and shielding is just as important, or more so, than tackling (body bumps, foot tackles and slide tackles).
And on tackling, it should be containment, then capitalizing on mistakes you force them to make versus sticking your foot in all the time.
If you are getting you legs hacked all the time, then you aren't shielding effectively. Adjusting the way you position your body can make a big difference.
It's not always about get the ball, get the ball, get the ball all the time.
posted by rich at 11:26 AM on March 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Sometimes people are more receptive to apologies after the game is over. Many have a sort of "leave the bad feeling on the pitch" philosophy.
I would suggest you mix in some pick-up play, if you don't already, because you'll have time to develop skills under less pressure and see how the game can be played in a more relaxed manner.
posted by galaksit at 11:35 AM on March 20, 2012
I would suggest you mix in some pick-up play, if you don't already, because you'll have time to develop skills under less pressure and see how the game can be played in a more relaxed manner.
posted by galaksit at 11:35 AM on March 20, 2012
I've been playing soccer for almost 20 years, internationally as a teenager. All of this is only learned through experience. It sounds to me, though, like at least part of this is that you don't really feel like you have the kind of control you need and are a little afraid of physical play. Here's the thing, though, the ref is always the limiting factor. If you're not getting called and you're not trying to hurt someone, then it's okay to play as physically as you can in a competitive game.
How do you not loose your cool? Until you learn to control it, sub out. You should only be on the field for about 5 minutes at a time in indoor soccer anyway, so rotate out and cool down. If you're playing recklessly you're not playing well.
About your example, it's hard to tell without details, but it sounds to me like you were locking horns and you had her beat and were in her head as long as you weren't getting called the whole time... until you apologized. If you made a sloppy foul it's great to help someone up and say, "my bad," or whatever, but don't apologize for how you're playing! At that moment, you gave her the advantage. You even admit as much when you say you backed off.
That said, if you don't like the league, find another one.
posted by cmoj at 12:20 PM on March 20, 2012
How do you not loose your cool? Until you learn to control it, sub out. You should only be on the field for about 5 minutes at a time in indoor soccer anyway, so rotate out and cool down. If you're playing recklessly you're not playing well.
About your example, it's hard to tell without details, but it sounds to me like you were locking horns and you had her beat and were in her head as long as you weren't getting called the whole time... until you apologized. If you made a sloppy foul it's great to help someone up and say, "my bad," or whatever, but don't apologize for how you're playing! At that moment, you gave her the advantage. You even admit as much when you say you backed off.
That said, if you don't like the league, find another one.
posted by cmoj at 12:20 PM on March 20, 2012
If you're getting hacked and kicked, and fouls aren't being called, then the ref is falling down on their job. You do have the option of falling over in "agony" clutching the affected limb, which may help curtail the behavior. You also have the option of talking calmly to the ref at full-time, half-time or a break in the play. If you don't get a satisfactory response or if it continues from game to game, then yes, find another league.
Here's the thing: you, your team-mates, the other team's members are never going to be professionals. You're playing for fun. If you lose your cool, you ruin the game for yourself, and your team-mates. I absolutely hate it when a team-mate loses their cool. It's childish and taking the game way more seriously than it needs to be. With that said, I think most who do, do so because they brought it onto the pitch with them, not because of the game situation. Mentally it helps me account for what they're doing and I can feel sorry for them rather than get angry at them.
Two questions I keep in mind: Is it really worth a broken leg or whatever to win a game? Has any ref ever responded positively to someone losing their cool or talking back?
In my league we play one team that is constantly mouthing off, taunting, and being more physical than they need to be. Everyone hates playing that team. When we play them, I have to work at just walking away. I'll sometimes joke with the un-obnoxious members of the other team about their team-mate in order to make it clear that their behavior is out of order. In all my games, I will always apologize immediately if I think I've fouled anyone even if it wasn't called. I always check on people if they've been injured, fallen, or been fouled by a team-mate, not necessarily immediately, but as we pass each other on the field, or at half-time.
I think others are right about the skills too. Of my team (since I'm the oldest), I'm probably the most patient. I can often make an opposing team member stop in their tracks without even getting close to them. If there's something that distinguishes Xavi and Barcelona (per your title), it's patience.
Indoor just is more frenetic. As a practical matter, sub yourself out.
posted by idb at 3:24 PM on March 20, 2012
Here's the thing: you, your team-mates, the other team's members are never going to be professionals. You're playing for fun. If you lose your cool, you ruin the game for yourself, and your team-mates. I absolutely hate it when a team-mate loses their cool. It's childish and taking the game way more seriously than it needs to be. With that said, I think most who do, do so because they brought it onto the pitch with them, not because of the game situation. Mentally it helps me account for what they're doing and I can feel sorry for them rather than get angry at them.
Two questions I keep in mind: Is it really worth a broken leg or whatever to win a game? Has any ref ever responded positively to someone losing their cool or talking back?
In my league we play one team that is constantly mouthing off, taunting, and being more physical than they need to be. Everyone hates playing that team. When we play them, I have to work at just walking away. I'll sometimes joke with the un-obnoxious members of the other team about their team-mate in order to make it clear that their behavior is out of order. In all my games, I will always apologize immediately if I think I've fouled anyone even if it wasn't called. I always check on people if they've been injured, fallen, or been fouled by a team-mate, not necessarily immediately, but as we pass each other on the field, or at half-time.
I think others are right about the skills too. Of my team (since I'm the oldest), I'm probably the most patient. I can often make an opposing team member stop in their tracks without even getting close to them. If there's something that distinguishes Xavi and Barcelona (per your title), it's patience.
Indoor just is more frenetic. As a practical matter, sub yourself out.
posted by idb at 3:24 PM on March 20, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks for the feedback. Tactically, I understand my limitations as a player. I'm not fast but I can read a play pretty well. I think it really breaks down for me when the person I'm marking starts getting a bad attitude. I feed on it and I hate it. I try subbing off when we have subs, but my team is usually short players so that's not always an option.
Any tips of taking a quick breath and regrouping indoor, rather than the panic long kick down the field? I know when I actually do something right, it's a huge morale booster and it helps relax me on the field, but I can't seem to turn that switch on at will.
I'm definitely going to look into joining a different league on weeknights, or maybe pickup since the seasons have turned.
Thanks!
posted by kendrak at 6:12 PM on March 20, 2012
Any tips of taking a quick breath and regrouping indoor, rather than the panic long kick down the field? I know when I actually do something right, it's a huge morale booster and it helps relax me on the field, but I can't seem to turn that switch on at will.
I'm definitely going to look into joining a different league on weeknights, or maybe pickup since the seasons have turned.
Thanks!
posted by kendrak at 6:12 PM on March 20, 2012
If the player your marking gets a bad attitude, I agree with idb/cmoj - you are probably doing a good job of stiffling them. Ignore their words, as they are just trying to get into your head. If you say anything,, say "whatever" unless you DO commit an bad foul, then offer a hand and apologize, but don't go any less hard.
As for the panic long kick down the field - that is where I was going with the shielding topic. Hold the ball, keep your side/shoulder/back to the opponent. When they commit to taking you on one side, roll/turn to the opposite side.
You always have the option of trying to kick the ball against them so it bounces out of bounds and you get the throw-in (and effectively a break in the action/pressure), but it's not always a sure thing the call with go your way.
posted by rich at 6:17 AM on March 21, 2012
As for the panic long kick down the field - that is where I was going with the shielding topic. Hold the ball, keep your side/shoulder/back to the opponent. When they commit to taking you on one side, roll/turn to the opposite side.
You always have the option of trying to kick the ball against them so it bounces out of bounds and you get the throw-in (and effectively a break in the action/pressure), but it's not always a sure thing the call with go your way.
posted by rich at 6:17 AM on March 21, 2012
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