Intramural Soccer Shows Promise

There is a sport that is not only played but is also known as a way of life and religion in many other parts of the world. Soccer, known around the world as the “beautiful game,” is not just a sport to many societies but a way of life. When the World Cup is played more than half the world stops; towns, cities and even countries shut down and when major European club’s play their cities stop to watch, “When Manchester United and Liverpool collide, those two cities shut down for the game”(sportsinsociety.blogspot.com).
Alright, so Franklin Pierce Intramural Soccer isn't exactly Manchester United vs. Liverpool but it still has a lot of good competition and it also show's promise and proof that the game of soccer is growing in America. Having been a soccer fan my whole life and taking part in the intramural league myself I have been impressed with the competition. There are a lot of Pierce soccer players taking part in the league form both the girls and boys side which is good because it allows for friends who are playing with them to learn more about the game. Having said that, there are plenty of decent players who are playing just to kick the ball around. Sure they might not be as skilled as the Pierce players are but their understanding of the game is impressive.
I have been around the game of soccer for a very young age. Growing up through the 90's till now it's impressive to see how much the sport of soccer has grown in the past 10-15 years. In playing intramurals I have seen that the skill of the average high school/ travel club players is a lot better than where it used to be. But it's really the tactical side of the game that has impressed me with intramurals. Growing up through the 90' (as we all did) there was a lot of what they call "kick and chase" soccer. Which is basically kick the ball down the field and run after it. They also used to call it "complete crap, American Soccer" and it's true, it was crap. Unfortunately it was coached a lot because most average recreation and club soccer coaches though that was the way it was suppose to be played. But that can't be further from the truth. Soccer is a game of patience and possession, and it's also a game where you have to know how to how to position yourself in that exact moment on the field.
This is what has been impressive while watching/playing intramural soccer. People aren't playing the old "kick and chase" game. The sport has finally seemed to have grown enough where your average person who has played soccer at some point in their life knows that the ball needs to be possessed and worked around the field in order for something good to happen. In ways they know when/where to position their selves on the field and when to transition quickly or slow it down. Granted there are some people who don't have any idea what they're doing but all around it's decent and it shows that my generation and the generation below are the ones who are really starting to take the game to a new level and starting to grasp the true ideas behind the game. The past 10 years have been really exciting for the game of soccer and it is continuing to grow in America as it is currently the most played recreational sport in the United States. It is very exciting to be playing intramural soccer and noticing that the "beautiful game" is starting to become beautiful in American society.