So, when your Mom who somehow has two email addresses yet isn’t really an “email person” says you should update your blog, you should probably update your blog.
I actually have a few post topics lined up, but just haven’t been able to sit down to put them down. Also, I seem to have misplaced my notebook, which has the list of things I plan to cover, making a true update session not quite doable right now. However, I figured I’d finish where I left off and write a bit more about soccer.
As I said before, these Porteñitos are good. The kids with whom we play tend not to be all that big, especially because a lot of the kids with whom we work don’t have the best nutrition, but they are skilled and play with passion and toughness. I’m disappointed with the dearth of bicycle kicks (although the field is concrete, in their defense), but that’s cool. Having been abused for four scores while in goal last week, I guess I’m not really one in a position to criticize.
What’s so interesting about thinking about playing soccer for me is that it sometimes feels like the most foreign thing I’ve encountered while in
On the one hand, it’s kind of like a lot of other sports in that the first thing you can be slightly competent at is defense. If you play with energy and stay in the face of your opponent, you can usually make a difference. While I don’t quite know how to receive a pass, have good footwork, or, how do you say, kick the ball with any accuracy, I can make things hard for offensive players.
Also, like with other sports, you have to figure out how to make decisions on whom to cover on fast break (I don’t know the soccer term) situations and anticipate where the ball is going. For me, it’s kind of like reverse-engineering the Steve Nash Effect, except I’m slightly less than world class in both sports.
The major departure for me is having to use my feet not solely for movement, but as my primary weapon. I’m 23 and still figuring out hand-eye coordination… foot-eye coordination is tougher.
All in all, I still think the sport is great, and I think I’m finally going to make a go at playing with some Argentine adults. If my stealing of the ball from the kid they call “Maradona” during a drill is any indication, I’ll be lining as an MLS alternate practice squad substitute any day now, so I might as well have some international tips to bring back. Yeah, I’m pumped for stealing the ball from a 14 year old. Who’s about 5 inches shorter than I am. And likely less than half my weight. But a steal’s a steal. And for the record, I didn’t JUST crowd him, even if it was a major part of my strategy.
Also, I took a ball to the face once last week and once yesterday. Awesome.
I hope to have more updates in the coming days.
