I believe this game was from Feb. 22, 2007. The University vs. Midway rivalry has existed for many many years. At time it has gotten very ugly, specially up on the stands. On the field the game has always been intense.
Players collide with each other, there is pulling and pushing and lots of trash talking among the players. Too many parents and others on the stands have no understanding of the use of the body in a soccer game. They see a player protecting the ball with his arms extended and start yelling for the player to be carded. On a clean shoulder tackle they want the player called for pushing.
They want every pull of the jersey called and the play stopped. Not understanding of the referees decision to allow the play to continue so that the player with the ball does not lose the advantage. Most fouls are committed with the intent to frustrate the opponent, not to injure him.
Every goal has its hero's. The sad part is that everyone wants to blame the goalie for allowing the ball to go past him. By the time the ball gets to the goalie it has gone through 10 other players that should have been playing defense. I have always admired the goalies. They have to be acrobats,
mind reader, planners, and a wall.
I love seeing the attackers going one-on-one, sometimes one-on-two. They go from full speed to a complete stop then redirect the ball and go back to full speed.
And then there is the one-on-one with the goalie. The advantage goes to the attacker who can see the goal. The goalie has to make a split second decision whether to come out and
challenge the attacker or hang back defending the goal and hoping that the defender will catch up with the attacker.
The best part of this game was seeing some of the Midway players (winner of this game) go and comfort the University players. Most of these kids play together on select teams or in the adult soccer league. It wasn't just the formal and expected slapping of hands at the end of every game.
It was real gestures of sportsmanship. Yes, that was the best part of the game. No sore losers and no arrogant winners. Two teams had played a very hard and intense game of soccer and both could go home knowing they had given their best effort.
Now if only the parents could learn from the kids and behave in the same manner as these extremely
talented boys. I love soccer.
Players collide with each other, there is pulling and pushing and lots of trash talking among the players. Too many parents and others on the stands have no understanding of the use of the body in a soccer game. They see a player protecting the ball with his arms extended and start yelling for the player to be carded. On a clean shoulder tackle they want the player called for pushing.
They want every pull of the jersey called and the play stopped. Not understanding of the referees decision to allow the play to continue so that the player with the ball does not lose the advantage. Most fouls are committed with the intent to frustrate the opponent, not to injure him.
Every goal has its hero's. The sad part is that everyone wants to blame the goalie for allowing the ball to go past him. By the time the ball gets to the goalie it has gone through 10 other players that should have been playing defense. I have always admired the goalies. They have to be acrobats, mind reader, planners, and a wall.
I love seeing the attackers going one-on-one, sometimes one-on-two. They go from full speed to a complete stop then redirect the ball and go back to full speed.
And then there is the one-on-one with the goalie. The advantage goes to the attacker who can see the goal. The goalie has to make a split second decision whether to come out and challenge the attacker or hang back defending the goal and hoping that the defender will catch up with the attacker.
The best part of this game was seeing some of the Midway players (winner of this game) go and comfort the University players. Most of these kids play together on select teams or in the adult soccer league. It wasn't just the formal and expected slapping of hands at the end of every game.
It was real gestures of sportsmanship. Yes, that was the best part of the game. No sore losers and no arrogant winners. Two teams had played a very hard and intense game of soccer and both could go home knowing they had given their best effort.
Now if only the parents could learn from the kids and behave in the same manner as these extremely talented boys. I love soccer.
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