Misconceptions

Many people don't realize what it takes to play soccer and perform at a high enough level to be a decent player. The common, yet false, mental image of a soccer player is a person that is very weak and runs a lot. Most people don't think it takes any strength at all to play soccer, but these are the same people that have never played an actual intense game. Of course the average soccer player has to have fairly strong legs, which the occassional bystander would probably agree with because soccer players obviously have to be able to shoot, pass, and cross. A soccer player must also have exceptional core strength to be able to withstand hard attempts of opposing players trying to knock you off the ball. Some bystanders might agree with this, while others might have some scepticism. It's the last part that hardly anyone can understand besides soccer players themselves: A good soccer player has to have a strong upper body! What if "good" isn't quite good enough? To be a great soccer player, you must have an exceptionally strong upper body. I'm not talking about offensive linemen (football) strong, but I am talking about the same kind of strength as a great basketball player. This is the part where people that don't play soccer really start to lift some eyebrows and chuckle. But, believe it or not, soccer IS a contact sport and people DO get hurt. Soccer is the third most contact sport behind only football and hockey; and yes I did put it in front of basketball, which is a sport that seems to have a foul every 30 seconds. Soccer is a game full of action that goes on for two continuous 45 minute halves that requires tremendous cardiovascular and muscular strength.