I played at a very competitive level of flag football. Traveled all over the country. Finished very high in nationals and consistently ranked in the top 5 in the country. We did not have one soccer player or not did the top teams we were competing with at national...for the most part. Everyone that was in the top 5-10 were made up up of mostly ex-football and basketball players. Maybe a few really fast soccer players scattered across a few of the top ten teams, but the vast majority were Bball and football. If they were soccer players they were most likely on defense and most likely rushers.

 

So, basically the same types of body type. 5-10" to 6'2" longer limbs and wiry to ripped. That type of body can adjust with different sports demands. Soccer players are becoming more prevalent.

 

When did you play last?

Is this the ones that actually trip you or the ones that don't even touch you and you pretend it does with the equivalent of a sniper shot?!?! Then hold your shin and roll around on the ground writhing in pain...only to be up and running full speed again 60 seconds later?

 

The best US athletes don't play soccer and they never will.

 

Nobody has said that the best athletes play soccer. People are getting defensive at the "Real Man" type comments, or the inference that soccer players are somehow missing the alpha gene required to play football. I know a lot of my ex football teammates who were terrible athletes and played football for something to do and b/c they truly couldn't play any other sports that had actual tryouts. I know a lot of soccer players that would have been fine playing wide receiver, or in the secondary somewhere. They chose to play the sport that they felt they were better at. It doesn't make them inferior.

 

As for the rolling around on the ground, I'm with you. It was fun during indoor the first time somebody did that on one of my "fouls." I made sure that I truly fouled him the second time.

Nobody has said that the best athletes play soccer. People are getting defensive at the "Real Man" type comments, or the inference that soccer players are somehow missing the alpha gene required to play football. I know a lot of my ex football teammates who were terrible athletes and played football for something to do and b/c they truly couldn't play any other sports that had actual tryouts. I know a lot of soccer players that would have been fine playing wide receiver, or in the secondary somewhere. They chose to play the sport that they felt they were better at. It doesn't make them inferior.

 

As for the rolling around on the ground, I'm with you. It was fun during indoor the first time somebody did that on one of my "fouls." I made sure that I truly fouled him the second time.

 

Couple of things....

 

1) I referred to myself as "not a real man" or being scared to play football and chose soccer instead. My sons play football (a real sport)...I feel like I have the right to say what I feel.

 

2) if people are "defensive" they need to realize that it's a message board...they need to either grow thicker skin or quit reading.

 

Nobody has said that the best athletes play soccer. People are getting defensive at the "Real Man" type comments, or the inference that soccer players are somehow missing the alpha gene required to play football. I know a lot of my ex football teammates who were terrible athletes and played football for something to do and b/c they truly couldn't play any other sports that had actual tryouts. I know a lot of soccer players that would have been fine playing wide receiver, or in the secondary somewhere. They chose to play the sport that they felt they were better at. It doesn't make them inferior.

 

As for the rolling around on the ground, I'm with you. It was fun during indoor the first time somebody did that on one of my "fouls." I made sure that I truly fouled him the second time.

 

Agreed, comments like this are so funny, mostly from people who rarely attend soccer games. Nick Jacobs (CCH midfielder) finished 4th at the state track meet in the 110 hurdles as a junior. I'd say he's a pretty good athlete. Close to a third of the CCH soccer team is also on the track team in the spring. Massie is probably going to be a starter for the CCH bball team. Bryce Day is a high level swimmer for CCH. Some pretty good athletes that play soccer I'd say.

You'd have to ask them but Pitzer is from a football family but in general the cultural pull for kids to play football is pretty strong. Grant Beagle, receiver for Ryle, was on the same soccer team as Pitzer/Dressman. Good player, not great, but doing pretty well at football I believe.

 

This is what I was saying in one of my others posts. In general, the better all-around athletes tend to migrate away from soccer once they get a real taste of other sports. Kids that excel in soccer at an early age are way more likely to leave soccer and go play another sport than a kid that excels at another sport leaving that sport to go play soccer. The reason you can name countless soccer players (when they were younger) that went on to excel at another sports is because soccer gets to kids very early and if you're an athlete in the young soccer ranks, you are typically the better players. But those players tend to leave the sport when they realize they have the athleticism to excel at other sports. Soccer usually ends up with the kids that were fast and athletic, but tried other sports and didn't excel. So they went back to the sport they could be successful at.

 

I can tell you there are 3 seniors on HHS girls Bball team right now that played soccer at a young age. They haven't played since about the 6th grade. There is no doubt in my mind with a preseason to prepare for the season, they could very easily earn starting spots on their high school soccer team. They are amongst the most athletic in their class, but chose to pursue basketball and softball for one of the others.

So, basically the same types of body type. 5-10" to 6'2" longer limbs and wiry to ripped. That type of body can adjust with different sports demands. Soccer players are becoming more prevalent.

 

When did you play last?

 

I quit playing about 5 years ago.

I played at a very competitive level of flag football. Traveled all over the country. Finished very high in nationals and consistently ranked in the top 5 in the country. We did not have one soccer player or not did the top teams we were competing with at national...for the most part. Everyone that was in the top 5-10 were made up up of mostly ex-football and basketball players. Maybe a few really fast soccer players scattered across a few of the top ten teams, but the vast majority were Bball and football. If they were soccer players they were most likely on defense and most likely rushers.

 

Watch your mouth young man!:taz:

I quit playing about 5 years ago.

 

That surprises me that more soccer players weren't around that recently.

This tells me soccer players are really fast, along with a lot of other athletes. But we already knew that you need to be fast to play soccer. So crossing over to track isn't really that crazy right?

So, basically the same types of body type. 5-10" to 6'2" longer limbs and wiry to ripped. That type of body can adjust with different sports demands. Soccer players are becoming more prevalent.

 

When did you play last?

 

I've seen a few HS soccer games this year and I've seen a lot of kids that do not size up to those specs.

Had this discussion with another BGP'er a while back and he was able to point out a handful of pro players with larger frames. I'm still thinking if you took the NBA all stars and had them trained at an early age to play soccer, they would win the world cup going away.

This is what I was saying in one of my others posts. In general, the better all-around athletes tend to migrate away from soccer once they get a real taste of other sports. Kids that excel in soccer at an early age are way more likely to leave soccer and go play another sport than a kid that excels at another sport leaving that sport to go play soccer. The reason you can name countless soccer players (when they were younger) that went on to excel at another sports is because soccer gets to kids very early and if you're an athlete in the young soccer ranks, you are typically the better players. But those players tend to leave the sport when they realize they have the athleticism to excel at other sports. Soccer usually ends up with the kids that were fast and athletic, but tried other sports and didn't excel. So they went back to the sport they could be successful at.

 

I can tell you there are 3 seniors on HHS girls Bball team right now that played soccer at a young age. They haven't played since about the 6th grade. There is no doubt in my mind with a preseason to prepare for the season, they could very easily earn starting spots on their high school soccer team. They are amongst the most athletic in their class, but chose to pursue basketball and softball for one of the others.

 

This may be true to some extent but while they all were (and are) good athletes they were not the only good athletes on the team and others continued to play soccer and still do today. I'm merely pointing out a few good football players who used to play soccer. There are plenty still playing soccer who are very gifted athletically and excel at soccer and other sports. It's simply not true that the best athletes always leave to play other sports.

I've seen a few HS soccer games this year and I've seen a lot of kids that do not size up to those specs.

Had this discussion with another BGP'er a while back and he was able to point out a handful of pro players with larger frames. I'm still thinking if you took the NBA all stars and had them trained at an early age to play soccer, they would win the world cup going away.

 

I was talking about the body types that transition across all sports. Most of those players play either up top or in in the back on a soccer field.

 

As for NBA players, you don't need to go that high up. If you take kids that are playground all stars, but only get to like 5'9" or 5'10" (which every large inner city has 100s of) and had them playing soccer at a young age, US Soccer would be a top 5 power. No doubt.

I've seen a few HS soccer games this year and I've seen a lot of kids that do not size up to those specs.

Had this discussion with another BGP'er a while back and he was able to point out a handful of pro players with larger frames. I'm still thinking if you took the NBA all stars and had them trained at an early age to play soccer, they would win the world cup going away.

 

Very few pro soccer players over 6'-4" or so other than goalkeepers. Not sure Shaquille O'Neal would do too well running up and down a 110+ yard field for 45 minutes without a break.

This tells me soccer players are really fast, along with a lot of other athletes. But we already knew that you need to be fast to play soccer. So crossing over to track isn't really that crazy right?

 

No, crossing over to track is not that hard at all for soccer players. Plenty of spots for fast kids in almost any sport but being fast by itself will not gain you success in soccer at any sort of higher level for just that reason..........there are lots of fast kids and many of them have skills as well.

Watch your mouth young man!:taz:

 

No no no! Rushers for us on defense were just as important as QB on offense! All kinds of respect for rushers!!