The next blog features Ryan, a PT in our State College Office. He has chosen soccer as his favorite outdoor activity. With the finals of the World Cup going on this weekend, it is a perfect time for a blog about soccer!
"One of my favorite activities is soccer. Soccer has always been a part of my life during my early years growing up. We used to spend a lot of family time on weekends at games and sometimes traveling to tournaments in the summer. It is something I hope to be able to share with my friends and family as I continue to get older."
A Sport For All Ages.
"One thing I really enjoy is that almost all age levels can participate to some degree in kicking the ball or moving the ball around to score a goal. And many skill levels can have fun together with structured or unstructured play. There are many youth programs available for all levels."
Sign up for youth soccer is usually in July and/or August in most areas so if you would like your kids to join in on the fun, act fast! Here is a comprehensive list of some of the local youth soccer clubs: Centre Soccer, Bellefonte Soccer, Penn United Soccer Academy, Soccer Shots, Altoona Soccer, Hollidaysburg Soccer. If you do not find a soccer club for your local area on our list, then please go to US Youth Soccer Club Directory to search for a club near you.
There are also many adult leagues that you can join! Go here to find a club in Central PA. It doesn’t matter what level you are, there is a club for you!
But what if you don’t want to or don’t have time to join a league? You can enjoy kicking the ball around with your friends and family in your backyard or at a local park. That’s the great thing about soccer: as long as you have a ball, soccer can be enjoyed anywhere!
Beneficial for Endurance and Fitness.
"Soccer is very beneficial, cardiovascularly, for endurance and fitness as you are constantly moving and the game never really stops for long. I sometimes do not enjoy running for distance, depending on the day, but I can run with a soccer ball for the same amount of time and have more fun." Soccer also helps improve coordination and balance. It is a sport that elevates general fitness of all who plays it.
Keeps Your Mind Sharp.
"Soccer, like many sports, requires strategic planning and fore thought to implement plays or move the ball down the field, which helps keep the mind sharp." Soccer, like many sports, improves problem solving skills and memory. Soccer achieves this with ball handling skills, set plays, and structure.
Structure.
"The basic rules of the game are fairly simple: don't use your hands (unless you're the goal keeper inside the box), keep the ball in bounds, and put the ball in the net... The rules are structured, yet there is a flow to the game where the ball keeps moving and the team moves as one unit together like one giant free-style dance."
Excitement.
"Like many sports there are varying levels of structure versus flare during a game. The passing and set plays are often structured, but how the play comes together can oftentimes be very dramatic with improvisation happening on the fly. A free kick after a penalty is a set play with "structure" where the players line up in pre-specified spots, but once they start running under the flight of the ball with the bumping of players into one another alters the play and "flare" is often created. This leads to spectacular acrobatic scoring."
You can enjoy live matches during a fun filled weekend vacation with your friends and family! Local professional teams include: Pittsburgh River Hounds (United Soccer League), Philadelphia Union (Major League Soccer), D.C. United (Major League Soccer).
The international governing body of soccer (football) is FIFA, and they have some great resources. There is a FIFA 11 Warmup designed to lessen injuries of soccer players. These types of resources are developed through the FIFA Medical Network. Please go to our blog for further reading and check out our website to learn more about Atlas Physical Therapy.
