My Two Favorite Things About Soccer

     Of course there is abundant parts that make it the number one sport played in the world, but here are a couple of my absolute favorite things to the sport:
     In soccer there is always room for improvement, because you will never be able to always give perfects passes, get a goal every time you shoot the ball, or even always do every play perfectly. But that is why I love soccer. Since there is always room for improvement, I am able to set long or short term goals for myself in soccer and once I reach those goal I am able to see what a difference it made. Also this means that not every player is the same. Every player has there weak and strong point, but that is why it is a team sport. Your teammates can cover your weaknesses while you do the same for you
     This brings me to my next favorite thing about soccer, your team. Like I said in my last post ,"Your team has your back". Over the soccer season or seasons that you play with you teammates you become closer and closer. You hang out with your team off of the field. During tournaments you go everywhere with them, you go to dinner and lunch with them, you usually share hotel rooms, and you stay up all night hanging out with them or running up and down the halls of the hotel. My team does fundraisers, and during the fundraisers we hangout and it usually ends with a sleepover. The games are a very small part of soccer, because those connection you make with your teammate off the field decide how well your team plays together, and whether you win or loss. The better you know your teammates the easier it is to tell what they are going to do.
     Soccer has millions of other props but these two are my favorite.

Truth Behind Soccer

     People think the soccer is just a game, but like all other sports there is more to it. 

     Soccer build you physically. You become stronger from all the workouts and practices. You build endurance to be able play a whole 90 minute game with full energy. You become faster from all the sprints and running.

     Soccer is also alot of self control, you learn how to let the ball hit you in the right place at the right time for it to fall straight down to your feet. You learn how to keep the ball close to you as you run, but still be able to run at full speed. 

    Comittement is a huge part of soccer, because you spend hour practiceing the same trick over and over again until you can do it perfectly at full speed. But you also have to commit to the hours of practices and game, and constantly be trying your hardest because everyone is counting on you.

     The most important thing in soccer is accepting that your team will become your family and closest friends. Soccer is not one person defending the goal and at the same time getting goals, it is a team effort. On the field everyone has a job and you have to trust them to do their best to do their jobs, but at the same time you have to give it you all so that your team trust you. You learn that they will always have your back and support you to do your best. On the field you also have to get over all the drama or tension between player on your team because you need them and they need you. 

     Soccer builds charater, trust, team work, and keeps you fit. When you are not at practice, games, or tournaments, the soccer player in you shows. It could be the way you walk, talk, or treat others, but soccer leave a mark on every player.

2 Key To Become a Better Soccer Player

Dribbling the ball is one of the most important keys to soccer. Everything you do with a soccer ball will improve as you get better at soccer.  When dribbling the ball you want to have it close enough to you to be able to put your foot on it at any second. If someone is trying to get the ball away from you from the side it is best to keep the ball on the foot farthest away from the attacker, this way it is easier to protect the ball. To get better at dribbling the ball you can:

• Practice running with the ball and both a slow and fast( when running with the ball try kicking it every step so that you can get more touches on the ball)
•  Do drill like dribbling through cones 
•  At home walk around your house dribbling it where ever you go

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Trapping the ball can help you to keep the ball under control. When you receive a pass to the foot or any other part of your body make sure to relax your muscles as it hits you. If you do this the ball will not bounce off of you and go far away. As you trap the ball it is important to make it go the direction you plan on taking it, this way you are able receive the ball and go. Being good at trapping the ball can help you control the ball. Some ways to practice trapping is by:

• Finding a wall and passing the ball against it to yourself  
• Have a friend pass the ball back and forth with you( focus on trapping the ball the most)
•   Have someone toss the ball in the air and practice trapping it with your chest , stomach, or inside thigh

The best way to improve your ball control is to dribble or practice doing tricks. Every touch you get with a soccer ball improves your skills but practicing moving the ball with the different parts of your feet can make the biggest difference. Juggling the ball with your foot, knee, and head can also improve your ball control. This will also improve your trapping skills. These are not the only keys to soccer, but they are the ones I find most helpful to be really goods at and I hope you will too!

Carlie Ann Lloyd

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       Carli Ann Lloyd is a midfielder for the US Women’s National Team. She is 5-8 and was born July 16, 1982 in Delran, New Jersey. Carli’s boyfriend is named Brian. She attended Rutgers University and want to Delran High School where she played soccer. Carli is known for her amazing ball control and long distance shots. Lloyd has been playing soccer since she was five and has not stopped. Now she is the top scoring mid on the US Women’s Team.

       October 1, 2006 she got her first goal for the WNT against the Chinese Taipei. In the 2007 Algarve Cup Carli Lloyd earned tournament top scorer and MVP. In 2008 Carli was named Female Athlete of the Year, and was the second women to earn the Native Son Award from Philadelphia Sports Winters Association. Last year she was the hero of the 2012 Olympic gold medal game against Japan, when she got two goals. In that same year she was named 2012 Glamour Women of the Year.  Carli Lloyd was named the Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni. She is the third- leading scorer for the US Women’s Team. 

     Carli Lloyd has a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and Sport Studies. Lloyd loves relaxing on the beach or shopping. She also enjoys getting golf lessons from her boyfriend, Brian. Back in her hometown she has an ice cream named after her, the Carli’s Cake Batter Cookie Dough Kick. Her favorite shows are Game of Thrones,  Shameless, Boardwalk Empire, and Homeland.  

Stephanie Lopez Cox

     Stephanie Lopez Cox is a defender on the U.S Women’s National team. She is known for being two footed, being able to kick the ball good with either foot, and for her calmness when possessing the ball. Stephanie also, though she plays defender, she has assisted or cause many goals for her team. Cox was born April 3, 2986 in Los Gatos, but her home town is Elk Grove. At 5.6ft she is one of the best header on her team. Stephanie got married to a baseball player, Brain Cox, in December 2007. She went to Elk Grove High school where she graduated with a 4.17 GPA, then attended the University of Portland. Stephanie Lopez Cox has played for the U.S Women’s team for 6 years, starting over half of the games.

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     While Stephanie played on the Youth National Team she was the team captain. She had her first appearance on the U.S. on March 13, 2005, the game was against Denmark. At that time she was the youngest player on the team and technically could still be playing for collage. This same year she helped her team to win the NCAA Championship 4-0. In 2007 at the Oregon Sports Awards she was named the Bill Hayward Female Amateur Athlete of the year. Cox has been a Gold medalist since 2008, when her team won the Olympics.

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     Outside of soccer Stephanie Cox played basketball in high school. In her extra time, usually during winter, she will cook and watch movies with her husband. She also does charity work with Nike and other companies. Stephanie likes to read and play soccer racquetball. Some of her team mates describe her as one of the happiest and nicest on the team. Cox is inspired by striving to help other and growing in every way possible, she is a great role model for everyone.