Soccer in Portland
Posted by Mark Sullivan on Sunday, April 17, 2011
Under: Soccer
The soccer world in Portland is pretty interesting. You get a lot of different skills levels. Normally, at pick up games, most of the players are honestly "not that good," as compared to what I'm used to. But there are many indoor leagues (since it's Portland and it rains so much), which can be pretty competitive. I'm in one league right now at Portland Indoor, and the team is "stacked" with some pretty good players - I actually feel pretty average on the team, though I think the captain thinks I'm young and quick. But I'm 30 - I don't really see that as very young. Anyway, I do usually have the most energy at the end of the game.
In the last indoor game, we were down 5-2 with about 3 minutes left, and then we scored two quick goals. I assisted on one of them, so I had a lot of adrenaline by the time we were down 5-4. With about 10 seconds left, I got the ball about half field (which, in indoor, is definitely within "shooting range," or about 20 yards out). I calmed down, focused, looked up at the goal, put my head down, and ripped a shot with pretty good pace. But it landed about 1-2 feet away from the corner of the goal, and bounced back out. Even though I missed, I was still proud of myself for taking a pretty decent shot under pressure. I think it's easy to just try to hit it too hard and goof it up; but I didn't - I used all my adrenaline, and calmed it down, and took a decent effort.
Sometimes I watch those UEFA Champions League/Premiership games, and when I see those great players take shots, they always find "time" in high pressure situation, usually with multiple defenders surrounding them. But them manage to do all of the things I described above in order to take a good shot. It almost seems like taking shots is more focusing the mind on what you need to accomplish, rather than any brute force or power thing. It's more related to self-confidence, believing in yourself, and striking it and knowing at the same time that it's going to be a good shot. I remember one British announcer once said after a player took a great shot, "He hit it with power, confidence, and BELIEF." It was the belief that always struck me.
In the last indoor game, we were down 5-2 with about 3 minutes left, and then we scored two quick goals. I assisted on one of them, so I had a lot of adrenaline by the time we were down 5-4. With about 10 seconds left, I got the ball about half field (which, in indoor, is definitely within "shooting range," or about 20 yards out). I calmed down, focused, looked up at the goal, put my head down, and ripped a shot with pretty good pace. But it landed about 1-2 feet away from the corner of the goal, and bounced back out. Even though I missed, I was still proud of myself for taking a pretty decent shot under pressure. I think it's easy to just try to hit it too hard and goof it up; but I didn't - I used all my adrenaline, and calmed it down, and took a decent effort.
Sometimes I watch those UEFA Champions League/Premiership games, and when I see those great players take shots, they always find "time" in high pressure situation, usually with multiple defenders surrounding them. But them manage to do all of the things I described above in order to take a good shot. It almost seems like taking shots is more focusing the mind on what you need to accomplish, rather than any brute force or power thing. It's more related to self-confidence, believing in yourself, and striking it and knowing at the same time that it's going to be a good shot. I remember one British announcer once said after a player took a great shot, "He hit it with power, confidence, and BELIEF." It was the belief that always struck me.
In : Soccer