Soccer Literacy: Becoming a Better Soccer Player - Essay Example

Soccer Literacy: Becoming a Better Soccer Player Since my early age, I have always loved playing soccer. Indeed, when I was growing up I experienced different sporting activities. Basketball, American Football, Soccer, and Lawn tennis were prominent sports in my neighborhood. However, I realized my growing interest and talent in soccer even before joining elementary school. Notably, most people in my community adored American Football. The idea of mixing soccer and studies has been challenging yet interesting for my career. Indeed, in most cases I have had trouble in establishing a balance between the two. Today, my community regards me as a better soccer player. I can trace my perfection in soccer to good mentorship, talent, and consistent practice. This narrative will demonstrate just how mentorship, talent, exposure, and practice can cause a player to become a better soccer player. My parents and I realized my talent and interest in soccer at the most crucial time that allowed for dedicated training, support, and perfection of my skills. My parents usually narrate to me how I had immense love for soccer balls at a tender age, which played a major part in convincing them that I may have a talent and interest in soccer. My parents bought me several soccer balls and I would even try to make some using polythene papers. At two years of age, I was already gazing a pictures of people playing soccer and kicking balls in my room where soccer balls were some of the toys that I loved. While I was joining kindergarten my parents informed my teachers about my love for soccer where the teachers helped me to nature my talent from an early age. When I gained the capacity to read, I demonstrated my interest in soccer by reading soccer magazines and identifying with popular soccer players. My colleagues at the elementary school nicknamed me Ronaldo. I zeroed in on captivating soccer pullouts, hung magazines, and newspaper cuttings related to soccer in my small room. My parents supported my quest by buying me soccer magazines. With time, I started practicing some of the soccer skills defined in the soccer magazines. The soccer magazines enhanced my knowledge on playing skills, soccer literacy, and detailed information on soccer as a professional sport. I learnt about coaches, rules, players, levels of competition, financial benefits, physical benefits, and FIFA from the soccer magazines. I have been practicing the lessons derived from the soccer magazines in my entire life, which has helped me to perfect my soccer knowledge and skills. Ever since I realized my dream and talent, I started watching soccer matches, training sessions, and analysis on television. Indeed, my father had to join me in watching soccer matches, training sessions, and analysis, which displayed how soccer players were perfecting and using their skills to advance in their career. Moreover, I have also been going to soccer stadiums in my locality to watch live soccer matches. Indeed, the live experience is always fantastic. The fans, players, goals, tackle, coaches, and refereeing in soccer stadiums have always encouraged me to pursue my talent and become a better soccer player. In addition, I have also been playing soccer games on my PlayStation with the latest FIFA version. My friends and I have been competing on the PlayStation for long, which has enhanced my soccer literacy and competition mentality. Notably, the mentorship that I have been receiving from my uncle is very fundamental. My uncle is also a soccer lover and trainer. Upon realizing that I have a talent and interest in soccer, my uncle nurtured me by offering to perfect my skills in his academy. Indeed, my uncle has a soccer academy that trains young players on soccer skills. My uncle encouraged me to join the academy during the holidays where I trained and perfected some soccer skills like dribbling. Sir Fergusson has been my hero where I adored how he nurtured young talents to perfection. When I met him at my uncle’s academy after his retirement from Manchester United, I learnt how coaches and players develop a winning mentality as seen during his successful tenure at one of the greatest soccer clubs in the world. Sir Fergusson also taught us how soccer on soccer advancements and the need for soccer players to identify with the advancements. Specifically, Cristiano Ronaldo is my role model. I have always loved the way he plays, his unique skills, winning mentality, and physical fitness. As such, I seek to reach his level of playing by practicing and playing good soccer. Indeed, I train with other soccer players at home and school. Upon joining high school, I never believed that I would play for the school team. However, my uncle and friends convinced me to register and join the school’s training session. After attending the training, the school’s soccer coach approached me and advised on how to perfect my young talent. I trained hard and got a chance to play for the school team as a substitute in one of the friendlies where I showed my prowess. Since then, I joined my high school soccer team as a striker and scored 52 goals during my high school days. While playing for the school team, I learnt how to maintain my physical fitness through various physical activities, the need for teamwork, and professionalism in sports. Indeed, we used to train for 3 hours every day, signed contract, and played with different teams that helped in perfecting my soccer skills. During my tenure, various soccer scouts visited our training grounds and attended our matches with the hope of identifying young talents. Luckily, during the finals of the high school games where I scored the winning goal, soccer scouts from my university offered me a sponsorship to join the university subject to my soccer skills. As such, though I had the required academic qualifications, I joined my university courtesy of good soccer skills. At the university, I have learnt that different levels of soccer have different training methods, objectives, professionalism, and expectations. This has enhanced my soccer literacy and helped me to become a better soccer player. It is thus clear that mentorship, talent, exposure, and practice can cause a player to become a better soccer player. Read More