My Visit To Men's Soccer Game (UCF)

The live sporting event that I chose to observe was the 2015 Woman’s Soccer Big West Conference championship game with Cal State Fullerton competing against Cal State Long Beach. The game took place on Sunday, November 8th at 1:00pm at Cal State Fullerton. This game is significant because it determines who wins the Big West and who qualifies for the NCAA tournament, so pressure on the players and intensity are very high. Throughout the game, I observed the game as a sport psychologist professional and observed the player’s and coach’s behaviors that relate to Sport Psychology. The three sport psychology concepts that were interpreted during the soccer match were: situational awareness, arousal regulation strategies, and reinforcements.

Living in United States for 17 years, I have spent roughly 13 years down in Florida. Besides elementary, I finished all my schooling in Florida. I always wanted to attend schools somewhere on the west coast where its quiet and not a lot of people. To experience all four seasons is definitely a plus, given that I grew up where summer is predominant throughout the year. But being brought up in an eastern cultural fashion, I didn’t want to stay too far from family. During my junior and senior years I chose USF-Tampa. Tampa is far enough from Miami where I can study without distractions of family, but also close enough in case of emergency.

With the blow of a whistle, practice comes to a grinding halt. Tired young men remove their helmets and gasp for air in the early-but-oppressive Florida summer. I gather with the rest of the coaching staff and together we prepare one of our final talks to the team before they battle in the Florida Gulf Coast Lacrosse League Championship game. In the six months leading to this final surge, myself and the other coaches have worked to instill four key traits into our players: teamwork, dedication, integrity, and respect. It is these four qualities, we believe, that will allow them to develop a fifth quality, technical competence, and take them to the top of their sport. More importantly, it is these four traits that we believe will transform them into mature young men and prepare them for the rigors of life off of the field.

It was a cold day in November: an icy breeze blowing across a green soccer pitch in Jackson, Mississippi. Fans along the sideline cheering on the Jackson Elite FC. I took the field feeling the pressure of gameday bearing down like i had weights on my shoulders. This was the first time I had every started as a forward in a soccer game. The referee brings the ball to midfield and sets it down. I hear my parents cheering from the sidelines. The opposing team kicks off and the game is on.

My boyfriend and his family, who were all born in Peru, invited me to the USA vs Peru soccer game. Peru and the USA’s records were tied, both having two wins and two losses. The result of the game would break the tie and put one team on top. His family has a very strong sense of Peruvian pride and so they were very happy and excited to be going to the game. It was a normal hot day in September when we arrived at the stadium. We wanted to get into the stadium as soon as possible and find our seats so that we could settle in and watch the players warm up. My boyfriend and his family were all wearing Peruvian jerseys and I was wearing a t-shirt that said Peru. The game began and everything was going normally. There were supporters of Peru and of the USA sitting around us. About 10 minutes into the second half of the game, three lady’s supporting the Peruvian team arrived to the

“Go Spartans Go!” screamed the crowd as we took the field. I felt nervous, with sweat dripping from my face and my hands feeling moist. The moment I took my position, I felt destined to be the best player on the field and thought to myself, “I can do it.” It was my first start for my career as a varsity soccer player for Brookfield East. I wanted to make every opportunity count. I could smell the scent of the freshly cut grass and the aroma of the concession stand. The referee blew his whistle and we were off to the races. The first 45 minutes went by in a heartbeat and I was exhausted. 5 minutes after halftime, the unthinkable happened. As I was sprinting for the ball, my knee gave out and twisted beneath me. I fell in an instant and I felt

With thousands paying all attention to you, this is the perfect place to open up a world of change to so many people. Moreover, some also say it isn’t their place, however, this is very much their place. The football event wouldn’t have happened without the players. On the other hand, people who’ve done this in the past have been given an unreasonable and unfair punishment. As humans, if we choose to speak up, there is no viable reason as to why people are punished for using the rights we’ve been

My place of observation was the USM baseball field, known as Towers Field on the Gorham campus where the USM baseball team was taking on Wheaton college at 1pm on Sunday, April 17, 2016. The field can be found behind Philippi Hall at the far end of campus near the softball field and turf field where many other sports are played. The space consists of two dugouts, one field, a press box and a bunch of spectator seating. There’s a patch of grass dividing the baseball and softball fields where many people stand, watch the game and sometimes barbecue. The press box sits at the front, facing the field up behind home plate and the spectator seating is in front of home plate and spans around to the dugouts. The home team can be found on the

U-15 team camp will continue to play a major role in my life. I expected team camp to be a magical time,therefore, I would build new friendships and learn valuable skills to help my soccer career excel. However, it was a challenge to change my teammate's minds with a gorgeous goal. The soccer field was covered in dew, due to the mid-August humidity. As I sat down to stretch, I realized everyone was staring at me. I thought the glares were because I was new to the team. However, I neglected to realize what they truly meant. No one believed was deserving to play for such an elite team, as I was only an eighth grader and they were all about to start their journey to high school. This made my stomach turn and I began to go haywire. I knew they

It was our first game in Disney coach gave us his usual pep talk," I have five soccer rules run hard.play hard,shoot hard,obey the refs,and have fun," but this time it was different it didn't seem as if coach actually meant it ,he was staring at the other team the whole warm up time. I think he was nervous that we were going to lose this game which made me doughtfull of the whole team. I was pepping my team up while I heard coach check out of the hotel room on his phone because if we lost we would go home. I took the field all the parents were going wild on the sidelines except for one my dad he said," I don't need to cheer you on, champions know how to cheer there selves on." I took my position and then the whistle blew every time that whistle

The shouting and cheering from the crowd, student sections, and band fills the Frankfort High School gym. The Lebanon boys basketball team had just began their warm up when I found a seat near the top bleachers. I started to look upon the crowd scanning the fans sitting in the bleachers. One specific lady caught my eye. She was covered in blue and white, Frankfort’s school colors. This woman clapped and cheered as the Frankfort boys team began their warm up. During the warm up, this lady sat and talked with people around her. She seemed to always be smiling and chatting with everyone. Twenty minutes later the teams were ready for tip off. This lady was looking a little anxious, but excited. As Frankfort scored the basket, this woman leaped

I kick the ball and position myself to kick the ball again but before I can a girl from my team comes and takes it away, and before she can kick it a girl slides and tackles her. Now the other team gets a corner kick. At the same time on the bench I can hear coach yelling at the top of his lungs to get on the 18 and to look out for the corner and to not forget the girl from the other team behind me. Next to coach I see a girl telling him that his pick for formation is extremely intelligent and that his coaching is superb. The girl from the other team kicks the ball. It’s a goal. The goal keeper just turns to us and said “you were supposed to prevent that” and follows it up by rolling her eyes and says “if you are not going to block that then why are you even playing”.

The referee blew his whistle and shouted “CAPTAINSSS”, not long after, the starting 11 players which I was not a part of at the time took their positions on the field. “Brett-breet-breet” as the referee acknowledged the start of the game. I cheered on my team mates with extreme pride, although I began to look down on myself for being benched for most of the game. At the time I did not understand why I was being benched, I attended all soccer practices, games and any events yet still didn't get much playing time. The referee blew the half time whistle and the score had still been at a tie 0-0.

Last night my travels took me to Carlisle, Ohio to watch the hometown Indians host the Eaton Eagles. This was my first trip to Carlisle and it would mark the first time since the 2015 season, that I have watched the Indians. I would be seeing the Eagles for the first time ever.

I clap my hands with the other thousands of fans, and my hands feel greasy from the slice of pizza I just finished eating. My mouth still has the tangy, saucy taste of pizza. I look down towards the field where the players are lining up in their formations. Their brightly colored uniforms stand out in the glare of the stadium lights. The field has a fresh mowed look, and the screens are bright as the North Star. As the lady starts to sing the National Anthem, the crowd falls do a dead silent, placing their hands on their chest and mouthing the words along with her. The mass of people standing in the arena look as if they are mannequins strategically placed for a photo. The lady finishes singing and the crowd resumes their jet like roaring. A man walks in front of me, as he walks by a get a whiff of his cheap cologne mixed with stale beer and cigarette smoke. Lucky to be me this man makes his way around to his seat that is directly to my right. After the first ten minutes the smell was almost unnoticeable. The game comes to an end most of the crowd wearing smiles and giggling like school girls, as if they had won the game themselves. Few others scream and pout as they waddle down the stairs to their cars. The noise has decreased greatly giving my ears a rest. The noise is now down to a dull roar, like a spring breeze blowing around leafs. My feet and hands ache from being pounded for nearly three hours. Passing the restrooms, a filthy smell flies through