Soccer / Football;
Soccer is one such sport, where it can be played outdoor, outdoor with an organized team, or even indoors at a gymnasium. All of these styles offer different levels of competition and fun for individuals who enjoy playing the game. Which best suits you will depend on your preferences and experience level.
If you would like to play soccer competitively and regularly, then joining a local outdoor soccer league might be for you. There are outdoor leagues available throughout the country which all offer some form of structure and regulation within their teams while still offering flexibility that allows players to meet up on their own time. These types of teams typically compete against other teams in the area throughout the seasons and consistently place in the top teams to move up divisions and compete against tougher competition. Teams usually practice once or twice a week while also playing outdoor games on Sundays, depending on the league and city.
Outdoor Games
To play outdoor soccer competitively, you will probably need your own outdoor shoes, pinnies (which denote which team you are on) as well as outdoor game balls for each game. Other equipment you might need includes shin guards, outdoor cleats or rubber-soled shoes, a ball pump to inflate the game balls before each match), athletic tape for injuries, sunscreen to protect yourself from sunburns during outdoor games (and practice sessions). If you decide to join an organized outdoor soccer league where there is potential to play outdoor games, you should consider investing in these items.
If outdoor soccer isn’t for you and you would like to try playing without the pressures of a league, outdoor soccer is still an option! You can just meet up with some friends or teammates and schedule your own outdoor scrimmages whenever you’d like. Simply choose a location that has ample space and decide on a time each week (or day) where everyone can meet up and play soccer. This type of outdoor game is extremely informal and allows everyone involved to have control over their schedule while also enjoying the benefits of playing outdoor games with other people who are passionate about the sport!
You don’t need too much equipment to play outdoor games with friends either. A ball pump to inflate outdoor game balls (or any outdoor ball), outdoor shoes, pinnies, and sunscreen are all you should need to get started.
If neither outdoor soccer nor outdoor scrimmages sound like something you’d like to try, then joining an indoor soccer team might be for you! Indoor soccer can range from weekday evening leagues at a gymnasium (where the rules of soccer change slightly and games last half as long) to weekend tournaments where everyone stays in a hotel together. To play indoor games competitively, all you will need is what you would wear for outdoor games: athletic shoes or rubber-soled shoes, shin guards, cleats, tape, and sunscreen.
Indoor Games
You can always join an indoor league if it suits your schedule, but there are also plenty of outdoor tournaments held every year that you can sign up for as well. If you enjoy playing outdoor soccer, but none of the above options seem to fit into your schedule then outdoor tournaments will be perfect for you! There are outdoor tournaments all across the country which range from big international ones where thousands of people play to more casual ones with a few dozen competitors. Tournaments usually run over a weekend and include matches throughout these two days at different fields or locations.
If you want to enter a tournament, make sure to know the rules. Some outdoor tournaments require teams to consist of players at specific skill levels while others allow anyone who would like to enter. Outdoor tournaments usually have entry fees associated with them although these fees often cover outdoor game balls and outdoor referees which means you will just need to bring yourself and your teammates!
Once you know the rules, find some friends who want to join a team with you and start planning an outdoor soccer tournament on your own. The process of organizing outdoor games (or tournaments) might seem daunting at first but it is extremely rewarding once everything comes together! Start by deciding on a date for the outdoor event, where everyone can meet up (most outdoor leagues or tournaments take place outside so make sure there isn’t rain in the forecast), what kind of outdoor games you would like to play (touch or keep-away) and how many teams or players would be involved. Once all these factors are decided upon, send out invitations