It may just seem that there is nothing more to soccer than a ball and a goal. However, there is something much bigger lying just beneath the surface: myths and stereotypes that follow Woodbridge High soccer players. Infamous or not, these rumors play a significant role in how soccer is perceived.

Small silly myths or stereotypes can stir up more than just sideline talk; they can actually be very harmful to players’ athletic identity and may even dim their love for the sport.

So this story will lace up its cleats to step into the pitch of misconceptions and kick out untrue rumors. Behind every myth is a player whose passion deserves the chance to shine.

One of the more famous stereotypes following all soccer players is the one of faking injuries.

“Some soccer myths might be that players fake injuries and the game is really soft, I think these are untrue as it is easy to pull a muscle or just get hurt,” junior Adam Tiomkin.
Tiomkin addresses a much more serious issue at hand, not being taken seriously.

Players face constant unique challenges of having to prove that soccer requires just as much grit as any other sport. Soccer requires a lot of physically taxing defense and contact with other players.

The idea that players might fake injuries or that the game is not as intense as it seems may lead to players not getting the attention needed when they have an injury.

This may give players the idea that they must play through injury to not play into the misconception of being soft or weak. Injuries already create obstacles for players physically and by dismissing their legitimacy adds to the unnecessary emotional toll.

To prevent this from happening, students should treat soccer as seriously as it is to actually play the game. Some smaller myths have also circulated Woodbridge High.

“Forwards are the best players or that most soccer players are dramatic and have a big ego” junior Michaela Sein said.

Although these myths are less known, they are still harmful. By saying that only a certain position matters reduces the team’s dynamic and dismisses the hard work all players put in. All players work equally hard regardless of position.

“Most soccer players are dramatic and have a big ego,” Sein said.

Judging student athletes’ attitudes off of the sport that they play hinders their own identities of how they perceive themselves. Sein adds that some soccer players can exaggerate their injuries.

While yes, some soccer players may be a bit dramatic when it comes to game injuries, Woodbridge High soccer players do not fake injuries.

“I think another stereotype is that it’s a really slow game because it’s a low-scoring game but I think this is entirely untrue,” senior Vani Sharma said.

Between all of the running, players filling different jobs and the techniques required, soccer is by no means a slow sport. While many at first may be quick to judge because of the low scores, upon closer look, soccer is actually very quickly paced.

“I think it’s just like any other sport to be honest because it’s all about finding the right angles to make a good pass, which is pretty true for sports like [American] football and basketball,” Sharma said.

“Stereotypes have affected my team by making it so that less people come to our games…there’s just less hype around soccer because it’s a supposedly slow game, but it’s not,” Sharma said.

The stereotypes circulating around school bring up a much more important issue, which is one of isolation. These myths isolate people from supporting others just off of something they heard from one place or another.

There are many rumors surrounding the global sport, some true, some not. One thing is for certain: the love of the game. No stereotype or misconception can overshadow the passion that the players pour into every match, practice and moment on the field.

At its core, soccer is composed of players and fans celebrating the skill and determination to bring this sport to life.

“I love the way soccer brings people together and builds relationships, the way it pressures people to try their hardest and the way it makes teamwork a necessity.

I love how soccer is a team sport, meaning that one person can’t take a team on by themselves. I love the thrilling sensations within the game and its unpredictable outcomes,” junior Brandon Koo said.

Myths come and go, but the spirit of the game will always shine through.