American Historical Association

“Hi Malcolm, I’m Coach Spear, and I’d like you to consider playing soccer at Davidson.” I had played the “beautiful” game of soccer for as long as I could remember, starting in an organized league at the age of three to be exact. An invitation to play as a team member in a highly regarded college soccer program was the culmination of hundreds of league games, dozens of travel tournaments, and too many practices to count. The idea of attending such a prestigious college and having the opportunity…

Soccer is the best sport in the world because it is played all over the world by every different culture. For some countries, it is at the heart of their everyday life. In many parts of the world, you are either a fan of soccer or you play soccer. Soccer has also grown dramatically in the United States over the past decade. Soccer is clearly recognized all over the world as the best sport to play and watch. Soccer is the best sport in the world because it is played worldwide.…

The 2012 FIFA World Cup was held in Brazil, a country that lives and breathes soccer. Therefore, one would be surprised to know that the people of this country were outraged with hosting the 2012 World Cup. There was an outbreak of riots in the slums of Brazil due to the amount of money the country spent, but did not have, on the magnificent event. In an episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, he informs his audience on the issues regarding FIFA. John Oliver successfully informs his…

From the time I was six years old, soccer consumed my life. I started at a recreational level, advanced to a competitive division, and eventually on to high school. I’ve put countless hours into learning the game. I never thought my soccer career would include coaching until one summer when two friends and I signed up to coach a recreational soccer team of nine year-old girls. Initially, I thought it would be a cakewalk, my previous coaches managed my teammates and I with ease. I soon realized…

Dribbling is the act of bouncing the ball off the floor with one hand. Initially, movement with the ball was restricted to passing as players were limited by the original thirteen rules. Experimentation by players led to the idea of dribbling as it did not violate these rules and allowed players to advance with the ball (Frazier, et al., 1998, p.38). Dribbling was seen as a way to further increase the pace of the game and help the offence avoid defensive pressures. Once officially adopted,…

Growing up my grandmother would always say I was the most stubborn child she had ever met. While this may have been an exaggeration, I definitely prefer to have my way when it comes to certain tasks. Up until this past year, I played soccer competitively. When playing soccer, like any other team sport, it is important to be open to constructive criticism. Each team member is a piece of a formula, which when done correctly can equal success. I play left midfield in soccer, being on an outer wing…

Pele was born in Três Corações, Brazil on Oct 23, 1940. His full name is Edson Arantes de Nascimento. He was the first child of João Ramos and Dona Celeste. Pele was named after Thomas Edison he moved with his family to the city of Bauru as a young boy. Joao Ramos, better known as “Dondinho” struggled to earn the living as a soccer player, and Pele grew up in poverty. Still he developed a rudimentary talent for soccer by kicking a rolled-up sock stuffed with rags around the streets of Bauru.…

The Ball at my Feet “I learned all about life with a ball at my feet.” These are the words of Ronaldinho, Brazilian soccer player, infamous for his technical ability and footwork on the field. I particularly identify with Ronaldinho’s words because I have learned many valuable lessons from soccer, which I still carry with me to this day. My experiences with soccer have made me into an excellent candidate for the Terry Fox scholarship award; as they shaped me into a person who is resilient, a…

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, born in Três Corações, Brazil on October 23, 1940. He is generally known as the Brazilian Football Forward, Pelé. Broadly respected to be the best player ever. In 1999, he was voted World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS). That same year, France Football asked their previous Ballon d'Or victors to pick the Football Player of the Century...Pelé was chosen. In 1999, Pelé was then chosen Athlete of the…

Soccer shaped who I am today and taught me the importance of working as a team. In Grade 10, I started playing club soccer for Vancouver United FC and also joined my school’s Varsity soccer team. At our club team, we practice and compete against elite teams across BC weekly. Throughout my soccer playing career with Vancouver United FC, both my teammates and coaches described me as a persistent and diligent player. With tenacity, I proudly earned the “Top Midfielder” award in 2015 and 2016. With…