The general schedule this week is we have practice 10:00-12:00, meeting 1:30-2:00 and practice 7:30-9:30 M-R this week. The first game is this Friday!
I was a bit nervous going into the first practice. Especially after hearing about the level of play some of these guys come from. But, I was able to respectably hold my own though I am not one of the better players. Realistically, I can tell already that I’ll be a reserve player.
The play is fast and intense. During a scrimmage at the end of the first session I took a wrist to the nose when I was doubling down on a forward (I say "forward" to keep it general, but in reality it was my good friend and apartment-mate, Joe ;) and came out bleeding. The trainer said it wasn’t broken but he did have to push it back into place. It was not intentional, Joe and I made up. Welcome to semi-pro.
It is great to play competitively again (not that Bloomington soccer is not competitive, but, it's not quite the same ;) and at a higher level than I‘ve played before. Even at the college level some guys come into pre-season a bit out of shape. Not here. Everybody’s fit and then some. A huge thanks to Perry Griffith my neighbor/trainer!!! The focus here is intense as well. Some of these guys make their living playing soccer. Each play, each touch matters and is taken seriously.
I was dead tired at the end of the day after the drills, scrimmages and fitness, but loved it.
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