Soccer is one of the most popularly played sports worldwide, supported by billions of fans. The goal of the sport is to kick the ball in the goal. Anderson High School contributes to this fan base and popularity with their very own girls soccer team.
The AHS girls soccer team began playing for the 2024-2025 season on August 21, 2024. They’ve won two of their games so far this season. They plan to achieve better than their last season stats, and they’ve most definitely done so thus far.
Although to some soccer is just a sport, it represents a deeper meaning to players and coaches. The game can serve as a way to follow of footsteps of someone a person looks up to, and even as a particular way for someone to help another find a passion by teaching them theirs. Soccer can teach a person about who they are, what fashion of work/play ethic corresponds to them best, and even how to better the way they affect the people around them.
“To me it’s enjoyment, it’s excitement. It’s called the beautiful game for a reason because it’s beautiful and it’s played the way it’s meant to be played. It’s inclusive.” “The biggest thing that got me into coaching was my love for the game. I first started helping coach 2 years after I graduated. I just wanted to make sure that kids here had a perspective. Versus from someone who was a motivator but just didn’t understand the game.” “There’s so many other things at play, and as times go on, more and more young people have their attention what everybody’s thinking and viewing them. Instead of just thinking your goal is to play the game to the best of your ability, not what everybody’s going to see it as. I didn’t understand how much it (soccer) would transform how I view life. Sports bring so much more about who you are. A good coach sets the tone, and lets you begin to understand that you need to help yourself accountable because very few athletes are going to go on professionally, but they all are going to go on and live their lives. That develops character because what it is that you do and how you do it when no one’s watching dictates who you are. The fruits of your lack of effort will definitely show through. So many people who watch just see the finished product, they don’t see the hours upon hours upon hours that people put in behind the scenes. I’m trying to help, be more personal with players but sometimes it’s difficult because I’m coaching girls, being a male. I treat them as if they’re my own daughters but I’m trying to be more connective with my players in a professional manner. “stated girls soccer coach Mr. Boggs.
“It’s a way I can express myself differently. It’s very stress relieving for me, I can do it and not have to worry about school or anything else.” “My sister has been playing for her entire life. She’s always been very good at soccer. In her senior year, I was a freshman and she begged me to come and play and I ended up loving it.” “Soccer has taught me that you need to treat everyone like fairly and like family. When you’re on a team, you realize that just because you guys might not get along off the field, on the field you still have to get along. They’re your family and you stand up for them no matter what. I’m still working on the simple things, like passes, but something mentally is trying not to overthink all the time. I believe that we’re going to have more wins than ever. In the past ten years, we’ve never won more than two games. Our team differs from everyone else because our entire team started out as new players. None of us really had any experience and we had to start from the bottom up. Other teams, they’re able to afford to play club soccer and afford the outside school training, and a lot of our girls, including me, can’t afford that. We have to put in ten times the amount of work, just to even get half of what they do. expressed player Adriana Quiroz.
Though some might disagree, women’s soccer actually doesn’t differ much from men’s soccer. The goal is the same, the players train the same way, and even the stats are measured in the same fashion. Though the fan base popularity and media coverage might be the only differences between the two versions of the sport. This very thing has led to a common misogynistic stigma to stick to the phrase ‘women’s soccer’. This stigma is often used as a way to attack the physical capabilities of a woman playing soccer.
“Even in high school, we have to face, kids around the school talking about how the boys soccer team is so good, but it just makes you want to push yourself to make it known that girls soccer is important too. Especially looking into social media, only the boys soccer is ever seen, but girls soccer needs to be represented and hopefully, one day, we can get the representation we need.” Quiroz explained.
“Just because there’s certain genetic differences, a professional man would not be able to compete with a professional woman. Though, that’s why I try to get my girls to go play with the guys, though I understand it’s difficult being accepted and I tell them ‘don’t see yourself as less than’. I try to get the girls to understand that I’m not going to have different expectations, I’m not going to lower the bar just because you’re ladies because it’s an injustice. Hold yourself to high standards. I don’t expect you to play soft or play weak. But otherwise, it’s the same game, you play the same ball, at the same time, you play with the same rules.” Boggs mentioned.
The staff and students at AHS are most definitely proud to have our girls soccer team represent our school out on the field. We can’t wait too see what great things they have in store for this season. Go Indians!
