Can a runner be a soccer player? (Read 2009 times)

I think my ankles are weak and because of that, I have trouble with outdoor soccer due to uneven surfaces. My feet hurt terribly after playing outside. Maybe if I played outside on a regular basis I would gain some strength in my ankles at least and I would not have so much pain with it.

I'm browsing some threads trying to get a feel for the site, and wanted to suggest that you consider doing some cross training on a BOSU. You can do many variations of squats, lunges, jogging in place, etc., all of which will strengthen your ankles and the soft tissues of your lower legs. It's the best I know to help in that area. (Not to mention it is much more fun to do squats and lunges using a BOSU than just on the floor!)

I'm browsing some threads trying to get a feel for the site, and wanted to suggest that you consider doing some cross training on a BOSU. You can do many variations of squats, lunges, jogging in place, etc., all of which will strengthen your ankles and the soft tissues of your lower legs. It's the best I know to help in that area. (Not to mention it is much more fun to do squats and lunges using a BOSU than just on the floor!)

I've had the worse luck with squats. From the few times I've rolled my ankles I have a lot pain with doing squats. It took until recently to get full motion back in my one ankle. Lunges I've done a little bit of, and I often forget about including them in my workouts. But I'll start, and I'll look into other ankle strengthening workouts as well.

^so what's the final score? and what would be the final score if your keeper hadn't been so heroic?

I love soccer (futbol), but my skillz ain't as great as my passion for the game so I was relegated to being a defender. Although both involve running, soccer is more demanding than running, mostly because there are a lot of lateral movements requiring muscles you never use when running.

Really? We always put our weakest players at forward because a mistake by a forward just means a lost scoring opportunity. A mistake by a defender means you're pulling the ball out of the back of your net, so don't belittle the position. I'll admit I'm biased because I have a son who plays defender in college for a D1 school. I have had the same problem after playing softball. It seems like a pretty lazy game, but there is a lot of lateral movement, and you do a lot of standing around/sprint stuff that you don't do while running. Besides, the other suggestions, just keep playing. Your muscles will eventually adapt, and you'll be overall in better physical condition because of it. Although they're younger, I coach a number of runners who also play soccer. I just make sure I count their soccer time against their total running time for the week. A midfielder gets in a bunch of running during a game or practice.

I thought of this thread last week after a rough game. One player rolled an ankle (she ended up on crutches for a week), another popped his calf muscle (he's still limping around), and another has an ongoing sports hernia he still plays with and he was all gimpy afterwards. NONE of those people are runners, and none of those people warmed up or stretched. BUT...it had me a little nervous that game wondering if I was going to be next with an injury.

Because playing soccer in the rain would make the ball disgustingly heavy and would take 28.63 times the effort to kick it the same distance when it isn't raining.

Soccer is great! Playing for years. I think running makes you a better footballer more so than football making you a better runner. Its a great social sport. Running can be a lonesome old sport however much you love it. I look forward to my weekly game.