Football
| Football plays a huge part of many people's lives in the UK either as participant or observer and often both. I have to confess that for many years I couldn't see the attraction of the game and as none of my friends seemed interested in it I had no opportunity to develop understanding or interest. However, I have recently been forced to reconsider this sport as my daughter is now training in an under-12s team and I have also been going to Conference South matches to see my friend's son playing. Surprise, surprise I really enjoy myself! Better late than never is all I can say in my defence. I will leave it up to others to draw out the benefits of involvement in football as a player or supporter but I did find some interesting links to stories that show that many people are aware of the power of this occupation so please read and comment (while I slink away in shame at my ignorance ;-) First is a story about football being used to improve health, self-esteem and social skills in young boys Second an article about the blind football league And last an article about young people learning about football and health at Aston Villa So why do you think football promotes health and wellbeing? |
posted by Rayya Ghul at Friday, February 24, 2006
Comments on "Football"
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Anonymous said ... (5:06 pm, March 28, 2006) :
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Rayya Ghul said ... (7:53 pm, March 28, 2006) :
post a commentI've played or followed football to varying degrees since the age of 8 or 9. For a couple of years my sundays consisted of; watching my brother play in a pub league, all beer bellies and bravado, then watching my nephew play in the under 12s, all beleiving that one day they can be a Beckham or Owen (not that the pub league players didn't) and then just having time for a social kick about with some friends before retiring to the pub for the "big match" on the tv. Football has been a major and meaningful occupation for most of my life and I think that is because of the breadth of involvement it allows at so many levels, I found this quote which I think sums up what it means to so many people.
SOCCER from a column in the newspaper La República in Costa Rica: "Soccer is not the sport of Costa Ricans. It is the motor of their existence. Soccer in Costa Rica is escape, pastime, purification, ecstasy, mania, bread, and necessary illusion. And since ours is a people frustrated in many areas, it seeks in soccer the consummation of its longings, the kingdom of happiness, success."
Hello Julie and welcome to the blog! That is a wonderful quote about Costa Rican football - it really sums up the many layers of meaning that an occupation can have.