Soccer Stories: Are you competitive?
Updated: Jul. 16, 2019
Last game, we were short the players who usually score. We still held our own without them, despite losing only
Last game, we were short the players who usually score. We still held our own without them, despite losing only 1-0. After that goal, the other team’s players girdled the net. With less than 10 minutes left, I was on the sidelines, and one of our midfielders was bringing the ball up past half-field. I screamed: ‘Just go for it yourself! Run it up to the net and shoot!’ Some of my teammates turned to me in shock. ‘That sounded a little competitive”
Really? Me, competitive? I tend to not like aggressive personalities: they can alienate people, cut themselves short by not looking at the big picture and can often seem rude. I’ve been dropped from a soccer team or two because the players were cutthroat; I wasn’t up to their skill level. So I’ve always looked to this sport for fun’or so I thought. Perhaps I am competitive.
But being competitive has its benefits:
‘ A recent study published in the research journal Sex Roles founds that women who were competitive to surpass personal goals showed higher self-esteem. This same study however, found that women who competed to win and beat others often felt lonely and depressed.
‘ Being competitive can motivate you to stay active, because you get enjoyment out of the challenge, if you’re playing the best sport for you.
‘ Competitive fitness activities, such as team sports like hockey for example, make you accountable to your teammates.
‘ Sure, fun should be part of the picture, but research says you’ll be more effective at a skill if you’re competitive about it than if you merely enjoy doing the activity.
So how do you prefer to stay fit: on a competitive sport or group fitness classes or on your own?
The key to fulfilling any physical goal (whether it’s to run a certain distance or lose so much weight) or committing to a fitness/sports program is making sure that it’s the right activity for you. Take our quick quiz to find out if you’re competitive.
Related articles:
‘ The pros and cons of smaller races
‘ 5K running plan
‘ "I became an athlete (and lost 75 pounds)."
