I tried joining in with a casual soccer team for the first time yesterday. I told everyone in no uncertain terms that I was a complete beginner, had never played, didn’t even know the rules, and they said it was fine… I joined in some short drills, and then they asked if I’d join in a short game as an extra person. And I just made a total fool of myself. I tried to follow my team members instructions, but really the only thing I managed to do, besides looking clueless, was score a couple of penalties for my team by doing something wrong.
I feel so embarrassed…but I’m also still interested in trying again and learning more.
My question to sports-team players is, how much of an annoyance is it to have someone who is really bad try and join in practices and games? Even if it’s just for fun, does it throw off the vibe of the game if someone on your team is screwing up, or at best being unhelpful? Is “complete beginners welcome” really true?
There happens to be a different pick-up game happening tomorrow which I was also thinking about joining, but after seeing just how horrible I actually am, now I’m wondering whether I should go or not. So just wanted to ask someone out there!
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Everyone started somewhere, and there will always be people who get annoyed at every slight inconvenience, but if you said you are new & they said it’s okay then I wouldn’t worry!
If they have specified it’s a specific skill range before hand that’s understandable, but they welcomed you.
You could study the game in your free time so you at least have a modicum of knowledge about what you’re doing.
if they said they didn’t mind, and you’re doing what you want to do, i’d say keep doing what you’re doing. time is on your side, and being bad at something is the first step to being good at something. if anyone in the future does say something, you’re simply new to the sport, and if they continue being negative, it says way more about them than it does about you.. so keep doing you
embarassment is the cost of entry. if you aren’t willing to look like a foolish beginner, you’ll never become a graceful master
as a coach HUGE YES but i shouldn’t be coaching teams with complete beginners anyways
You didn’t say what their reaction was to you being a beginner. So you got penalties. That is part of learning. (Everyone gets penalties.) Hopefully they gave you useful feedback. Yes, go to another pickup game and another and another. You’ll learn the game and, I hope, have fun along the way.
Soccer is a REALLY tough sport to jump in as a beginner. Even most casual players played as a kid and have some modicum of basic ball skills.
It’s just a really hard sport to jump into cold- even if you’re a good athlete.
Bro I play on semi pro teams were players who come out have never ever played and some that haven’t played in years. Who cares as long as you are having fun it’s ok. Everybody gotta start somewhere
Not sure whether it is a thing where you are as assume you are from the US by using the s word rather than football. But find a bigger club with different teams at skill levels and work up?
That is how it is done in Europe. In my experience, nobody questions the skill level as long as you put the effort in. Well done and keep it up, you will find your level
Unless you persevere your not going to get better, also if they don’t want you, they won’t ask
I don’t understand why you’d join a sport (as an adult) without having any clue as to the rules?
I know literally zero about cricket so as a result there’s no way I’d wander onto a cricket pitch and ask to join without figuring out what the hell is going on.
As a player that would annoy me more than your beginner’s skill level.