The clock counts up instead of down, and it never stops.
There are two halves in the game with 45 minutes in each half. The second half will start at 45:01 and count up to 90:00. The clock runs through stoppages in play, celebrations, injuries, player substitutions and when the ball goes out of bounds. The referees keep track of these elements and will indicate at the end of each half how much additional playing time is left in the game–similar to extra innings, but the game might not be tied.
Of the 11 players, there are four roles. Aside from the one goalkeeper, there are defenders, midfielders and forwards. A player is deemed to be offsides if they are involved in an active play on the opponent’s side of the field without at least two other players between them and the goal, including the goalkeeper. Players should stay behind the ball if there are no defenders in front of them.
Don’t touch the ball with your hands.
There you have it, the fundamentals to being a soccer fan.
Football Fanaticism started in Europe and is one of the most well-known subcultures today. Excitement, passion and dedication are all emotions that the game allows fans to experience and also release. Tradition, belonging, commonality and unity are all byproducts of soccer fandom.
Community, Community, Community
Here in the United States, soccer moms are probably a better-known subculture than the game itself. The irony is that it’s for all the same reasons. Youth soccer is known to have one of the highest rates of participation in the U.S. So why then do only a select few transcend to soccer fandom as an adult?
Soccer is a fairly new game to the United States and doesn’t have quite the history baseball or American football does. However, the foundation of soccer fandom has been and always will be community.
That is what the Ragain family and Dean Weidner were looking to do when installing the Switchbacks Football Club in Colorado Springs in 2014. The team just celebrated their 10th season as Colorado Spring’s professional soccer team and they are excited for what is to come.
The game of soccer is generally more unplugged than the audio-visual powerhouses like baseball or football. The crowd is a vital part of the game and can literally create a tempo for a team. Soccer is traditionally low-scoring, with an average of two goals per game. It is fast paced and takes the fan on a journey as they watch, often experiencing the same emotions as the players. The breakaway goal attempt, the footwork in a clench, a feat of athleticism as a goalkeeper makes an improbable save. These are the moments that build camaraderie amongst fans. It is a communal experience and fulfils a deep seeded need to generate hopefulness in giving everyone something to root for.
In the Heart of the Springs
Weidner Field was unveiled in 2021 after Americans has just experienced a lockdown of epic proportions. Loneliness and alienation were at an all-time high and social media was sorely insufficient for imitating the face-to-face, shoulder-to-shoulder connection that so many were starved for. The Switchbacks owners and team were ready to open the doors to the community in order to bring people together in a way that only the spirit of soccer can.
This city already has a strong sense of self, but Weidner Field leveraged its location in the heart of Colorado Springs to host its city and encourage that reconnection using events, concerts, and of course, games for people to come together in a way they craved over the last year. This principle is the foundation of what this league stands for today, and the mission is the same. There are plenty of opportunities for divisiveness in our country–let’s find something to bring everyone together.
Community, nostalgia, memories, freedom of expression and the outdoors with friends and yummy food all cheering for a team representing a beloved city.
This is your team, Colorado Springs. This is your city. This is your community.
Wear your Cyan for solidarity and head to the stadium – your seat is waiting for you.
Website: https://www.switchbacksfc.com/
Facebook + Instagram: @SwitchbacksFC