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Brazil, soccer is more than a game – it is a way of life.
You can find a pickup game on every beach or strike up a conversation
about the sport with any soccer enthusiast, making it the perfect
environment for members of the Oberlin College men's soccer
team to squeeze in a little pre-season training.
"The idea behind a trip like this
was to get the team together for an extra week or two of practice
before pre-season conditioning starts," says Blake New, the
team's head coach. "It also encouraged team bonding,
both on and off the field."
During the trip, team members experienced
the country's obsession with soccer firsthand, competing
in several matches against local teams. They also participated
in organized sightseeing tours, went sailing, and attended a professional
match with their hosts.
"It
was quite refreshing to see how highly the sport is regarded
abroad," says senior forward Joshua Treuhaft. "Everyone knows how
to play the game, including the fans, so the players are held to
a higher standard and expected to perform well."
But for New, one of the most important aspects of the trip was
the technical skill the team gained by competing against their
Brazilian counterparts.
"The Brazilians
forced us to play at a fast pace," New says. "Plus, they made us
aware of some of the more technical aspects of the game. In the
long run the experience will make us a more competitive team."
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