Kicking Goals, Flipping Cars: My Journey from Soccer to Rocket League

From IRL to In-game

Introduction

I remember perfecting my touch as a mid-fielder so I could effectively make plays for my team. The adrenaline was addicting. I started playing soccer at 4 years old, and little did I know I would go on to play for the next 16 years of my life. I went from recreational soccer to competitive soccer to junior varsity/varsity soccer which is when I began to lose interest. I never truly left soccer, though, finding my home in a video game: Rocket League. My experience in soccer shaped how I approached Rocket League, giving me a head start in terms of strategy, positioning, communication, passing, and scoring.

Image from bing

Soccer: the Foundation

My parents started me out playing soccer at a young age, and despite my initial protest, I ended up enjoying the sport a lot. At one point In middle school I was playing both school soccer and club soccer, often times having two practices in one day. I loved the fast pace of the game as well as the dynamic nature of playing mid-fielder. I learned ball-control, positioning, passing, offensive and defensive skills, and endurance. In high school, I began to transition away from soccer due to a lack of motivation. It didn’t help that I was a late bloomer; Everyone…