United States Women’s National Team and Chicago Red Stars attacking midfielder Christen Press almost gave up soccer forever when she was four years old. Yes, the very same game that has defined her and created a livelihood. The Palos Verdes, California native didn’t touch the ball. Not even once. For the entire season during her first year of organized soccer.
Found out why in this animated video about Christen Press that U.S. Soccer created and promoted today.
Press temporarily left the Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League at the beginning of this month to join USA training camp. Before she left we asked her a few questions about the transition. For instance, is there is a difference between being match fit for club play versus for international duty.
“This league is super physical and super fast paced,” she responded.
“So I think your fitness level has to be really high, The base internationally is more consistently fast across the game”
“The course of a season is so different and the feeling is different. Here we play on the weekends and we rest, we recover, we play on the (next) weekend. In international, you’re usually preparing for a tournament where you’re gonna play every three days, so no matter how fit you are for a season, it’s not going to be enough to play a match every three days,”
“It is different and we’re doing both at the same time, but getting these games in is the best preparation.”
And exactly how much of an adjustment is it? How difficult is that?
“I think we’re honestly all used to it now.”
“This is my second year coming consistently in and out of the national team, that i think the adjustment is rather smooth for us and the other team. You don’t really miss a beat any more,” Christen Press responded.
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Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication.
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