Men's Soccer Team Practices Alternative Cross-Training

By Connect Mason Sports blogger Michael Foss
Photos by Connect Mason Managing Director Dane Styler

Our spring season doesn't start for another month. So how are we staying competitive?

Picture this:

Eight players crammed into the kitchen of a student apartment, huddled around a television. Two of the eight are sitting on a dilapidated couch sweating intently, thumbs flashing frantically over the joysticks of a Playstation 3 console.

We are playing FIFA '08 (a virtual soccer video game), and we are just now entering hour six - we're still playing strong. This isn't the layman's video game experience mind you. Our "virtual" games are spattered with real physical contact.

It is not uncommon for you to be shoved, smacked and or kicked to the floor while playing a game in the apartment, which has been dubbed, "The Lounge".

It is serious business, playing in The Lounge. There are rules: Winner must stay on the controls until he is beaten. If you turn off the game while playing you are never allowed to play again...ever.

Beyond that anything goes. Biting, kicking, yelling are all acceptable forms of communication.

We are slightly barbaric. We have standings in place of standards. Rich Edgar and Alex Procter are in a close battle for first place. As of 10:30 PM Monday Rich has a slight edge over Procter.

I'm second to last, just ahead of Fro Adu and far behind everyone else.

Playing a virtual game doesn't replace the real thing. But the intensity certainly is on par. If you don't believe me, perhaps you should stop by apartment 303. Be careful opening the door. The last guy to enter without knocking was hit by an errant cell phone.

All right, it's my turn to lose again. Excuse me.