After reading this, you may really take that last article more seriously. It's so important to keep your knees in good condition. Weak knees can come back and haunt you later in life!

Check out this article at Newsweek: Weak at the knees.

An orthopedic surgeon has some advice for how to keep you on the field with you knees intact. This year alone, my team suffered two torn ACLs. This is a great article for any female athlete!

Avoid Knee Injuries

Most of us have a dream school: the college we'd attend if we had all the money in the world, straight A's, and perfect SAT scores. Mine was Duke. Since 7th grade, I wanted nothing more out of life than to go to Duke. Now, I'm not sitting in a dorm room at Duke, but it gave me something to shoot for. Different things determine which is our dream school. It could be anything from size or location to activities or academics. For some, it's all about the athletics. If your looking for the perfect college and soccer is one of the important factors on the list, here's the top 10 colleges for women's division 1 soccer from SoccerTimes.com. (The site gives the top 25 for men's and women's.)

1. Southern California
2. Florida State
3. UCLA
4. Notre Dame
5. Portland
6. North Carolina
7. West Virginia
8. Stanford
9. Texas
10. Connecticut

I'll have you know that Duke was 17 on that list. (Hey, a girl can dream, right?)

In high school, I played with the girly-girl preppy kids who weren't afraid to go in for the tackle but freaked out if they broke a nail. Now in college, I play with the opposite: the butch girls who will go through anyone to get the ball in the back of the net. Still, though I've seen both types of players own the field, so many people think female soccer players only come in one form - lesbian.

I will say that I do know quite a few lesbian soccer chicks, but let me point out that at least 90% of the players I know are completely heterosexual. At school, many of my teammates and I are constantly faced with the accusation of being lesbian. We are always searching for a way to extinguish this stereotype and the rumors that come with it. Some girls will get a boyfriend, no mater who it is, just to have "proof" that they are straight. Obviously, that's not the best way to handle the issue. Really, all we can do is state that we are/are not lesbian, stand behind our statement, and continue to stomp out rumors about us and our teammates.

This is one of the most degrading things I've seen in a while regarding athletes. It takes everything that we, as female athletes, work so hard to achieve and diminishes it to nothing more than a man's fantasy!

Pictures of soccer girls

I'm hesitant to contribute to that websites' traffic, but you have to see it to understand. At least, they're not naked.

Got your calendar? I've got mine. Maybe we can make a date! -SC

Kickin' It: Women's Soccer 2008 Wall Calendar
(Book)
Authors:Sellers PublishingManufacturer:Sellers PublishingReleased:01 August, 2007

Well...this just proves my point about Beckham. He's soaking it up a little too much if you ask me.

Superficial Beckham

Check this out. It's the perfect accessory for any soccer girl!

Pink Soccer Print Jersey Cotton Pillowcase

:D

Great ideas for high school ladies trying out for the women's soccer team. I wish I had seen these before I first tried out.

-SC

Source: www.womensoccer.com

Make the team!

Some hints for youth players headed for "open" tryouts

By David Morris

You are getting ready for spring soccer season, you have your cleats, the bruises on your knees have faded a bit, and you're raring to go. Only one problem, which team do you want to play for? A lot of times, teenage players are victims of the "sorting" process. As players are pushed to find the best soccer environment, you may find you want to "play up" on a better or older team, you may find your team no longer exists because of players moving from one team to another. Some clubs require "open" tryouts each season or year. Spring high school seasons always begin with some form of tryout. So whatever your situation, here are some things YOU can do (starting NOW) so you can put your best foot forward when you are being evaluated.

Keep hope but don't expect it to just fall in your lap. :) (I must admit, as a Duke fan, I had trouble posting this. I guess it's hard to deny that the Tar Heels have a fantastic women's soccer program.)

Source: Road to College Soccer

The Path to College Soccer

Leslie Gaston, a girl who grew up out of the soccer mainstream, finds the route to the nation's top team.

By Maggie Mason

Leslie Gaston often joked with her club teammates about receiving calls from big soccer schools, but when Coach Anson Dorrance actually phoned last December she shrieked into the receiver in delighted disbelief. The dream of every young soccer player came true for Leslie this winter, as she was recruited by universities such as Notre Dame, Stanford, George Mason, Vanderbilt, and Alabama - as well as North Carolina. This would be a remarkable accomplishment for any student, but for a girl growing up in an area where opportunities for girls and women to play are barely getting started, this bordered on unbelievable.