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Rediscovering Your Love Of Soccer For 2021/22
With Euro 2020 now here, football fans across the continent will be glued to their screens for the next month. Once the club game returns, though, a sense of disengagement is likely to return. VAR, excessive costs, and other negative factors have taken their toll on our love of the game. But all is not lost.
There are several ways to fall back in love with the beautiful game. Here are some you may want to consider.
Get Back To Playing
If watching football has become a little tedious, you may want to turn your focus back to playing. Millions of amateur footballers had to give up during the pandemic. The start of a new season is the perfect opportunity to get back into it. Even if you opt for five-a-side.
The benefits of playing football are clear. Getting fit should be a goal for everyone in the post-pandemic age. If you love football, it is the perfect activity due to the cardio and social connections. Even if you aren’t the next Phil Foden or Nikita Parris, it will be a lot of fun.
When you enjoy playing football, your engagement when watching it should improve too.
Follow The Lower Leagues
Whether it’s due to social distancing or excessive costs, getting to your favourite Premier League team’s ground is hard. Even if you have the funds, vindicating that level of spend will be a struggle. Not least because you cannot relate to the millionaire players.
However, casting your eyes down the English league pyramid may solve this problem. It’s cheaper to watch EFL or non-league football. There is a greater sense of local community and honest felt on the terraces too. If you miss the old atmosphere, this is a great shout.
Better still, you won’t see matches changed to a Monday night for the sake of TV.
Get Into Women’s Football
As well as lower league and non-league football, women’s football is a great option. If you plan to watch your local team, it’s unlikely that you’ll pay more than £10 for a ticket. Moreover, you can be sure that your presence will be appreciated.
Likewise, the lower leagues in the women’s pyramid are blessed with a lot of great players. Some are destined to be future WSL and England stars. And those that aren’t can still play the game to a great standard. Crucially, you can play a significant role in the process.
It’s a very inclusive environment, and ideal for parents of young girls too.
Start A Football Business
The cost of football is enough to harm any fan’s enthusiasm. So, why not put yourself on the other side by earning some cash from it? Starting a business in the football arena allows you to work on your passion and potentially open some very exciting doors.
There are many different ways to get involved. Starting a football coaching school is one popular choice. Creating merchandise or artwork is another. Or you could become a blogger or vlogger in this field. The possibilities are endless, either as a side hustle or main job.
Alternatively, you could volunteer at your local non-league or women’s club.
Interact With Football In Other Ways
Football doesn’t only include professional matches and grassroots matches. In today’s climate, it is equally possible to enjoy football through virtual matches on FIFA. The esports arena has become huge in recent years. If you like gaming, embrace it.
The modern digital age has also changed the way you can follow a team. You cannot connect with clubs that play in the real leagues via digital channels. Catching up with the matches when it’s convenient for you can be a truly game-changing experience.
Football has evolved, and your habits can too. Let it happen organically.
Take A Break
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. While you’ll want to enjoy Euro 2020 for the next few weeks, its climax is a good time for a break. Watching football on TV has been a daily occurrence during the times of social distancing. You can have too much of a good thing.
Use the summer to pursue other goals. Travel the UK, enjoy your friends and family, or consider taking up a different sport. It will make your summer far more enjoyable than reading the transfer pages. And when you return to the game, your smile will too.
Football is a big part of your life, but it isn’t everything. Maintain a healthy bond.
Until then, though… It’s coming home!
