zukkov,
Yeah, it can be a bit physical. When I was in high school, we played a semi-pro team for practice. They won 2-1, but we gave them quite a run for their money. Anyway, they were all bigger than we were ( ) and physics dictates that larger objects will crush smaller ones into dust, all other factors being equal.
Well, my 5'8" 135-pound frame was playing sweeper (as always) and I went up for a header and got squashed between two opposing forwards. I landed in a heap and breathing became an adventure, but I insisted on playing. It wasn't until I got home later that day and lifted my arm above my head to help paint the house when I noticed a sharp pain on both sides of my rib cage. The x-rays at the emergency room showed three broken ribs and the doctor surmised that least at two others were bruised.
The other "cool" injury I had was only three years ago. I was defending a player at the top of the box near the center of the field. I was playing off of him about five yards and he decided to fire a shot, so I stepped into the path of the ball (I never turn my back on these). Well, I stopped it alright, but it hit me square in the face! My teammates tell me I was airborne and landed about six yards from where I started. I was out cold for a few seconds, but returned later. The 'keeper told me he expected the shot to be on target, so I did my job.
Thanks.
[ June 11, 2002, 05:22 PM: Message edited by: SuperTed ]