School Sports & Fitness – B2 English Listening Exercise

9 older cousin 10 physical contact 11 summer camp 12 team dynamics

13 knee pads 14 blocking 15 charity tournament

16 thumb injury 17 assistant coach 18 local league

Liam: Hi everyone. I’m Liam, and I’m here to talk about my sporting journey, specifically how I ended up opting out of basketball to pursue volleyball instead.

When I was younger, because I was quite tall, everyone assumed I was destined for the basketball court. Most people guess it was my dad who pushed me into it, or maybe my school PE teacher. However, it was actually my older cousin who initially dragged me along to a local club. I gave it a try just to keep him happy.

I played basketball for a couple of years, but I eventually realised it just wasn’t for me. It wasn’t the constant running that bothered me, and I didn’t mind the complex rules. Actually, what really put me off was the physical contact. I just didn’t enjoy the aggressive pushing and shoving under the hoop, which is such a massive part of the game.

So, I started looking for an alternative. I briefly considered taking up badminton after watching it on TV, but my true introduction to my future sport happened during a summer camp. We had a casual game on the grass, and I instantly fell in love with the mechanics of volleyball. The net separated the teams, which completely solved my previous problem with aggressive opponents.

Many people ask what specifically drew me to volleyball over other non-contact sports like tennis. While the athletic jumping is definitely thrilling to watch, what I genuinely appreciated most was the team dynamics. In volleyball, you literally cannot hold the ball; you must rely entirely on your teammates to set up a play, creating this incredible sense of unity.

When I officially joined a club, I needed some gear. Beginners often rush out to buy expensive specialized shoes or custom jerseys. Instead, I sensibly spent my pocket money on a pair of knee pads. I knew that diving for the ball on a hard wooden floor would be painful, and protecting my joints was absolutely essential.

Learning the techniques took a lot of time. I thought getting my serve right would be my biggest hurdle, or perhaps learning to spike the ball powerfully. But to my surprise, mastering blocking was the most frustrating challenge. Timing your jump perfectly to stop the opponent’s attack at the net requires immense concentration and spatial awareness.

Eventually, I made it onto the starting squad. If you asked me about my favorite memory, you might expect me to say winning the regional championships or playing in the school finals. In fact, participating in a charity tournament remains my absolute highlight. The atmosphere was incredibly supportive, and we raised a substantial amount of money for a good cause.

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Last season, I had a frustrating setback. Luckily, I avoided the typical ankle sprains that affect so many players, and my shoulders were fine. But a severe thumb injury kept me off the court for two whole months. It happened when I caught a powerful serve awkwardly during practice.

During my lengthy recovery, I wanted to stay involved with the sport. I didn’t fancy writing match reports for the website, and becoming a referee seemed far too stressful. So, I took on the role of an assistant coach for the junior squad. It gave me a fresh perspective on the game and allowed me to give back to the club.

Looking to the future, I have big plans. Some of my friends want me to trial for the national squad, and others think I should start a sports podcast. Ultimately, though, my main ambition is to establish a local league to give more teenagers in my area the opportunity to discover this fantastic sport. Thanks for listening!

9 older brother 10 natural talent 11 sports science 12 written coursework

13 leisure centre 14 ankle injuries 15 office workers

16 charity marathon 17 patience 18 video channel

Julian: Hi everyone, my name is Julian, and I work as a sports physiotherapist. I’ve come here today to tell you a bit about my career path, starting with how I harboured aspirations of becoming a professional soccer player, only to relinquish that dream upon acknowledging a lack of requisite aptitude.

When I was a little boy, I was completely obsessed with soccer. People usually assume that my dad, who was a huge fan, forced me into it, or perhaps I was inspired by a famous coach on television. In reality, it was my older brother who constantly dragged me into the garden to practice, and that’s what originally sparked my deep passion for the sport.

Throughout my early teens, I dedicated every waking hour to the game. I genuinely believed I was destined for the top leagues. I spent hours improving my running speed and my overall fitness. However, despite all that intense physical preparation, I eventually had to face the harsh truth that I simply lacked the natural talent required to make it as a professional. Relinquishing that dream was incredibly tough, but I knew I had to be realistic.

I still wanted to be involved in the sporting world, though. When looking at university courses, I strongly considered studying sports journalism, and my teachers pushed me towards sports psychology. But after a lot of careful thought, I decided to apply for a sports science degree, as I was fascinated by how the human body works and recovers from exertion.

University was a massive learning curve. I actually really enjoyed the practical assessments, and listening to the guest lectures was always engaging. However, without a shadow of a doubt, the written coursework proved to be the most challenging aspect for me. Sitting in the library drafting long academic essays took a lot of getting used to.

After I successfully graduated and qualified as a physiotherapist, I was eager to get straight to work. I had grand visions of being hired by a major football club right away, or at least landing a position at an exclusive private clinic. As it turned out, my very first official employment was at a local leisure centre. It wasn’t glamorous, but it gave me fantastic hands-on experience with the general public.

Over the years, I’ve seen all sorts of complaints. When I first started out, I seemed to be treating endless shoulder issues from tennis players, and later I saw a high volume of knee problems. These days, though, my clinic has shifted its focus, and I now specialise in rehabilitating ankle injuries, which are incredibly common and often quite complex to fix properly.

Interestingly, my client base isn’t exactly what you might expect. Because of my background, you might think I only deal with elite athletes, or perhaps teenagers hoping to go professional. Actually, the vast majority of my clients are ordinary office workers who have suddenly taken up jogging or weekend sports and ended up hurting themselves.

I’ve had some wonderful experiences in my career. My family often guesses that travelling with a regional rugby team was my career highlight, or perhaps helping a local athlete reach the national finals. But for me, being invited to provide medical support at a massive charity marathon remains my proudest memory. The atmosphere of goodwill and determination that day was truly unforgettable.

If you’re considering this profession, people often ask what makes a great physiotherapist. While having extensive anatomical knowledge is obviously vital, and physical stamina certainly helps during long shifts, I genuinely believe that having immense patience is the most indispensable trait. Recovery can be a painfully slow process, and you have to constantly reassure frustrated individuals.

Looking ahead, I want to reach a wider audience. I’ve had several colleagues advise me to publish a detailed textbook, and I briefly flirted with the idea of writing a weekly blog. Ultimately, my plan for the near future is to launch a video channel dedicated to offering free advice on injury prevention for amateur players. Thank you so much for listening!