Soccer in the U.S.

**damoc1** · October 1, 2006

Whats the soccer scene in the U.S. like these days is it growing?
Will it get any bigger? Considering its the world's most popular sport why has it never really taken off in the usa?

any thoughts guys?

***iacas*** · October 1, 2006

Whats the soccer scene in the U.S. like these days is it growing?

Dead, dead, dead. It's never taken off here because... it doesn't have the high scoring of football or basketball and, unlike the other low-scoring sport (which also doesn't do all that well in the ratings), hockey, it doesn't have people smashing the crap out of each other with regularity.

**aquacooled** · October 1, 2006

plus there are so many types of sports in the usa compared to europe.. Soccer is unites the europeans..

**SuaSponteMn** · October 2, 2006

Dead, dead, dead. It's never taken off here because... it doesn't have the high scoring of football or basketball and, unlike the other low-scoring sport (which also doesn't do all that well in the ratings), hockey, it doesn't have people smashing the crap out of each other with regularity.

Add to that it's like watching paint dry or grass grow...

(j/k) Hockey did a lot better in the USA until it got moved to the OLN

Lot of hockey fans around here, but then again, I'm in the great white North

**elvis14** · October 2, 2006

Whats the soccer scene in the U.S. like these days is it growing?

Interesting that you say "it's never really taken off in the usa" and others proclaim soccer as "dead", etc. All of these responses seem to be from the angle of the spectator. As a spectator sport, it has not taken off, we'd rather watch football or Hoops. But from a players perspective, soccer has very much taken off in the USA is thriving and growing. In other words, we like to play soccer, we don't like to watch soccer. You can find Kids leagues for soccer more easily than any other sport around here (Raleigh, NC). I know scores of adults that play. CASL (an independent organization that runs many of the local leagues) used to be run by my friends Mom out of her kitchen. Now it's a large organization that manages many many leagues and facilities.

I don't play anymore but to say that soccer is dead is a spectator's view. And I agree with others that as a spectator sport it does not unite fans the way it does in Europe (we have other sports for that - Baseball, Football, College Basketball). For soccer players, however, the sport is thriving in the US. Just my $.02 Elvis

**Thrash13** · October 2, 2006

Yeah, soccer is definitely on the rise in the United States. There hasn't ever been as much excitement and attention as there was during the World Cup this past summer. And with the MLS growing, the sport will continue to increase in popularity. Actually, more kids play soccer than any other sport while growing up, but they end up quitting sports altogether or switching solely to other sports in high school.

I'm not a huge fan of the sport and will probably only watch the World Cup in the future. However, I respect the athletes quite a bit because they are in better shape than most people in the entire world.

The sport just isn't for me. I'm not sure why, but it isn't.

***iacas*** · October 2, 2006

Yeah, soccer is definitely on the rise in the United States.

I'm not sure that's accurate. I think it's been on a slow and steady decline since 1994, when the U.S. hosted the World Cup.

There hasn't ever been as much excitement and attention as there was during the World Cup this past summer.

I think 1994 would beg to differ. You may not remember much back then (you're younger than me, IIRC... and I was only 16 then).

Women's soccer, in particular, was given a big boost there because the women's team won in 1999, if memory serves me correctly... Brandi Chastain or whatever her name was ripping off her shirt springs to mind.

And with the MLS growing, the sport will continue to increase in popularity. Actually, more kids play soccer than any other sport while growing up, but they end up quitting sports altogether or switching solely to other sports in high school.

And I am one of those. I played from the time I was three until I was 15... when I decided to play golf over soccer.

I'm not a huge fan of the sport and will probably only watch the World Cup in the future. However, I respect the athletes quite a bit because they are in better shape than most people in the entire world.

They're in better shape than most of the other ATHLETES in the world, I think. Obviously they're in better shape than most people.

I love soccer, and I watch when I can, but I don't see participation levels rising dramatically. I know of local YMCAs that used to have winter indoor soccer that had ten teams of each grade level drop the program entirely or go to four teams of three grade levels each.

kippax · October 3, 2006

first of all! its not soccer its football!

secondly, the watching paint dry comment.with NFL you could watch the paint dry and then put on a second coat and watch that dry by the time a match ends! there is only 60mins of action, split into several 20second segments that they stretch out for hours!

you guys should watch rugby, its a man's game. they dont go out dressed like camp stormtroopers.

**damoc1** · October 3, 2006

Add to that it's like watching paint dry or grass grow...

bold statmenet my friend, but us europeans feel exactly the same way regarding american football and baseball !!

i cant think of another sport worse to watch than baseball !! even snooker is more exciting and at least american football is entertaining for about 5 mins but baseball, jees who on earth thought of that!!

what an absolutly crap sport !!! pathetic!

**SuaSponteMn** · October 3, 2006

first of all! its not soccer its football!

Actually, it's soccer. That's what they call it here, I'm not concerned about what they call it there.

Clearly you feel the same way?

secondly, the watching paint dry comment.with NFL you could watch the paint dry and then put on a second coat and watch that dry by the time a match ends! there is only 60mins of action, split into several 20second segments that they stretch out for hours!

As opposed to watching people kick a ball around for 45 minutes before a goal is scored? Oh wait, they fall down and hold their leg as if their foot was cut off when someone kicks them in the shinguard; that's entertainment.

you guys should watch rugby, its a man's game. they dont go out dressed like camp stormtroopers

Agreed, it's a man's game, but so is football. You go ahead and put on the stormtrooper outfit and see if that keeps you from going lights out after you're hit by a 6'-4" 260lb linebacker that runs a faster 40 than most of your 'football' players.

i cant think of another sport worse to watch than baseball !! even snooker is more exciting and at least american football is entertaining for about 5 mins but baseball, jees who on earth thought of that!!

I'm in complete agreement with you, baseball is about as much fun to watch as soccer in my opinion. Although it's a lot more fun to play...

**Thrash13** · October 3, 2006

first of all! its not soccer its football!

I thought it was actually futbol?

I'd much rather watch playoff baseball than soccer any day. Speaking of, the playoffs start today. :) Great stuff.

***iacas*** · October 3, 2006

Having played both versions of football, I can say that "soccer" is far more demanding than football. Football is grueling, but it requires 3 to 15 short bursts of activity, then you get to sit down for 10 or 15 minutes.

Soccer is non-stop. When you're done playing a soccer game, you're beat. When you're done playing football, well, you could play another quarter or two.

Soccer requires the most tremendous physical conditioning of any sport I've ever played. The simple fact that once you sub out, you're done requires it.

P.S. My wife is glad I played soccer for so long and that it is so physically demanding. "Soccer legs" has meaning, after all.

**SuaSponteMn** · October 3, 2006

I thought it was actually futbol?

And the Twin's won the division

**Xt1ncT** · October 3, 2006

Actually, it's soccer. That's what they call it here, I'm not concerned about what they call it there.

Sorry to dissappooint you, but the game is called association football, which is why the world governing body is called FIFA - Federation Internationale de Football Association. The US started calling it soccer to differentiate from American Football.

I realise that this won't stop you from calling it soccer and I'm just pointing it out - it's a bit like calling something The British Open, when it's name is The Open Championship. Maybe I'm just pedantic though

Dirk Diggler · October 4, 2006

But why do "you guys" call a sport that for 95 percent is played with the hands football?
But i do like American Football, we even have a NFL team here in Amsterdam...but soccer or "voetbal" is better....

**damoc1** · October 4, 2006

American football is far to stop start, there doesnt appear to be any flow to the game at all as sson as it gets going they start all over again..

**SuaSponteMn** · October 4, 2006

American football is far to stop start, there doesnt appear to be any flow to the game at all as sson as it gets going they start all over again..

It's really just a case of what we all grew up with. I grew up with

American football, because of that, soccer doen't make all that much sense to me. You say we start and stop to much, I say you guys never really get started. I'm sure I'd feel the opposite way, as would you, if the roles and locations were reversed.

Sorry to dissappooint you, but the game is called association football, which is why the world governing body is called FIFA - Federation Internationale de Football Association. The US started calling it soccer to differentiate from American Football.

Like I said, I'm really not concerned about what it's called elsewhere. But on that topic, isn't FIFA notorious for being a totally corrupt organization anyway? Nothing to be dissapointed about here, how about over there?

**damoc1** · October 4, 2006

It's really just a case of what we all grew up with. I grew up with

yeah i take your point there, it will be a case of what you grew up with you will be accustomed to. You also say it doesnt make that much sense ? whats to not understand about it ? all they have to do is kick the ball in the opposing teams net!! it must be the simplest game in the world !!! lol

Are all large organisations not corrupt in some form or another??

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