Why most Americans don't like soccer.

[sweetwater]

"The parents who support it do so because they want their kids who can't compete in other sports to get some recognition. I know this isn't true everywhere, but far and away the better athletes do not play soccer in this area."

I can only speak to Seattle, but this is definitely not true here. Soccer is very popular.

My 7 year old has cried over a mistake he made in a soccer game. He has never had that reaction to a mistake in one of his baseball games. Other kids may be the reverse.

But the argument several have made - that soccer is just a feel good sport where everyone is happy just to participate - is absolutely not true from my experience.

The kids are very competitive. Lots more kids have ended up bleeding at my son's soccer matches than at his baseball games.

 

[jdoggivjc]

I'm sure this may happen in some communities but it is not the case in the communities in my area. The rise of soccer was the biggest bit of hype I have ever seen.

The parents who support it do so because they want their kids who can't compete in other sports to get some recognition. I know this isn't true everywhere, but far and away the better athletes do not play soccer in this area.

The only thing that is hurting baseball and softball is parents' inability to make time for their kids. They are too consumed with their own lives and interests. They don't like their summers taken up with softball and baseball games.

I think baseball has done a lot to hurt itself as much as anybody or any other sport has done to hurt baseball. First off, and this comes from a guy that loves baseball, baseball is just as boring as soccer, if not more so, for reasons that have already been stated (stalling by pitchers and batters, inaction between innings, etc). Not to mention that it seems everyone ripping soccer for not having replay seems to have forgotten that two weeks before the World Cup started everyone was still ripping into baseball for blowing a perfect game after 26 outs and how replay would have preserved the perfect game. But beyond that, I still don't think baseball has fully recovered from the Strike of 1994, which not only killed the 1994 World Series, but jeopardized the 1995 season as well. Then you nearly had another strike in the early 2000s which, had it occurred, would have killed a significant number of fans (I know myself as well as most of my friends would have been "done" with baseball). Then you had the Steroid Era, and nobody knows whether to consider 61 or 73, or 755 or 762 to be the "real" record.

Yes, other sports are bleeding players from baseball. But it's not as if baseball hasn't done this to itself over the last 20 years...

 

[D UP Clones]

"The parents who support it do so because they want their kids who can't compete in other sports to get some recognition. I know this isn't true everywhere, but far and away the better athletes do not play soccer in this area."

I can only speak to Seattle, but this is definitely not true here. Soccer is very popular.

My 7 year old has cried over a mistake he made in a soccer game. He has never had that reaction to a mistake in one of his baseball games. Other kids may be the reverse.

But the argument several have made - that soccer is just a feel good sport where everyone is happy just to participate - is absolutely not true from my experience.

The kids are very competitive. Lots more kids have ended up bleeding at my son's soccer matches than at his baseball games.

I have yet to see what you describe. My kids play soccer because it is at a time of year when no other sports are available. My kids are easily the most aggressive kids on the field for their age in our area and they never come off the field bloody.

This doesn't happen because the game is stopped at the slightest sign of contact or aggression. AYSO soccer is all about feel good stuff. Don't keep score. Everyone plays the same amount regardless of ability. Don't be too aggressive because someone might trip and fall.

This is my experience. My kids play to get exercise and they like the activity. The parents who are really into soccer here are very passive people. They don't like the slightest sign of aggression and because of that their children will never be very good athletes.

 

[sweetwater]

That's fine D Up. I am not trying to tell you what you did or did not experience. I am just saying how it is here.

Soccer is very popular right now in Seattle. The Sounders are a big part of that. They sell out all of their games, and they get just us much local press as the Mariners. That doesn't hurt.

BTW - I am not trying to create the impression that youth soccer games are a blood bath. They aren't. But, then, the kids are 7, so that is probably ok. The kids do compete very, very hard though.

 

[D UP Clones]

That's fine D Up. I am not trying to tell you what you did or did not experience. I am just saying how it is here.

Soccer is very popular right now in Seattle. The Sounders are a big part of that. They sell out all of their games, and they get just us much local press as the Mariners. That doesn't hurt.

BTW - I am not trying to create the impression that youth soccer games are a blood bath. They aren't. But, then, the kids are 7, so that is probably ok. The kids do compete very, very hard though.

No problem, as I stated earlier, I am sure that it is a bigger deal in other places such as Seattle. It just isn't here.

 

[sunset]

I like this guy's take on the subject. From today's WSJ:

Matthew Kaminski: We Can All Still Cry for Ghana - WSJ.com

 

[drednot57]

Even if we did win a World Cup, do you think that would change anything? Would it change how boring games are for great stretches? We won the Olympic gold in hockey in 1980, but did that increase the number of hockey fans? Not by significant numbers.

I watched approximately five minutes of World Cup soccer between two supposedly good teams. One team never attacked. They spent most of the five minutes passing the ball back and forth between themselves at midfield. They even kicked it back to their own goalie a couple of times for a reset, I guess. After five minutes of this, is it any wonder I changed the channel? Yeah, I'm really impressed by your amazing foot control, but do something already.

Ditto! I believe MLS in the US needs to implement a shot clock to keep teams from playing "keep away" from each other. Why do you think both the NBA and NCAA basketball implemented shot clocks? Because fan interest was waning due to the four corner "keep away" offenses being employed in the years prior to shot clock implementation. If MLS soccer draws more fan interest due to the change, then FIFA may follow suit in order to get their slice of the American market. Just my two cents.

 

[Cydwinder]

Ditto! I believe MLS in the US needs to implement a shot clock to keep teams from playing "keep away" from each other. Why do you think both the NBA and NCAA basketball implemented shot clocks? Because fan interest was waning due to the four corner "keep away" offenses being employed in the years prior to shot clock implementation. If MLS soccer draws more fan interest due to the change, then FIFA may follow suit in order to get their slice of the American market. Just my two cents.

I don't think that's really in the spirit of the game and, honestly, I don't think FIFA really gives a rip what Americans think of the game as long as people are talking about soccer.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Ditto! I believe MLS in the US needs to implement a shot clock to keep teams from playing "keep away" from each other. Why do you think both the NBA and NCAA basketball implemented shot clocks? Because fan interest was waning due to the four corner "keep away" offenses being employed in the years prior to shot clock implementation. If MLS soccer draws more fan interest due to the change, then FIFA may follow suit in order to get their slice of the American market. Just my two cents.

This would be an ultimate fail, as the purpose of MLS is to prepare American players to play at an international level, and FIFA does not endorse a shot clock nor does any other league around the world use it. Besides, how would you implement it? Does it start as soon as the offense gains possession, when it crosses the midfield line, or when? When does it restart - when a shot is taken, when it bounces off a defender, or when it's "on goal"? But the #1 reason why this wouldn't work is because the defense already has an insane advantage over the offense, if you didn't figure that out by the low scores. If people thought it was difficult for offenses to run plays now, it would be even more difficult when they're rushed into it. Such an attempt to push more scoring would only lead to less scoring, possibly a lot more 0-0 ties.

Perhaps the best idea is to quit trying to "Americanize" soccer and just try to appreciate it for what it is - a unique (to America) sport that doesn't need elements of football or basketball added to it in order to dumb it down so Americans can appreciate it.

 

[BryceC]

The only thing that is hurting baseball and softball is parents' inability to make time for their kids. They are too consumed with their own lives and interests. They don't like their summers taken up with softball and baseball games.

There are plenty of kids that don't want their summers to be all baseball either. I was one of them and I played baseball every year when I was a kid. It was just something to do with my friends.

Perhaps the best idea is to quit trying to "Americanize" soccer and just try to appreciate it for what it is - a unique (to America) sport that doesn't need elements of football or basketball added to it in order to dumb it down so Americans can appreciate it.

So basketball is "dumbed down" because it's faster paced? Can this argument be put to bed please?

 

[jdoggivjc]

There are plenty of kids that don't want their summers to be all baseball either. I was one of them and I played baseball every year when I was a kid. It was just something to do with my friends.



So basketball is "dumbed down" because it's faster paced? Can this argument be put to bed please?

So why does soccer have to be "Americanized"? Why is it only Americans are the only people in the world that have to have it "sped up" in order for us to get it? Is it because Americans are "so much better than everyone else?"

 

[cyatheart]

I think baseball has done a lot to hurt itself as much as anybody or any other sport has done to hurt baseball. First off, and this comes from a guy that loves baseball, baseball is just as boring as soccer, if not more so, for reasons that have already been stated (stalling by pitchers and batters, inaction between innings, etc). Not to mention that it seems everyone ripping soccer for not having replay seems to have forgotten that two weeks before the World Cup started everyone was still ripping into baseball for blowing a perfect game after 26 outs and how replay would have preserved the perfect game. But beyond that, I still don't think baseball has fully recovered from the Strike of 1994, which not only killed the 1994 World Series, but jeopardized the 1995 season as well. Then you nearly had another strike in the early 2000s which, had it occurred, would have killed a significant number of fans (I know myself as well as most of my friends would have been "done" with baseball). Then you had the Steroid Era, and nobody knows whether to consider 61 or 73, or 755 or 762 to be the "real" record.

Yes, other sports are bleeding players from baseball. But it's not as if baseball hasn't done this to itself over the last 20 years...

Agree, I am a huge baseball fan, and to between the strike and steroids, I rarely watch a major league game anymore. I love the strategy and everything, but it can be 4 hours and I am a Cubs fan, so I am sick and tired of that.

I hated Soccer, but after this year, I can see why people like it and I actually watched an MLS game the other night instead of the stupid Cubs. Soccer has it's problems, but so does baseball, and if baseball isn't careful and if MLS plays its cards right, they could take a bite out of baseball over the very long term.

 

[azn4cy]

So basketball is "dumbed down" because it's faster paced? Can this argument be put to bed please?

Basketball is the way it is. It has evolved over the years as well. Pre shot clock you had a lot of games that were probably about as entertaining as Iowa games last year, where the first to 40 won. People still watched it, didn't they?

The whole thing is all about history. Football and basketball were plenty "boring" if you are talking about the versions from 100 years ago, but Americans still liked it. "Americanizing" soccer would likely not work anyways

 

[jdoggivjc]

Basketball is the way it is. It has evolved over the years as well. Pre shot clock you had a lot of games that were probably about as entertaining as Iowa games last year, where the first to 40 won. People still watched it, didn't they?

The whole thing is all about history. Football and basketball were plenty "boring" if you are talking about the versions from 100 years ago, but Americans still liked it. "Americanizing" soccer would likely not work anyways

This. If the United States ever wants to be relevant on the international soccer stage, it has to become relevant playing the game the way the rest of world plays it without Americanizing it by adding gimmicks such as a shot clock. Besides, MLS tried the Americanization shtick when it first started - such as the "countdown clock" which ran from 45 minutes to zero. All it did was alienate the traditional soccer fans, confuse the hell out of casual soccer fans, and failed to bring in any additional fans.

 

[tazclone]

Instead of fighting about whether soccer is cool or not. Lets just post rational arguments why soccer is not popular in the US.

1. Ties(draws). How can games on soccer's biggest stage be allowed to end in a tie. Little league softball and baseball players would be upset if the game ended in a tie. "Dad why is the game over" .. "Well son we dont want one team to lose after they played a great game"..."But dad one team is supposed to win and the other lose"

2.Shoot-outs. Sure they can be exciting but most fans see them for what they are. A guessing game between goalies. It like ending a baseball game after 12 innings with a home run derby.

3.Flopping. Soccer players really should be doctors, can't even walk off the field one second, and then running full speed the next. This is probably the biggest reason, IMO.

4. FIFA. An irrational totalitarian regime. Enough said.

......

This is a short list and I would appreciate some additions.


PS Obviously I am not a soccer fan but I would just like this discussion to be about why most Americans don't like soccer.

A couple more

1. It is difficult to watch on TV. Similar to hockey, it is hard to follow the development of a "play" because you only see part of the playing field on TV.
2. Lack of scoring- We are adrenaline junkies and we need scoring.

 

[sunset]

This would be an ultimate fail, as the purpose of MLS is to prepare American players to play at an international level, and FIFA does not endorse a shot clock nor does any other league around the world use it. Besides, how would you implement it? Does it start as soon as the offense gains possession, when it crosses the midfield line, or when? When does it restart - when a shot is taken, when it bounces off a defender, or when it's "on goal"? But the #1 reason why this wouldn't work is because the defense already has an insane advantage over the offense, if you didn't figure that out by the low scores. If people thought it was difficult for offenses to run plays now, it would be even more difficult when they're rushed into it. Such an attempt to push more scoring would only lead to less scoring, possibly a lot more 0-0 ties.

Perhaps the best idea is to quit trying to "Americanize" soccer and just try to appreciate it for what it is - a unique (to America) sport that doesn't need elements of football or basketball added to it in order to dumb it down so Americans can appreciate it.

Man I love holier-than-thou folks that have to attack people that don't think the way they do.

 

[BryceC]

Basketball is the way it is. It has evolved over the years as well. Pre shot clock you had a lot of games that were probably about as entertaining as Iowa games last year, where the first to 40 won. People still watched it, didn't they?

The whole thing is all about history. Football and basketball were plenty "boring" if you are talking about the versions from 100 years ago, but Americans still liked it. "Americanizing" soccer would likely not work anyways

That's exactly my point. Are you making the claim that basketball was "dumbed down" when they instilled a shot clock? And the popularity of basketball grew a ton when they instilled the shot clock.

I'm not saying soccer should do anything differently, it's got it's own set of rules. I'm just saying that wanting games to move at a quicker pace does not mean it is being "dumbed down" for Americans.

 

[azn4cy]

That's exactly my point. Are you making the claim that basketball was "dumbed down" when they instilled a shot clock? And the popularity of basketball grew a ton when they instilled the shot clock.

I'm not saying soccer should do anything differently, it's got it's own set of rules. I'm just saying that wanting games to move at a quicker pace does not mean it is being "dumbed down" for Americans.

I can see your point, but jdogg does have a point in that if America needs sports to move faster and have new rules just so they can enjoy it, even though the rest of the world already does, then yeah, it sort of is just "dumbing it down for Americans"

 

[Blandboy]

It's the whole card thing. Take that (yellow card), you naughty boy. Do it again, and I'll open up a can of red card whoop a_ _ on ya!!!:biglaugh:

 

[CycloneJames]

That's exactly my point. Are you making the claim that basketball was "dumbed down" when they instilled a shot clock? And the popularity of basketball grew a ton when they instilled the shot clock.

I'm not saying soccer should do anything differently, it's got it's own set of rules. I'm just saying that wanting games to move at a quicker pace does not mean it is being "dumbed down" for Americans.

The difference is that basketball wasn't a global sport at the time. It gained populatity and it is now a global sport, but its still nothing compared to soccer around the world.