The Generation Gap in American Soccer
Soccer is still in diapers in America. It is not played on the street, in every park, or in every playground around the country, like it is in almost every other country. Kids don’t grow up exposed to the game on a daily basis – it’s not in the media, in politics or in recreation. We are making progress, but I believe we are still a generation or two away from challenging for a World Cup title.
Professional soccer is sparsely televised on TV, unless you purchase Fox Soccer Channel, Setanta, or GolTV. There just isn’t a market for it yet. It is growing, but in America, soccer is growing at a limited level. We don’t see children playing pick-up games, in the ghettos, in gyms or on the streets, like it is everywhere else in the world. Everywhere you look around the world, you see soccer being played, talked about and worshiped. More importantly, the generation gap between our youth and elders has developed a conflicting interest for the sport. The older generation in America lacks the love, passion and support for soccer. This is due to the fact that most people over 30 have never played, watched or even understand the game.
Yet, for our youth it is the most growing and popular sport. In other words, soccer in America is like a developing 3rd world country (the U.S.) compared to a developed 1st world country (the rest of the world). Conversely, on a global level there is not a generation gap, explaining why soccer is the most “popular” game in the rest of the world, but not in the US.
In the States, soccer is un-American, viewed as boring and soft. The older generations are typically critics of soccer in America, opposing the game because of nationalistic, Americanization and traditionalist views. Most view it as a friendly game, minority exhibition, and recreational activity – an inferior sport. Football, baseball and basketball were all invented in the US, whereas soccer was invented in Europe. This fact makes people very jealous, resentful and wary about the beautiful game. Many see soccer as a transcending sport, embracing a foreign culture and a new outlook on sports.
The older generation’s current attitude of our soccer can best be illustrated with the acquisition of David Beckham, and it begs a question of manliness of soccer players. These anti-soccer generations of sports fans are disappointed by Beckham because he failed to play in the much of this MLS season due to injury. In his debut he failed to start despite the hoopla surrounding his debut. In the eyes of critics, he didn’t “tough it out” or “play through” his injury, thus tarnishing his reputation from the beginning and further diminishing soccer’s value in their eyes.
It is unfortunate that he was hobbled, yet most of our youth who understand the game realize his skill level and his needed recovery time. But for the average sports fan, his inability to make an immediate impact and persevere with all of America watching doesn’t help soccer. The hard hitting in the sport goes unnoticed because most have never played the game and don’t understand that getting flogged in the ankles, legs and feet takes a tremendous toll on the body. Slide tackles, trips, and the constant pushing and shoving without pads is not respected in America, especially since our adults and elders ages 30 and up have grown up with balls in their hands and not at their feet.
The generation gap is an issue that we must face in terms of our nation’s achievement in the World Cup and on an international level. In terms of soccer in America, I am a firm believer that we are still a generation away from being able to compete. I think it will be the kids born in 2010 and beyond that will make the most impact on the success for soccer in America. Until soccer reaches the inner cities and kids everywhere are introduced to a more knowledgeable and experienced older generation of coaches, fans and experiences, we will continue to be a lower tiered country in soccer. After all the passion for soccer in America is lacking because we don’t have the support system, knowledge, or soccer players of an older generation.
Soccer really has just begun here, and unfortunately, we are just initiating our soccer tradition. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, there was a dramatic change in American soccer. It moved out of our ethnic communities and was adopted by suburban families across the country. Soccer became the sport of choice for many suburban parents, who gave the sport a unique character. The NASL began and disappeared despite some of the greatest players competing in the 80’s and with the creation of the MLS in the 90’s we are the ugly duckling of the of the soccer world. Hopefully, we don’t let the tortoise get away!
Soccer pioneers in developing American soccer will be our current enthusiasts and our younger generations should be in the best position to take advantage of the United States soccer market once its consumers begin taking a more active interest in the sport. Given the increased scope of television and the internet, the time line for this conversion is shortening and the age gap is diminishing, slowly but surely.
Is it a generation gap, or a gender gap? I agree with many of your points, but the true difference is in the men’s game. Many boys are only now taking advantage of the opportunity to play organized soccer beyond the AYSO level. In many areas within the US, soccer will always lose out to American football and basketball in terms of the sport of choice for many of the young athletes.
Wesley:
A very interesting and well-written article. Great analysis.
As a fellow Yank, I can add a few things from my own experience. Most between the ages of 30 to 50 were exposed to soccer. Perhaps if only during physical education classes in school. It surprises me that a few of the most vocal critics are in this age group (Jim Rome among them).
While coverage is lacking in the mainstream media, the Hispanic networks (Galavision, Telefutura, and Univision) do a tremendous job. They understand football passion, and are an alternative outlet for fans to learn more about the sport. Albeit in another language.
Michael Wilbon of ESPN and the Washington Post made an interesting live commentary during the DC United x LA Galaxy game in August. “They (mainstream media) don’t get it because they don’t want to get it.”
You don’t see children playing among themselves because the sport is “too organized,” in my opinion, in North America. This lack of creativity is often seen in American teams. Even at the National Team level. Many appear robotic or are afraid to improvise. Perhaps the correct term might be “over-coached.” There is also too much focus on winning at a young age. Which may explain that over 75% of American children quit the sport by the age of 13 or 14.
As you noted so well, the passion for the sport is lacking. But that is not merely generational. Elite travel suburban teams are not always in the best interest of the children. They are focused on the needs of the parents. Fundamentals and age-specific skills development are sacrificed due to our American concept that “winning is everything.” Children are not allowed to have fun and merely enjoy the game. It is almost akin to a job, which is why, in my opinion, younger players don’t develop the type of passion seen by their peers around the world.
While American players have made great strides internationally, we also need to develop better coaches. We need more former players to enter the coaching ranks. Few National Teams around the world have coaches who either never played professionally and/or never represented their country. Among the last three American men’s national team coaches, only Bruce Arena was capped (once against Israel in 1973).
Again, thank you for the interesting commentary.
Mike, I totally agree, it is unfortunate there is not enough money in the American professional sport of soccer to entice them to choose soccer over other sports. There just isn’t an incentive. Why would a great athlete choose soccer, where he is going to make $50,000 in the MLS, when he can make millions in baseball, basketball or football?
And Steve, I’m sorry for leaving out Televetura, Galavision and Univision - they are all great too! Jim Rome can kiss my arse! Mr. Rome, please don’t talk about stuff you know absolutely nothing about! He definitely takes the cat’s milk for opening his mouth about soccer! You make an interesting point about tournaments’ motives and how they are marketed toward parents. As for the parent coaches, I totally agree with you and they need to be weeded out quickly. Over time they will sift out, but right now because of the generation gap, we don’t have a lot of experienced coaches, but an abundance of players. An idea for youth tournaments in the U.S. could be similar to those of South America. High school state champions could play other state champions, much like State Cup. The winners from both of these tournaments would get automatic bids to a larger national tournament. I do believe high school soccer is behind and should be generating more talent and prestige, but this is again due to money and the age gap. The rest of the teams would be selected by invitation, displaying our youth talent pool to a much wider audience and helping identify talent for the national team. People need to have opinions about who should be on and off the team as they come up through the youth ranks. It is through this power of group diversity that we can discuss and pick the best team. Without differing opinions and views it is a much more biased, and arguably, a worse decision and more of a political approach. It would also simulate the “World Cup” experience at an early age too.
A big reason why football isn’t the sport of youth in cities has a great deal to do with the socioeconomic conditions of the United States. Primarily, the affluent suburban areas are inundated with white, middle to upper class families. The amount of space for football facilities and the money of these families to provide for the best traveling competition, leagues and equipment play a huge factor. On the other side of the spectrum, the urban cities are often dominated in percentages by blacks. Basketball is the #1 sport in these areas, rooted in their American culture and by the facilities and organization available to them.
I’d like to propose another aspect to why Soccer may not be big in America.
I live in Australia, a country that is/was very similar to American when it came to Soccer. Since World War II, the sport became known as a sport for Ethnics following the migration of many Italians, Greeks, Croatians (and a number of other nationalities) to Australia. Additionally it was considered a girls sport due to the lack of physicality when compared to sports like Rugby and Aussie Rules Football.
However the success of the Socceroos recently, the access to Soccer programs from around the world (we have a non-cable channel that is the multicultural channel and has long championed the cause of Soccer and increasing amounts of Soccer on Cable TV (Fox Sports, ESPN, Setanta)) and the sport being perceived as not dangerous has seen it become the most popular sport amongst kids.
Yet we had to revamp our local league recently before it died. It has had much more success than it’s predecessor but still lags somewhat behind other leagues around the world in both quality and support (Aussies love a winner but hate teams that lose).
One of the big reasons is that whilst we have top level Rugby, Aussie Rules, Cricket etc played in Australia, our Soccer league is a shadow of the popular leagues like the Premier League. Often people laugh at the prospect of watching the A-League because they know they can see much better quality on TV. I’m sure in time that the quality will grow but it’s a lack of respect for the local game of soccer that is holding us back.
The States missed the opportunity in 94. They had a plan to develop soccer (Carlos Queiroz was on the mentors of that plan), but failed to implement it…
And it’s not a generation gap, it’s a cultural gap. Americans have to be taught to enjoy soccer, because in there perspective it’s boring (they’re used to flashy games – baseball, basketball and football).
Also, at this point the MLS should stimulate the youngsters to play abroad, in order to learn and gain international experience.
Don’t know what ghetto you go to but where I live I see pick up games all the time and soccer posts and nets made out of things found on the road I see it everywhere.
Very good analysis, though I dotake issue with the idea that it will take the 2010 generation to really have an impact on the world stage. This may or may not be true, and is largely up to whether or not our national association (USSF) decides that it cannot develop the sport, and elite players, from the top down, as it has been trying to do. Right now the emphasis for USSF and US Youth Soccer is to impose a model of the player they want on the game, and identify the players that fit that mold, then nurture (read indoctrinate) them into the players that they have decided they need. Perhaps, rather than concentrating on piking the best 12 and 13 year olds to send off to an academy program, they should look at who are the emrging players with skill and creativity on the national scene. Case in point, Benny Feilhaber, now a solid midfielder for the USMNT was noy part of an elite academy program, was not recruited by the college soccer powers, but had to walk-on at UCLA, and there developed. By “missing out” on much of the elite development programs, he was able to play and develop as a player, an individual.
Living in Arizona I see pick-up games all the time, and there are now more players then ever out at the park kicking around of an afternoon. This may not be the case everywhere, our proximity to Mexico and large Hispanic population undoubtedly has a lot to do with it, but the sport is growing. Having been involved for the last 12 years, as coach, parent, referee and fan of the beautiful game, I can appreciate that there is still a long way to go, but when measured against where we were 10 years ago, there has been significant advancement.
Finally, a note on the media. Most media types who comment negatively on soccer know nothing about it, want to know nothing about it, and are deathly afraid that the game will take off in popularity and they will be left behind. Combine that with the fact that American professional sports, especially football and basketball, are imtimately tied to gambling and advertising, and you can see that there are significant forces heavily invested in the “success” of these sports. Since it is harder to wager on soccer in the same way as one does on football, and also difficult to introduce 30 and 60 second commercials into 45 minutes of non-stop action, the betting and advertising industries don’t have a vested interest in soccer’s success.
good article, mike made a good point about the gender gap..
I don’t know where you-all live, but in Southern California, soccer is played everywhere - in basketball courts, in and around park benches and palm trees, in dusty bowls in municipal parks - I’m in London for the year, and I’m amazed - AMAZED - at how open green spaces aren’t covered with kids, teenagers, and adults playing pickup. I see way less pick-up soccer here than back home - why is THAT?
In LA, I can’t think of a single flat open green park space that isn’t either used for playing organized or pick-up soccer or that isn’t surrounded by fences with “No Futbol/Soccer” signs on them - to keep out the crowds. And a minimal cable package will get you at least local Spanish language stations carrying results & broadcasting matches. And let’s remember that Americans pay premium cable prices for Showtime & HBO, and pay-per-view for boxing - nobody says that that means there’s no audience for that programing: On the contrary, there’s an audience willing to pay hard earned $$ for it.
The west coast/southwest region is really different on this score - I don’t see fans & amateur players living in the Southwest saying all this stuff about generation gaps, and gender differences (like it’s only women who play). See my blog fromaleftwing.blogspot.com for December 2007 entries on this.
I agree with your perceptions about the growth and popularity of soccer. I coached and convened and ran training programs and started a mini-soccer league for little kids. I believe the game will become VERY popular and I believe that, once enough kids play, its growth will take off. Once players graduate they will become senior players and will be the backbone of the growth of adult soccer. As more and more people play, the cream will rise to the top and pro soccer will take off. I think strenuous efforts to force-feed big league growth will fail until the number of knowledgeable adult fans becomes large enough to support it. Focus on the kids now - the rest will come. Good coaching is critical. Keep the louts out!