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Why isn't the U.S. better at soccer?

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Re: Why isn't the U.S. better at soccer?

#201

Post by karp773 »

otherme123 wrote: post #46
SamBam wrote: post #19

I don't think the article really tried to answer the question, though maybe that wasn't its intent and the author was genuinely asking. I think an answer would need to look at the difference in how kids and teens play soccer in the US vs other countries. In the US soccer is mostly a younger kids' sport, and is generally highly structured, with kids playing on teams once or twice a week. Compare to Europe, where many…

> Finally, a good European player doesn't necessarily head to college. They may be playing for a serious club team at 18 or 19. My guess is that less than 5% of european soccer players ever set a foot in College, at least in the biggest Leagues (UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany). I only know two: Lampard and Iniesta. There might be a few more, but they are oddities. If anything, a good player and good student usu…

If you have a choice (an offer) to be a pro player at 18, it means you had already given up on school by 12 or younger.

Re: Why isn't the U.S. better at soccer?

#202

Post by onlypassingthru »

lostapathy wrote: post #183
musicale wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As you indicate the most popular (and generally highest paying) professional sports in the US are football, basketball and baseball. This includes college football and basketball, which are part of the career path for those sports. Women's soccer is relatively popular, however.

> Women's soccer is relatively popular, however. This may be a function of the fact that no other women's team sport is at all popular in the US?

The WNBA would like a word.

Re: Why isn't the U.S. better at soccer?

#203

Post by thenthenthen »

sashavegas wrote: post #109

Several Factors: 1.Socker does not have pause of the game as a result no add, mean not commercial $$$. Several years ago research show that none of EU socker team are profitable. 2. Boring game. Watching 90 min for maybe 1-0 score

Huh half time?

Re: Why isn't the U.S. better at soccer?

#204

Post by musictubes »

cweld510 wrote: post #22
cortesoft wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get this argument, and it is probably partially right, but is soccer really competing for the same athletes as basketball and American football? Basketball players are mostly too tall for soccer (other than goalie), and a majority of football players are way bigger than great soccer players. Baseball and hockey might compete for the same athletes, but a huge percentage of baseball and hockey players also come from…

It definitely is at the youth level. I don’t think any football or basketball pros could be soccer stars, but absolutely there are kids who are star point guards on their youth basketball team but top out at 5’8”, or football players who never make it past high school but could have been great at soccer.

Well no, an existing professional American football player has no chance of switching to being a professional soccer player. Nobody can simply switch at that level. You have to have cultivated the skills over a long period of time to ever have a chance at competing at the highest levels.

On the other hand, I can’t imagine the guys that ended up being cornerbacks, wide receivers, safeties, or even halfbacks couldn’t have become soccer professionals given the right culture, training, and desire growing up. Sure, linemen, tight ends, and fullbacks aren’t built for soccer.

Re: Why isn't the U.S. better at soccer?

#205

Post by brudgers »

scythe wrote: post #181
brudgers wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Mexican Primera favors a unique type of athlete…players who can regularly play at 10,000 feet (3000m) because many matches are played in and around Mexico City. And other clubs are also above 5000 feet. Add in daytime heat, night cold, humidity and smog and you get a very different practical reality that shapes the pace and tactics of the Primeria and soccer culture in general. In turn that shapes who succeeds as…

This is an interesting theory. But do Mexican soccer players do much better at home games?

Not clear what you are asking, but at the international level Azteca is notoriously advantageous…of course top European sides never visit so there’s no general empirical data.

And you won’t get much more from the world cup because the only ceded European side favored to play at Azteca is England in the round of 8.

Re: Why isn't the U.S. better at soccer?

#206

Post by notesinthefield »

lostapathy wrote: post #183
musicale wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As you indicate the most popular (and generally highest paying) professional sports in the US are football, basketball and baseball. This includes college football and basketball, which are part of the career path for those sports. Women's soccer is relatively popular, however.

> Women's soccer is relatively popular, however. This may be a function of the fact that no other women's team sport is at all popular in the US?

Womens basketball viewership across college, pro and semi pro levels is significantly more popular than equivalent womens soccer levels. Non-USWNT games are surprisingly hard to locate and stream.

Re: Why isn't the U.S. better at soccer?

#207

Post by musictubes »

fsckboy wrote: post #64
waltfy wrote: post #4

Not American. Don’t live in US. The outside impression I get is that the game simply isn’t one of the kids’ default street sports.

the US has a large relatively recent influx of Latino populations, and they play a lot of soccer, and in a number of cultures also baseball

Yup. For many years in DC just about the only people that went to DC United games were Latinos. They are still the dominant supporters of professional US soccer I think.

I had a surreal experience one day after work. I lived on a cul de sac and it was common to have kids play baseball or kickball in the summer. There was one Indian family on the street and the eldest boy had convinced them to try cricket that day. Heard him yelling “Bowl it! Bowl it!” So yeah, immigrants add a lot to the US including sports.

Re: Why isn't the U.S. better at soccer?

#208

Post by tj-teej »

The most interesting point here is to look at Women's Soccer.

Soccer has always included lots of psuedo-nationalist reasons why different countries are better (or why the dive, why they play conservative defense, etc).

But when you look at the success of the US Women's team it's very clear that the main thing is investment in building talent. The rest of the world does it for mens soccer (football) because that's what they do. When Title 9 went into effect America put a huge amount of money (relative to other countries) into womens soccer and the US Womens team has been one of the best in the world every since.

Re: Why isn't the U.S. better at soccer?

#209

Post by boringg »

athenot wrote: post #158

Money. Typical amount of commercials time per game: NFL 60-65 min NBA 40-50 min MLB 40-50 min NHL 25-35 min MLS/Premier League/World Cup 10-20 min

I was going to go with money -- the amount of money to put kids through soccer in a competitive program in USA/CANADA is way more than the competitive programs in europe. That immediately drops down the amount of talent that can make it through the system + anyone who is particularly good and has any connections to europe goes there to level up faster by playing more competitive players.

Re: Why isn't the U.S. better at soccer?

#210

Post by outside1234 »

tj-teej wrote: post #208

The most interesting point here is to look at Women's Soccer. Soccer has always included lots of psuedo-nationalist reasons why different countries are better (or why the dive, why they play conservative defense, etc). But when you look at the success of the US Women's team it's very clear that the main thing is investment in building talent. The rest of the world does it for mens soccer (football) because that's wha…

At the most fundamental level, men’s soccer doesn’t get the best athletes. Those go to football, basketball, and baseball.

In women’s soccer they do get the best atheletes. We’ve won half of the world cups and Olympics.

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