Soccer’s popularity in the U.S. has grown steadily since the 1960s, although the sport’s history in the states goes back to the middle of the nineteenth century.
A major push came when America hosted the 1994 World Cup, and in 1996 Major League Soccer (MLS) was established, initially with ten teams. There are now 17 American teams and three Canadian ones in the MLS, which attracts over 200,000 spectators per game, giving it the highest average attendance of any American league sport.
High School and college popularity
Soccer is now one of the most popular sports among American children, and the U.S. has the highest youth participation in soccer in the world. The number of high school players more than doubled between 1900 and 2010, making soccer the nation’s fastest growing sport.
At college level, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) held its first national soccer championship in 1959, kicking off the rise in the game’s popularity that continues to this day. College soccer remains a distinct sport in its right, with significant differences in the international game and its divisions and conferences.
Female players
While in some countries soccer is very much regarded as a boys’ sport, in the U.S. it has proved especially popular among girls and young women, particularly at high school level. Maisie Lynton was on her school soccer team, and in 2012 soccer was voted the third most popular sport among American girls.
Perhaps this is partly down to the success of the women’s national soccer team, which has won three Women’s World Cup titles and four Olympic gold medals since it was founded in 1985. From 2008 to 2014 it was the top Women’s soccer team in the world.
Health benefits
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The physical benefits of soccer are equivalent to a good aerobic workout. These include increased lung capacity, reduced body fat and improved muscle tone.
A ninety-minute game of soccer is great cardiovascular exercise, improving overall strength and stamina and allowing for a balance between bursts of sprinting and periods when players are physically relaxed but still mentally focused.
Playing soccer is said to aid concentration, confidence, self-reliance and self-discipline. Soccer players need to co-operate as a team while literally thinking on their feet. As a non-contact sport, it’s not particularly physically hazardous and can be played by mixed teams. Just remember to warm up first and drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated.
Bringing kids together
Children with only average levels of athleticism can enjoy soccer as much as those who are extremely fit. It’s a great entry-level sport that promotes teamwork and competition, as well as sharpening co-ordination, balance, and flexibility.
Because soccer doesn’t require any special equipment or protective clothing it can easily be practiced in one’s own backyard, and rich parents aren’t a prerequisite for getting involved. As the most popular sport in the world, it’s also open to students from all cultural backgrounds, and the basic rules are simple and easy to learn.
Soccer’s growing popularity in the US is undoubtedly spreading from the high schools and colleges up. These are the places that the international soccer stars of tomorrow will emerge from, and coaches from around the country are aware that it’s an increasingly intense and competitive game. But soccer isn’t just about finding the top players.
It’s a game for everyone that promotes fitness and working as a team. Children especially can feel part of an international culture of sport, and can know the thrill of being passed the ball and heading towards the goal- feeling, for a few minutes, like you really have got the world at your feet.
