Soccer - "The Un- American Activity"

It will be interesting to see how this event draws as there are plenty of people who don't think the World Junior Hockey Championship would be a huge success in Toronto. Different events maybe but the age group is the same. Those going to the soccer thing won't be seeing World Cup-calibre games.

One thing I am sure we will see is stands full of locals cheering for England, Italy, Portugal, France, Brazil etc. and against the Canadians.

 

I just don't see this "physicality" and toughness that the soccer apolgists have mentioned. Everytime I've watch a World Cup match its seems like someone is writhing in pain on the pitch after incidental contact.

If soccer players are so tough how do they get hurt so easily?

 

You're not serious, are you?

It's diving, it's an act, anything to get the ref to pull a yellow card on your opponent.

It's disgraceful.

 

I think Bill Laimbeer would have made a great soccer player.

 

Yes - I was serious. I 've watched a lot of games at gym while working out so I don't hear the commentary. Even time I looked up at a TV it seems like someone is hurt.

Yesterday In the Semi some guy from France got hurt and it lead to game winning penalty kick. Watching replay contact seemed minimal.

I don't understand the diving- are you saying that they are faking these injuries?

 

That is a ridiculous generalization and a disservice to the majority of youth coaches.

The number of children in youth sports is off the charts. For most their first introduction to sports is through youth coaches. If the experience is so bad why do so many kids continue to sign up?

 

The number of children in youth sports is off the charts. For most their first introduction to sports is through youth coaches. If the experience is so bad why do so many kids continue to sign up?

I have no data to back it up but my guess is that youth sports participation for kids 12+ is down dramatically over the years for the reasons previously mentioned. I have watched my kids and family members in youth sports for the past decades. In any sport, the peak is probably ages 8-11. Then, the ranks are thinned out as the "elite" continue on and the rest are ghetto-ized into rec leagues which are considered the "loser" bracket.

 

There are various studies (one was cited in the Oprah-approved book "The Overscheduled Child") that three-quarters of kids in youth sports are done with them by age 13. By then, the system has weeded out the weak. Of course, this number also reflects the enormous growth in the number of kids in youth sports. Why do kids keep signing up? They don't. Their parents sign them up.

And I have been a youth coach (hopefully not one of the dickwads I described), and I have seen plenty of coaches. Even the worst generally mean well, but I've seen plenty whose self-esteem is way too linked to how their group of 8-year-olds performed.

 

I have no data either but I think that the dropout rate for kids 12 + has probably stayed more or less the same in the last 30 years.

There are a lot of factors many of which haven't changed since I was a kid: lack of interest, realisation that  you're not going to the big leagues, girls, jobs after school, etc.

And quite frankly, I don't know anyone- who considers rec leagues the "loser" bracket. Well, some of the idiot parents maybe but not the kids.

Kids aren't awestruck by peers who play at a higher level than them. They think, "Oh, Gord's a helluva good hockey/football/baseball player. Good for him". It's the parents who say, "Why can't you be like Gord instead of playing house league?"

 

Boom, you forgot the "I'm going to pretend I'm an idiot" font.
Give it a rest.

 

We don't say that in the U.S. Because no one here names their kid "Gord."

 

You paint a bleak picture.  Are you suggesting that Youth sports programs be done away with?

In our area I find that age 12 is the end of "youth " sports. At that age the school programs take over with the one exception being hockey

Particpation levels in school programs are so high that most sports have to cut kids.