| Soccer is the most popular sport in almost every | | | | Slower players can also find positions, especially in |
| country in the world. That is unless you live in the | | | | midfield. There is a place for everyone who has the |
| USA where football, baseball and basketball are more | | | | desire. |
| popular. As a soccer coach the problem is therefore | | | | The involvement in the game is much greater in |
| how to get youth players interested in playing soccer | | | | soccer than it is for other sports. In football there |
| rather than the other sports. | | | | are so many stoppages in the game. Some players |
| Firstly we need to look at the reasons as to why | | | | like the kickers may only have very limited |
| other sports are more popular than soccer in the | | | | involvement in the game. In soccer, even if your |
| USA. One of the main reasons is spectator appeal. | | | | team does not have the ball, everyone has to hustle |
| Local football, baseball and basketball are televised | | | | back to defend. Even the forwards have to defend |
| and promoted in every major city in the US. Young | | | | from the front. Defenders when not defending have |
| athletes watch this and associate with their heroes. | | | | to support the midfield and forwards. |
| Another reason is the money available in the | | | | Soccer is very fast paced with almost continuous |
| professional game is much more in the American | | | | involvement. Basketball is probably the most similar of |
| sports than in soccer. As a result, more young sports | | | | the American sports to soccer, the biggest |
| players aspire to earn their living with a high income in | | | | difference being the size of the court to the field. |
| the American sports. | | | | As well as speed, strength and stamina, skill is of the |
| Not that soccer is a poor mans sport. Wages for | | | | utmost importance in soccer thus producing an |
| soccer players around the world are now on the | | | | athlete with more rounded attributes. At youth level |
| increase. For example 2 of the best soccer players in | | | | you will often find that youth soccer players often |
| the world Christiano Ronaldo and Robinho are | | | | excel in the other American sports. |
| reported to be on $200, 000 and $320,000 per week | | | | A good way to get youth athletes more interested |
| respectively. David Beckham who plays for LA | | | | in soccer is to get them watching high-class |
| Galaxy is also high up there with the top soccer | | | | professional games on TV. The English Premier |
| player earners. Although the interest in soccer is | | | | League is probably the best to watch as it is fast |
| growing in the US among young sportsmen, the | | | | paced with a high skill level. Many of the best players |
| sport cannot compete as yet with the publicity, | | | | in the world play in this league. There are several TV |
| advertising and hype of the American sports. | | | | stations that show these games like Fox Sports |
| The question is how to persuade young players in | | | | World. |
| the US that soccer is the best sport to enter. Here | | | | Also it would be good to get prospective youth |
| are a few good reasons: | | | | soccer players to go to a few of their local college |
| Soccer is a sport that any player can play and be | | | | soccer games or semi pro games if there is a team |
| successful in. As in football where physique and size is | | | | in the area, |
| a major factor, in basketball where it is very | | | | And then there is that magical feeling of scoring a |
| advantageous to be well over 6 feet tall, any player | | | | goal with the goal celebration to follow. Soccer is |
| can be successful in soccer no matter what size or | | | | certainly on the increase in the USA. The game |
| physique a player has. Big and strong players can find | | | | produces leaders with more all round ability than the |
| positions as defenders, midfielders or forwards. Small | | | | US sports. Success in soccer can lead to worldwide |
| players can find positions as forwards and wingers | | | | acclaim as players like Brad Friedel who plays in the |
| and develop skills to be successful in these positions. | | | | English premier league has shown. |