any americans....

[debster812]

We watched several of the matches over the weekend. I have a 9YO son who is soccer MAD. He of course, wanted to stay home from school today to watch Team USA. Sorry pal. We'll catch the replay tonight. We watched 4 matches over the weekend, and he's decided to also root for Trinidad-Tobago as well.

 

[GoofyDad869]

I've been watching World Cup... I love soccer.

I played travel team from age 9 through High School, played varsity in High School, & club level for my first year in college. Then class work became my major interest, taking up most of my time...

 

[cardaway]

That is true, but the nation's interest in soccer is the #1 reason (by far) why the World Cup isn't as popular. The Super Bowl could be on at 3:00AM and the ratings would be sky high. Even if the US team was a contender, it would have very little impact on ratings and interest level.

If the US team was to do what the 1980 Hockey team pulled off IMO you would see things change.

Where did I compare it to the NFL?

 

[carone0318]

Big fans here! Tivo'ing every game. Big decision today as to what game to watch. Dh wants me to wait until he comes home from soccer practice to watch the US, so the best game to watch would be Italy v. Ghana but if I watch that I will see the results of the US game. Decisions, decisions!

We are also big fans of the Premier League games too. Dh and I both have fantasy teams on the English Premier web site. We also have teams for the World Cup.

We were at the 94 WC down in Orlando for 2 weeks and loved every minute of it. We had planned to take our family to Germany for this WC but we had a house built instead (priorities). We are planning to possibly go to the Euro Championships in 08 (believe they are in Austria).

Love Michael Owen (although I am a little too old for him)! Also a big Ruud fan!

 

[WIcruizer]

If the US team was to do what the 1980 Hockey team pulled off IMO you would see things change.

I don't think so. Americans loved that STORY, but hockey isn't any more popular today.

I didn't mean to imply you compared it to the NFL. My point is that the time of the matches doesn't have a big impact on interest level. It doesn't have to be the NFL, it could be anythng the general public cares about. Ameican Idol could be on at the msot obscure time and people would watch.

 

[N.Bailey]

Don't worry, it only happens every 4 years. You are clear after this summer

Well, this is good to know. Can you tell I've never watched it?

 

[Quinn222]

I'm trying to watch it but it's hard with my schedule. I was mad to miss the Germany game the first day. They're supposed to be installing a plasma screen in my office soon and when they do maybe I can have some games on. I'll have to have the sound off but it's better than nothing.

 

[carolfoy]

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply, I do find it quite funny that WICruizer mentions Beckham, I know he's a huge star internationally but didn't realise that you'd have heard as much about him.
and Carone 0318 - maybe Michael would like an older woman? he seems like a really nice guy as talented as Beckham but certainly not quite as publicity hungry. Of course nobody bends a ball like Beckham so he deserves his footballing reputation but his dominance of the news over other matters of his private life are a bit nauseating.

Interesting point too about there being no 'home team' to root for, is there no inter state tournament in the US?
and is football (sorry, soccer) taught as standard in phys ed in school? and from what age?

 

[MamaLema]

I'm Canadian and I have watched every single game so far

Canada isn't in it, but my native country and DH's native country are in the same group and actually played against each other already. His country upset my country which was favoured to win and now I have to wear his country's jersey all week because I lost the bet

 

[jrmasm]

We watched several of the matches over the weekend. I have a 9YO son who is soccer MAD. He of course, wanted to stay home from school today to watch Team USA. Sorry pal. We'll catch the replay tonight.

DH stayed home from work today to watch. He's also got 4 11 year old girls to keep him company.

The T-T/Sweden game was great. I think they're my favorites too.

Off to call DH "Honey, whatch doing?"

 

[monarchsfan16]

I'm not watching, because I don't like soccer
If it was a world cup of hockey, I'd be tuned in. Soccer? NO WAY

 

[carone0318]

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply, I do find it quite funny that WICruizer mentions Beckham, I know he's a huge star internationally but didn't realise that you'd have heard as much about him.
and Carone 0318 - maybe Michael would like an older woman? he seems like a really nice guy as talented as Beckham but certainly not quite as publicity hungry. Of course nobody bends a ball like Beckham so he deserves his footballing reputation but his dominance of the news over other matters of his private life are a bit nauseating.

Interesting point too about there being no 'home team' to root for, is there no inter state tournament in the US?
and is football (sorry, soccer) taught as standard in phys ed in school? and from what age?

We have the MLS here, but it isn't the same as int'l football. It's just a different level in the rest of the world, much higher. Maybe in 20yrs it will be different when our children are older. Soccer is a huge youth sport over here. My ds (5) is a huge soccer fan, who is well aware of the prime players in the world setting. His favorite team is Chelsea (not that I mind because Frank Lampard is a cutie) As you can see I love the sport and watch it all the time, but the "eye candy" isn't hard on the eyes either.

DH and I were just talking about Van Persie (Netherlands/Arsenal) and I was like, oh he's such a cutie! He's a good player too! Had the assist in the Holland game.

I think a problem for the US market is that soccer is a "slow moving" sport. Most American's can't appreciate the game, they want to see scoring and 0-0 or 1-0 isn't enough to keep their interest. I doubt that it will ever reach the same level that our beloved American Football has or possibly even baseball/basketball. Part of the problem is that soccer doesn't break for commercials like all of our sports do, so it will never receive the backing from commercial sponsors like the American sports. But for the few (millions) of American viewers that we have that can truly appreciate the game, we are greatful for ESPN and ABC for airing all of the games (without commercial breaks).

 

[VSL]

I'm not American... I'm British, but I have absolutely zero interest in football. I'm so sick of hearing about Wayne Rooney

If it was athletics (particularly track), I'm there.

Great to see Asafa Powell equal his joint WR in the 100m in Gateshead on Sunday.

 

[GoofyDad869]

We have the MLS here, but it isn't the same as int'l football. It's just a different level in the rest of the world, much higher. Maybe in 20yrs it will be different when our children are older. Soccer is a huge youth sport over here. My ds (5) is a huge soccer fan, who is well aware of the prime players in the world setting. His favorite team is Chelsea (not that I mind because Frank Lampard is a cutie) As you can see I love the sport and watch it all the time, but the "eye candy" isn't hard on the eyes either.

DH and I were just talking about Van Persie (Netherlands/Arsenal) and I was like, oh he's such a cutie! He's a good player too! Had the assist in the Holland game.

I think a problem for the US market is that soccer is a "slow moving" sport. Most American's can't appreciate the game, they want to see scoring and 0-0 or 1-0 isn't enough to keep their interest. I doubt that it will ever reach the same level that our beloved American Football has or possibly even baseball/basketball. Part of the problem is that soccer doesn't break for commercials like all of our sports do, so it will never receive the backing from commercial sponsors like the American sports. But for the few (millions) of American viewers that we have that can truly appreciate the game, we are greatful for ESPN and ABC for airing all of the games (without commercial breaks).

I agree with most of what you say here. Except I might add: General interest in soccer here in the US seems to be cyclical. The proportion of kids involved in soccer vs. other sports programs has grown, but there are fewer and fewer kids going out for ALL sports these days (correct me if I'm wrong in that assumption).

In my experience, I played in some manner of organized soccer team from '76 through to '88. My mom was AYSO director for our region for a couple of years. My little brother played through high-school level into the late '90s. In the mid to late '80s for my travel teams there were always enough kids trying out that there were actual cuts, and the general leagues were full-to-overflowing capacity in the younger age groups. Participation dropped sharply in the regular leagues once kids got to be high school age in both mine and my brother's case. I'm not sure if that's still the case, as my kids aren't that old yet.

For what it's worth, neither of my kids currently play organized soccer, but my son has played in the past (currently he's into karate).

I personally love to see an attack develop in soccer.

 

[wvjovifan]

World Cup? Not interested! I don't find soccer exciting. Give me some football anytime! I hated it when my DD was a cheerleader and had to cheer at varsity soccer games.....ugh!!! boring! But I never missed a football game! But let me tell you, those soccer moms are vicious!!!

 

[carone0318]

I agree with most of what you say here. Except I might add: General interest in soccer here in the US seems to be cyclical. The proportion of kids involved in soccer vs. other sports programs has grown, but there are fewer and fewer kids going out for ALL sports these days (correct me if I'm wrong in that assumption).

In my experience, I played in some manner of organized soccer team from '76 through to '88. My mom was AYSO director for our region for a couple of years. My little brother played through high-school level into the late '90s. In the mid to late '80s for my travel teams there were always enough kids trying out that there were actual cuts, and the general leagues were full-to-overflowing capacity in the younger age groups. Participation dropped sharply in the regular leagues once kids got to be high school age in both mine and my brother's case. I'm not sure if that's still the case, as my kids aren't that old yet.

For what it's worth, neither of my kids currently play organized soccer, but my son has played in the past (currently he's into karate).

I personally love to see an attack develop in soccer.

I think that there is a huge interest in soccer at an early age for both girls and boys. My dd plays competitive on a u-10 soon to be u-11 team and ds played year round this year. I think that as with any sport, a child usually plays several sports until about the age of 12/13 and then they start to decide what sport they want to focus on and then go with it. My dh is a Select soccer coach for our area and this year he is coaching a u-11 team and for his try-outs he had over 80 boys there trying to earn 1 of the 18 spots.

I just saw the end of the US v. Czech Rep game. I don't want to give anything away. At least now I can watch the Italy v Ghana game without worrying about hearing the results!

 

[southernbella]

Hi, We are watching too! My DVR is full of World Cup games (got to get those babies asleep early so I can catch up with my games). Dh & his brothers played soccer at the college level. His brother could have gone pro if he wanted to, but a southern girl got in the way!

My Dad's from Ecuador, so he is so excited they are doing as well as they are. I know they don't have a chance of winning (that would be like the Saints winning the Superbowl) but I'm still rooting for them!

Sbella

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

I watched today's game.

All three of my daughters (16, 7, and 5) all play soccer. The two little ones are in their third season. They start British soccer camp next week.

The US does not have great presence at the World Cup because it's such a young sport here. Just wait until my little girls get big. Then there will be some competition!

 

[GoofyDad869]

I think that there is a huge interest in soccer at an early age for both girls and boys. My dd plays competitive on a u-10 soon to be u-11 team and ds played year round this year. I think that as with any sport, a child usually plays several sports until about the age of 12/13 and then they start to decide what sport they want to focus on and then go with it. My dh is a Select soccer coach for our area and this year he is coaching a u-11 team and for his try-outs he had over 80 boys there trying to earn 1 of the 18 spots.

I just saw the end of the US v. Czech Rep game. I don't want to give anything away. At least now I can watch the Italy v Ghana game without worrying about hearing the results!

Wow! 80 tried out for 18 spots. I stand corrected. Is league play as popular where you're at?

 

[WIcruizer]

The proportion of kids involved in soccer vs. other sports programs has grown, but there are fewer and fewer kids going out for ALL sports these days (correct me if I'm wrong in that assumption).

My experience personally, and reading various articles in general, tells me more and more kids are going out for sports- not less. Years ago, sports weren't so ultra-organized. So kids wouldn't always NEED to go for a sport to play it. There were always pick-up basketball games and baseball games, etc.

Now those informal games don't exist anymore. Kids have to join leagues at a very young age, or they are on the outside looking in.

That's a big reason why soccer is exploding in the U.S. It takes almost no talent to play at a very young age, so just about every boy and girl can play.