What in your opinion is the state of soccer in both the USA and Canada? Recreational participation, attending professional matches, interest in ⚽️ etc

[JediBonas]

There are a ton of youth soccer teams around where I am, plus some adult leagues and semi-professional teams. There's talk about building a stadium for an MLS Next team here, so that was exciting news for us. We are pretty big soccer fans in my house, have peacock to watch Premiere League, have season tickets to the local semi-pro team and my son plays on the school team as well as town and travel teams.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Where to begin?
I grew up in a smaller town in Northern California and played growing up. It was essentially "grassroots" and those of us that took it seriously ended up playing on the High School team. We played in what we called "winter league", travelling 1-2 hours each weekend in the high school off-season. That would be considered a rec league today - one game a weekend, not weekend-long tournaments.

My kids played AYSO, and frankly I think AYSO is its own worst enemy. As I recall it was that way when I was growing up too. My home town kicked them out in fact. A parent started the grass-roots recreational league that plays to this day in that town. AYSO siphons off money and the best players to support more competitive teams that act more like club teams, playing in weekend long tournaments with club teams. Yes, the AYSO elite teams can compete with the club teams - but then the core teams suffer. not so much from the cost that is spread to all the players, but more the absence of the kids that take it seriously enough to even think about playing in high school. From there it is a self-fulfilling death spiral with kids that don't think the game is fun, and parents that are entirely disengaged. They don't pay coaches or referees so those that do volunteer take on the brunt of the effort with little to no thanks from those that don't.

Then there's the club teams. It's pay-for-play and the good players are always getting recruited to play for one team over another. That sets up an unnecessary, usually pretty toxic competition between clubs before the teams even take the field. This does not even mention the other club teams that are based along, shall we say, ethnic lines.

This all adds up to a tremendous demand for field space, especially lit fields. This demand is taking place in towns that have long established baseball fields that are not to be touched and schools with their own agenda. This did not happen when I was growing up - kids want to play, there's a field, go at it. Not anymore - now anyone, be that a city, school or private, gets paid if a team steps on their field, either to play or practice.

This all leads to big money being spent before kids are even old enough to try out for a high school team. Maybe not so in smaller areas, but in the city I live in you can forget about playing in HS if you are not on one of the better club teams. And the result? Kids know a dead-end when the see it. All but the most ardent quit before they are even old enough to play 11 a side on a full field.

LSS - my kids play lacrosse. It's expensive because club is our only option and we have to travel for both practice and games. Remember what I said about fields? Lacrosse gets the scraps that soccer leaves behind. We like to say the water polo teams get higher priority than lacrosse. My kids are starters on their high school teams and have/do/will play on a college team. I tell every parent that will listen; if you want your kid to have opportunity, it's on the lacrosse field, not the soccer field.

Does that answer your question?

 

[Buzz Rules]

There are a ton of youth soccer teams around where I am, plus some adult leagues and semi-professional teams. There's talk about building a stadium for an MLS Next team here, so that was exciting news for us. We are pretty big soccer fans in my house, have peacock to watch Premiere League, have season tickets to the local semi-pro team and my son plays on the school team as well as town and travel teams.

That's awesome to hear. Are you excited for the world cup then?

 

[Lumpy1106]

FWIW -I coached my kids as long as they were willing to play and am a fairly decent referee. I played in a well-organized Sunday league into my 50's. It was the fountain of youth. Everyone on the field looked at least 10 years younger than they really are. Stupid COVID though - guys got out of shape and we couldn't get enough players back on the field when the fields opened back up. That and we got old. Stupid getting old <grumbles>.

 

[Lumpy1106]

To answer your question about WC - I am as excited as I have ever been. I do think the US team is doomed - hope they make it out of pool play but not hopeful. Not a huge fan that the US, Canada and Mexico all get a pass into the tournament. That takes opportunity away from possibly more worthy national teams.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Where to begin?
I grew up in a smaller town in Northern California and played growing up. It was essentially "grassroots" and those of us that took it seriously ended up playing on the High School team. We played in what we called "winter league", travelling 1-2 hours each weekend in the high school off-season. That would be considered a rec league today - one game a weekend, not weekend-long tournaments.

My kids played AYSO, and frankly I think AYSO is its own worst enemy. As I recall it was that way when I was growing up too. My home town kicked them out in fact. A parent started the grass-roots recreational league that plays to this day in that town. AYSO siphons off money and the best players to support more competitive teams that act more like club teams, playing in weekend long tournaments with club teams. Yes, the AYSO elite teams can compete with the club teams - but then the core teams suffer. not so much from the cost that is spread to all the players, but more the absence of the kids that take it seriously enough to even think about playing in high school. From there it is a self-fulfilling death spiral with kids that don't think the game is fun, and parents that are entirely disengaged. They don't pay coaches or referees so those that do volunteer take on the brunt of the effort with little to no thanks from those that don't.

Then there's the club teams. It's pay-for-play and the good players are always getting recruited to play for one team over another. That sets up an unnecessary, usually pretty toxic competition between clubs before the teams even take the field. This does not even mention the other club teams that are based along, shall we say, ethnic lines.

This all adds up to a tremendous demand for field space, especially lit fields. This demand is taking place in towns that have long established baseball fields that are not to be touched and schools with their own agenda. This did not happen when I was growing up - kids want to play, there's a field, go at it. Not anymore - now anyone, be that a city, school or private, gets paid if a team steps on their field, either to play or practice.

This all leads to big money being spent before kids are even old enough to try out for a high school team. Maybe not so in smaller areas, but in the city I live in you can forget about playing in HS if you are not on one of the better club teams. And the result? Kids know a dead-end when the see it. only the most ardent quit before they are even old enough to play 11 a side on a full field.

LSS - my kids play lacrosse. It's expensive because club is our only option and we have to travel for both practice and games. Remember what I said about fields? Lacrosse gets the scraps that soccer leaves behind. We like to say the water polo teams get higher priority than lacrosse. My kids are starters on their high school teams and have/do/will play on a college team. I tell every parent that will listen; if you want your kid to have opportunity, it's on the lacrosse field, not the soccer field.

Does that answer your question?

Thanks for the response. Soccer development in the USA is complicated in its current state. We definitely need to move away from pay to play. Part of the solution to this is establishing more professional team systems throughout all states within the USA. We need more academies put into place in every county across the USA. The college system is currently being reevaluated by the NCAA and the USSF. Changes will probably be put into place in 2027 or so. This will help athletes not ready to become a professional yet, to have more development time a day still have a college degree to fall back on. The USSF and MLS/USL are also trying to do even more programs, camps, and community outreach services. This in the coming years should help keep kids interested in the sport and help better identify more gifted athletes who can make the professional jump through academies.

 

[Buzz Rules]

To answer your question about WC - I am as excited as I have ever been. I do think the US team is doomed - hope they make it out of pool play but not hopeful. Not a huge fan that the US, Canada and Mexico all get a pass into the tournament. That takes opportunity away from possibly more worthy national teams.

Let us see what happens with the next 2 friendlies and Gold Cup this summer. Did you hear South America wants the world cup finals to include 64 teams?

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Just the basic in our area, kid soccer leagues and high school that usually parents are the only ones attending, nothing more or less then before. Let's just say it is rare if I see a soccer game on any of the TV's at any of the sports restaurants that I go too, and that is a lot of TV's. LOL

 

[Buzz Rules]

Just the basic in our area, kid soccer leagues and high school that usually parents are the only ones attending, nothing more or less then before. Let's just say it is rare if I see a soccer game on any of the TV's at any of the sports restaurants that I go too, and that is a lot of TV's. LOL

Really? Between the European leagues, national team matches, and MLS/USL having matches on tv, I'm actually shocked. Have you ever gone to a professional match before?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Just the basic in our area, kid soccer leagues and high school that usually parents are the only ones attending, nothing more or less then before. Let's just say it is rare if I see a soccer game on any of the TV's at any of the sports restaurants that I go too, and that is a lot of TV's. LOL

https://www.pnj.com/story/news/loca...siders-pensacola-league-one-team/82491674007/

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Really? Between the European leagues, national team matches, and MLS/USL having matches on tv, I'm actually shocked. Have you ever gone to a professional match before?

Once when I lived in Orlando a long time ago. I will root for US in Worlds and Olympics but I, nor most of the people I know, have any interest in watching soccer outside of that. This is the first that I have heard of Pensacola trying to bring soccer there, but it doesn't surprise me. I do enjoy going to see their minor league baseball and hockey teams as being from Detroit I am also a hockey fan. It's also rare to see a hockey game on TV around here. LOL

 

[Buzz Rules]

Once when I lived in Orlando a long time ago. I will root for US in Worlds and Olympics but I, nor most of the people I know, have any interest in watching soccer outside of that. This is the first that I have heard of Pensacola trying to bring soccer there, but it doesn't surprise me. I do enjoy going to see their minor league baseball and hockey teams as being from Detroit I am also a hockey fan. It's also rare to see a hockey game on TV around here. LOL

Florida Panthers aren't popular in the Panhandle?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Once when I lived in Orlando a long time ago. I will root for US in Worlds and Olympics but I, nor most of the people I know, have any interest in watching soccer outside of that. This is the first that I have heard of Pensacola trying to bring soccer there, but it doesn't surprise me. I do enjoy going to see their minor league baseball and hockey teams as being from Detroit I am also a hockey fan. It's also rare to see a hockey game on TV around here. LOL

Soccer will see some major changes across the country after 2026.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Florida Panthers aren't popular in the Panhandle?

Nope. Pensacola maybe a bit since they have the minor league team Flyers but definitely not east of Pensacola. Just to give you a good example, we have a local sports radio show here (Destin area) and they talk college football probably 90% of the year

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Soccer will see some major changes across the country after 2026.

Just not for me.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Just not for me.

No worries. Anything can happen after a World Cup. Heck, anything can happen after the Gold Cup this summer. I do think the watch parties in Florida will be special during the World Cup, that even non fans will still have a great time.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Nope. Pensacola maybe a bit since they have the minor league team Flyers but definitely not east of Pensacola. Just to give you a good example, we have a local sports radio show here (Destin area) and they talk college football probably 90% of the year

Why hasn't anyone called in to bring up the topic?

 

[Lumpy1106]

Thanks for the response. Soccer development in the USA is complicated in its current state. We definitely need to move away from pay to play. Part of the solution to this is establishing more professional team systems throughout all states within the USA. We need more academies put into place in every county across the USA. The college system is currently being reevaluated by the NCAA and the USSF. Changes will probably be put into place in 2027 or so. This will help athletes not ready to become a professional yet, to have more development time a day still have a college degree to fall back on. The USSF and MLS/USL are also trying to do even more programs, camps, and community outreach services. This in the coming years should help keep kids interested in the sport and help better identify more gifted athletes who can make the professional jump through academies.

OK, let's talk about college. My younger brother had a college room mate at SDSU who was a highly skilled player. He played for SDSU for a while, but when a minor league team gave him a contract offer for more than he was going to make his first year out of college with a degree he couldn't exactly turn it down. After all, he could play, live the life AND get his degree. Aztecs who?

The MLS needs to take the lead on this and find a way to better support the NCAA. Did you know there is a MLS draft and a NCAA tournament, just like the other sports? You might know that Vermont is the current D1 champion, but you will be forgiven if you don't know the first thing about who was drafted first in 2024. And actually seeing the championship game on TV? Ha! Good luck with that. MLS needs to change that, and stop putting so much emphasis on international players milking the MLS on their way to retirement.

 

[Buzz Rules]

OK, let's talk about college. My younger brother had a college room mate at SDSU who was a highly skilled player. He played for SDSU for a while, but when a minor league team gave him a contract offer for more than he was going to make his first year out of college with a degree he couldn't exactly turn it down. After all, he could play, live the life AND get his degree. Aztecs who?

Soccer has totally changed from 40 years ago. Even MLS and the Premier League did not exist back then. If you are gifted nowadays and were in an academy, you can get your degree while playing with an MLS contract. You could also just skip college or leave early to go to Europe and play for a professional team provided you have an EU passport. The college option is still a necessity for some athletes before trying to be selected for the draft. Most teams are waiving their picks and trading them for TAM and GAM to help with the salary cap (which Europe doesn't have). Again they are exploring how to fix the issues.

The MLS needs to take the lead on this and find a way to better support the NCAA. Did you know there is a MLS draft and a NCAA tournament, just like the other sports? You might know that Vermont is the current D1 champion, but you will be forgiven if you don't know the first thing about who was drafted first in 2024. And actually seeing the championship game on TV? Ha! Good luck with that. MLS needs to change that, and stop putting so much emphasis on international players milking the MLS on their way to retirement.

MLS gave the rights to Apple and Fox because they has horrible ratings on tv and frankly ESPN and Fox really didn't do a good job or even care. We are moving away from the twilight stars of Europe. I was not a fan of the Messi fan.

 

[JediBonas]

That's awesome to hear. Are you excited for the world cup then?

Yes! Registered for tickets as soon as the site went up (fingers crossed!!)