Let’s Talk About Soccer

 

Let’s Talk About Soccer

Joseph DiPietro

We are about to see a rise in soccer popularity in the United States, and that is a great thing.

Soccer deserves a lot more credit than it receives in the U.S. I get it – we have football, basketball, and baseball and unlike many other countries, our best athletes don’t play soccer. I also understand when a less-than-casual fan watches the game, it might not be too exciting, and the sport is riddled with flopping and whining (the NBA is just as bad). But there is a lot to love about soccer, and there is a lot to respect about soccer players. Besides, and you heard it here first, the struggling U.S. Men’s National Team is going to be a heck of a lot better moving forward.

Let’s talk about the game first. Soccer is incredible. The finesse of launching balls towards a teammate’s head is unreal. The way players control the ball, and often an opponent, while moving at a fast pace is impressive. To do those things for 90 minutes, often a few minutes longer, with only one break requires a high level of fitness and discipline. Soccer is one of the most fitness-demanding sports, especially from a cardio perspective, and that comes with a high demand for mental toughness too. Throw in the discipline required to never use your arms to impact the ball, and soccer serves as an outstanding sport for mental and physical discipline and toughness – some of our most valued traits at Odin Development.

Now let’s talk about the societal impacts. Soccer’s reach is immense. I don’t have statistics in front of me, but I don’t need them – soccer is the most popular sport in the world. We may not realize it in America, but the world’s game is not football or basketball; it is soccer. Millions of young kids around the world have a favorite soccer player and team that they cheer for, and as long as they have a ball they can find a way to play the game too. That’s one of my favorite parts of the sport, because the ability of kids finding joy in the game is so much more accessible than other sports that require more equipment. I can say the same about my beloved rugby but I recognize the contact aspect makes that difficult, so instead I will crown soccer as the king of worldwide youth sports.

Finally, let’s talk about the future of American soccer. Certainly, the Women’s National Team has performed outstanding on the international level, winning multiple championships and tournaments. But the men’s team has fallen quite short of competing at a high level. I’m not here to talk about income inequality or anything along those lines, but you have to wonder why the men’s team has struggled so much. I chalk it up to a combination of soccer not being our number one sport, and the lack of dedicated academy programs like those in Europe and South America. Our best athletes don’t typically play soccer, and even the ones who have potential still go to school and don’t play a sport as a full time job. Beyond that, our top players have historically competed in Major League Soccer, which displays a fraction of the talent European leagues maintain. Fortunately, these practices are dwindling.

Some outstanding American athletes start playing soccer at a young age and then find their way into European club academies. These athletes are now becoming integral players on some of the most competitive teams. Weston McKinnie, Tyler Adams, Sergino Dest, Christian Pulisic, Josh Sargent, Giovanni Reyna, and many more young Americans are competing in La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and the English Premier League. These kids are good; they are full of energy, skill, and fight, and I cannot wait to see them all play together on the national stage. While kids in America can and should still look up to some of the players we highlight across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, young American kids should start watching these soccer players in the same way. And don’t be surprised when the USMNT wins more games than usual over the next few years, because those of us that watch the sport between World Cups know just how good these young American players are going to be.