Monday, January 18, 2016

The "average" American soccer fan...

I think I can speak on what the "average soccer fan" in America is... I was one for years.

Played the game from early childhood through adulthood... watch MLS when I caught it on TV... when I was not doing something with the kids watched EPL on TV... coached some kids.... watched every World Cup game and all the USM/WNT games I could possibly watch. There are millions of Americans just like me.

Just speaking from my experience and speaking to so many other "average" fans... 

1. The average American soccer fan doesn't know what "Single entity" means.
2. The average American soccer fan doesn't know USSF sets Division designations.
3. The average American soccer fan doesn't know what a top level youth player looks like on the field.
4. The average American soccer fan doesn't know FIFA or USSF's role in managing the club soccer game in the world.
5. The average American soccer fan can't tell you why MLS, NASL and USL are D1/2/3.
6. The average American soccer fan doesn't know when the most important stage of a players development is in age. (Hint its not college)
7. The average American soccer fan doesn't understand why ending Pay to Play for youth players is important.
8. The average American soccer fan doesn't know what Generation Adidas, Allocation Order etc are and how they affect young American soccer players league/club choices.
9. The average American soccer fan doesn't understand the sheer scope of the world game.
10. You can LOVE the game but be trapped in the American soccer bubble very easily as an average American soccer fan. I know I was...

1 comment:

  1. Hmm, I may have 60-70% knowledge about these 10 points so time to do my homework.

    ReplyDelete