If you've been around BGP for a while you can't help but notice the increase in soccer conversation/threads. It's no secret that soccer is continuing to rise in popularity from a participation standpoint and , to a lesser extent, a watching standpoint.

 

Football participating was down about 10,000 kids across the country last year.

 

Correlation? Will we continue to see football numbers decrease?

College/Pro Football: four hours, mostly commercials.

 

Pro Soccer: Under two hours, no breaks except at halftime.

 

I love football, but the pace of the game the higher you go has gotten to be a problem.

 

As for the participation numbers, there's a perception among parents that it's safer, despite no real evidence of such. I'm sure that's part of it.

You know why so many people play soccer?

 

 

 

So they don't have to watch it!!!!

I don't think it's specifically soccer kids are leaving football to play. There are other sports to that kids are participating in, notably fall baseball. But in regards to soccer, they do such a good job of getting kids into the game early. 4 and 5 year kids are playing in Rec leagues, and it requires no real investment in equipment. A kid that stays in soccer at 4 or 5 is likely to stick with soccer. I don't stop much think it's a car of kids leaving football...I thinks it's kids not getting involved in football to begin with. Throw in the fact that any one can play soccer....you don't need to be big, fast or aggressive at real young ages. You also don't really have to learn plays which makes it simpler for little kids to play.

Have you been in the soccer threads? There is some major drama in there.

I have daughters so I don't have first hand experience with football sons. But I see more and more kids at my kids schools with soccer gear on (USA Team, Club Teams, European Leagues). Louisville just got a AAA soccer team here and attendance got to be where it was more than the baseball team on most nights. I see those bumper stickers all the time. It won't pass football in my lifetime, but it's numbers will only continue to grow IMO.

Have you been in the soccer threads? There is some major drama in there.

 

1000% correct.

 

If you like a good "train wreck", it is a MUST!!! Particularly the Highlands girls & Scott boys threads.

I don't think it's specifically soccer kids are leaving football to play. There are other sports to that kids are participating in, notably fall baseball. But in regards to soccer, they do such a good job of getting kids into the game early. 4 and 5 year kids are playing in Rec leagues, and it requires no real investment in equipment. A kid that stays in soccer at 4 or 5 is likely to stick with soccer. I don't stop much think it's a car of kids leaving football...I thinks it's kids not getting involved in football to begin with. Throw in the fact that any one can play soccer....you don't need to be big, fast or aggressive at real young ages. You also don't really have to learn plays which makes it simpler for little kids to play.

 

They actually start at 2. A kid can get in 4 years of soccer before ever having the chance to play football. The same goes for girls and softball.

-Everybody gets to kick the ball (much like basketball where everybody gets to touch and shoot it, and baseball everybody gets to bat).

 

-Uniform is shorts, t-shirt

 

-Play more games, practice less

 

-Off Season programs, grunt work, the "Grind" isn't what it is in football. Their off-season programs are indoor soccer with more games and travel soccer in the spring-summer, more games and even less practice than in season. They aren't having organized lifting/running from January-July three to four days a week (or more), nor practicing for a month in that off season (football spring practice) & still not playing a game. **I fully understand there are those who put in their dues during off season strength & agility, but I think you know what I mean big picture**

 

-Most think it's safer when as it's been pointed out is just hear say.

 

It won't take over football, but I get why the numbers are going up & when you look at it, even compare the two, it looks a lot more fun to a good amount of kids. I get it.

CCH has 173 boys in their frosh class - largest since the early 70s.

 

My rough count was about 30 players on the frosh team.

Soccer is so boring. I will watch Team USA and Brazil but that's about it. I can probably name about 3-4 professional soccer players and that's it.

I have heard this stuff for YEARS and soccer still is not as big as football here.

Football participating was down about 10,000 kids across the country last year.

 

Correlation? Will we continue to see football numbers decrease?

Have to look at basketball as a contributing factor to the decrease in youth football numbers as well. Basketball is a year round sport now. Same as soccer.

They actually start at 2. A kid can get in 4 years of soccer before ever having the chance to play football. The same goes for girls and softball.

 

Can somebody PLEASE start a thread about the best 2 year-olds in NKY? Inquiring minds want to know.

Can somebody PLEASE start a thread about the best 2 year-olds in NKY? Inquiring minds want to know.

Uniform is shorts, t-shirt and a pull-up.