Why won't soccer catch on in America? - Viva L'Italia!?

Question

People wonder why Soccer won't catch on in America. It's been said it is becaus there is too little scoring. This is baloney. The action is non-stop, and the level of scoring is similar to hockey. Besides the obvious reasons of having to meet critical mass etc, I think one other issue needs to be addressed: The theatrics that are so integrated into the game do not fit in with the American model of good sportsmanship. Rolling around and crying turns off the American sports fan.
Agree, disagree?
Your comments.

Time outs a problem? Do you think that traditional timekeeping would get in the way if a buck were to be made? No. I think they'd find a way to add in the commercials, somehow or other.

A poorer sport? Maybe, but I remeber playing stickball with nothing more than a broom stick and tennis ball. Same thing happens in other countries where Baseball is popular like Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

Answer 1

Americans haven't put in enough thought to say they hate it because of the crying and diving. Besides, the crying and diving have only gotten really bad over the last 10 years or so. Before that, there was a bit of diving etc, but not enough to be brought up as a reason to hate the sport. FIFA has a responsibility to remove the diving at this point since it dominated an otherwise fantastic tournie, but that is getting off topic.

in essence there are a few reasons why the sport is having a hard time catching on. The biggest reason that I can think of is North America already has a ton of professional sports: Hockey, Football (grid iron), baseball, basketball to name the big 4. For another sport to break into that market is tough to say the least. Although it has caught on alot since the 94 World Cup.

One more point to be made: what is Americans' idea of good sportsmanship? Guys who are arrogant like most running backs I can think of, or Barry Bonds, or Brett Hull... or I could think of other basketball examples of that arrogance/bad sportsmanship. All sports seem to have bad sportsmanship and someday the masses will realize that it isn't acceptable in professional sports... I hope.

Answer 2

When you're a kid in most countries, you can't afford much. An old soccer ball is fairly easy to get, and that's all you need. In America, children can easily get football pads, hockey equipment, baseball gloves and bats, etc. Given the choice, a kid would rather play a sport that you can use many different skills rather than just how well you can handle a ball. You like what you know, and we've moved on from soccer, while most of the world can't afford to.

By the way, for all of you non-American asses, saying that it to tough of a game for us, because there's no padding.....

-The American revolution
-The american Civil war
-The war of 1812
-The Mexican-American war
-WWI
-WWII

America is full of bad-asses. We all volunteer to fight. All you wussies act like you're so strong until you need us. The only reason that we don't win at soccer is because we don't care. It's a stupid game that is a joke to us. Just remember that you are lucky that it's still countries that play against each other rather than just different regions of a third-reich Germany.

Answer 3

Actually it was 1865, only about 22 years after Britain and by that time it was pretty much only the southern states that had slaves (surprise?). Soccer will take off here in the next couple decades. With all the data about concussions and brain damage from playing football people will choose other sports. Most kids already play soccer anyways and end up having to pick football or soccer as they enter high school (seasons are at the same time). Parents are going to end up making that decision for them pretty soon. Plus when they see how much more they can get paid playing soccer in Europe and how much longer the careers are it will be a pretty easy choice for the elite athletes.

Answer 4

Because the local leagues don't have enough financial backing to raise their profile in the public. Interest in soccer is gradually increasing here, but it will take time for the sport to develop the inroads and infrastructure to compete with major sports already established in North America (NBA, MLB, NHL, and NFL).

Local leagues don't even get their games televised here, and with the top quality leagues from abroad there are time zoning issues that make it hard for N. Americans to see live top-quality games.

Also, because soccer is not a stop-time game it is more difficult to broadcast commercials here, and this makes major networks less willing to take the chance on regularly broadcasting these games when they can't assure sponsors that their advertising will be watched.

In soccer's current state, revenue for TV broadcasters would be small for televised matches. Since television raises the profile of anything this means that soccer's exclusion from the airwaves keeps it unpopular.

Answer 5

If you look at the rest of the planet, most countries don't have the resources for games like baseball and football. Equipment, playing fields, coaching, etc. In other countries, including 3rd world, it's relatively simple to kick a ball around. Don't need an "official sized" field, don't need any equipment other than a ball. So the kids grow up with that and nothing else. Compare to basketball in any American city. Lots of game going on, because not much other than a ball is required. Maybe a hoop, ok....

Answer 6

I can only speak for my neck of the woods (SF Bay Area), we had 10,000 in Dolores Park yesterday watching on a big screen, and in the Italian neighborhood (North Beach) the Italian fans were in the street blocking traffic for about an hour celebrating. The rest of the country will come along eventually, especially with all the children playing soccer who will grow up to become fans.

I'm a long time fan and I STILL get sick of all the pretend injuries, diving etc. That probably is part of the problem of getting it to catch on over here.

Italy was my favorite remaining team by the time the semis hit, so yeah, Viva azzurri!!!

Answer 7

i agree with you and also soccer is not a traditional American sport...so, many people think that it is boring when they don't even give the game a chance. i agree with the rolling around on the floor crying thing....injuries are prevented in the US by wearing protective clothing and pads and such....take american football, they like to pretend they are the "real men" and can take pain where as you can barely feel a tackle through all that protective equipment....baseball too, there is no contact and the people that do receive contact wear helmets, cups, shin pads, chest pads, etc.....soccer just isn't the american game i guess...oh well more fun for the rest of the world. if soccer caught on in the USA their team might be better and who knows what could happen to international soccer if the US had a good team!! :) but i think you made a VERY good point! :) i didn't even think of it that way before but now that you said it, it makes perfect sense. :) good job!!

Answer 8

Soccer will not catch on in the US because
The game cannot keep stopping for "time outs",
The game is too fast for the Americans to follow
The Americans cannot understand the offside rule
You cannot pick up the ball(goalies excepted)
You cannot wear "padding"
-shall i go on

Answer 9

Yes the crying and acting does turn people off. I heard on ESPN radio that it was because soccer over in Europe is compared to what we have here in the U.S. College rivalries.

Answer 10

Americans are not smart enough to realize that soccer is the greatest sport the world has ever seen.