Why is it that in the U.S.A. we always hear about "soccermoms" ferrying their children to and from matches...

Question

... whereas in this country (U.K.) it is mainly *Fathers* who stand on the sidelines shouting and screaming at their boys?
My boys played football with the cubs,rugby for the school and so on and they wouldn't have wanted me anywhere near - and I didn't *want* to go near firstly because I was glad to have them out of the house for a while while I got on with things and secondly if I had been there and anyone had touched my boys I should have been on the pitch protecting them.
My third who was a bit more "left field" was a swimmer and I did used to go to watch him in competitions but he needed that attention more.
Even my Father never used to go to watch my brothers playing sports unless it was a big game and my Mother would never have done - so what is it with these "soccermoms"? - is it just because they need to provide transportation and don't want to drive home and then pick them up later?
This is a serious enquiry about cultural differences and I find it interesting.

Answer 1

I have been to plenty of games and you see lots of parents there even divorced ones both parents show up. It is a sign of support for them to cheer them on. Especially in football. Friday night football in small or smaller towns is almost a religion for everyone.
As far as the term Soccer mom goes even with both parents working it still seems to fall on the mother to take kids to and from practice and to the games. Dads show up at the games but are not usually involved until that point. So many moms make carpool groups because well in this day and age most families both people need to work. So like six moms get together and share taking kids to practice. That way you are not missing work everyday but only once every six time. Usually everyone shows up for games as i stated earlier to support their kids.
I think that is why the SUV and mini van are so popular here even if you only have one kids you are going to be taking several kids with you to and from practice. Also things are realy spread out in most cities so kids need a ride to and from the game and practice.
Sports are a big thing here at work people with school age kids love to brag about how many sports their kids play. So people go out and try to cheer their kids on. Most parents have a secrete hope in the back of their mind that their kids will get a college scholarship so or go professional and buy them a big house in their old age.

Answer 2

Here, for the most part, the Soccermom thing is more about the moms getting out of the house and getting together when little Johnny plays soccer, or baseball or whatever.

Most of the Fathers here are so busy working, to pay for the extremely high cost of living, they have little time to attend events.

The soccermoms usually have no idea what's going on in the game, as most of their time is spent socializing with each other, instead of paying attention to the sport. We call this a "hen party".

Answer 3

It's somewhat hard to explain but I think there are a few issues. Around where I Iive, it is social prestige for a woman to be a soccr mom. Unlike in GB, soccer in the U.S. is a bit of a sign of affluence and this varies geographically. Soccermoms are usually bringing their kids to a private soccer league which is quite expensive and is taking place during work hours so that soccermom doesn't have to work. So there is probably a single income family with money to spare.

Also, there is the desire to always be around your children. Google the term "helicopter parent" and that might give you a better explanation of what I mean.

Arpund where I live, the connotation of soccermom is:

very wealthy father
much younger attractive mother
mother doesn't work
drives a very expensive vehicle to bring the kids to a very expensive, prestigious soccer camp

Also, you might find it funny, around me, Brit soccer coaches are all the rave. The best soccermoms make sure their kids are at camps run by Brits. Though maybe it's because many of the soccermoms hire British nannies to raise their kids so it's a culture that they are drawn to.

Answer 4

It is just a cultural difference , it's the " American Way". Just like the men there hug and kiss their children from birth to the day they die , boys included . Where here in ( Ireland ) a lot of fathers don't express that kind of affection on boys passed twelve years old . The boys have to wait till their old enough to go the the pub and have a pint of beer with their father for that expression of love to be given to them . So every country has " It's way " of doing things and the it's normal for them.
Also have you ever thought that American parents maybe have no choice as they feel it is unsafe letting children go it alone . And one more reason " Competition " they push their children to do well at everything , school , sports, work and life it's self : and that's why they are on the side line making sure it happens !!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

Because in the US they have a different work ethic. Really people live to work, they work way more hours than they do in Europe. It's like their self-worth -particularly men is determined by how many hours they work in a week, how few vacation and sick days they use. You know they instituted a 60 hour work week where I live (Ontario Canada) and there was some grumbling but no real outcry (that law was repealed). But look at what happens in France when they increase the work week.

It would be impossible and shameful for a father to be at a kids practice. Sometimes they manage to show up for actual games but that's not all that common either.

Also Americans are more worried about their kids getting kidnapped or molested, than I think most Europeans. I don't think European media goes overboard like US media every time a kid is kidnapped, murdered or molested. I remember one study in New York where the murder rate went down by something like 20% and the media coverage (in minutes on air and column inches) increased 500%. People of course perceived that there was more crime than there is.

Anyway that's just my 2¢

Answer 6

Because here in the U.S. most soccer practices and games for kids are during the hours in which the Father is usually at work so the Mother (most soccer moms are stay at home mothers) take their kids and the kids of other working parents to and from soccer and other sports related events. Soccer is not as big in the U.S. as it is in other countries. We have American Football. It is said to be the biggest sport in the U.S.. The Mothers use this as a forum to get out of the house and socialize with other people with similar interests. Now days with all of the perverts and child molesters, parents don't want to leave their children alone even if only for a few hours. I played soccer, baseball, football, and boxed while I was growing up! My parents made almost every event that I participated in unless it just was not possible. It is all about taking pride and showing interest in what your child is doing. (Good parenting skills maybe). When I have kids and they get involved in something I will try to be at every event I can!

Answer 7

I'm a soccer mom, although we took this season off for a variety of reasons. I never just stood on the sidelines watching the games, though. As a volunteer, I was all over the fields, not only my child's games, but other games all day.

There is so much more to being a parent than just providing food, clothing & discipline, if you have the time & inclination to do it. My kids are fun to be with. Their interests and the way they approach things are both so fascinating to me. I learn about life along with them, watching them grow & take on the world.

Sure, I could drop them at the games & go off to do something else. But, first of all, that leaves *other parents* supervising, coaching & refereeing the games. I would never want to 'mooch' like that. And, secondly, I would miss the fun of the game.

And, at least here in my town, there were just as many dads (including my husband) there supporting their kids (both by watching the game and by volunteering) as there were moms, especially as team coaches.

Answer 8

I think most parents and grandparents really enjoy cheering on their little soccer star.I have attended most of my grandson's soccer games in the past four years.I was very disappointed when my work shifts conflicted with attending his games this year.i was extremely happy when I was able to at least watch the second half of the game.My grandson has quite the cheering section for each game.He has the support of not only his mom and dad and 2 sisters but also his aunt ,an honourary aunt and several other family and.As to more moms than dads attending perhaps it has something to do with shiftwork.Take care. friends. I would find it unnatural to have family not attend the game.Youhave to be a die hard fan when you know they play rain or shine ( the game is only stopped for ligthning)

Answer 9

Well, in a lot of cases here in the U.S., most fathers work two jobs, so a lot of times, they can't be there for their kids games and sporting events. So we moms like to step in and root for our kids on the side lines and in the bleachers. My husband works 14 to 16 hour days and so all of the house hold and child rearing responsiblility (including sporting event transportation and cheering) falls on me as mommy! Lots of daddys here are in the military too and are away from their families lots of times. My husband was in the navy too and he was always away, so it's not much of a change now that he's back home and working crazy hours. Anyways, that's pretty much the norm here in the good ol' US of A (at least here in the midwest) - dad works two jobs and mom stays home to raise the kids because the price of daycare is outrageous. Interesting question.

Answer 10

For us, the issue is two-fold.
1. I love my children. I enjoy watching them play, I enjoy chatting with the other parents (I don't drop the kids off with a sitter for "adult/mommy time" so this is all I get), and they feel good knowing that I'm interested in what they are working so hard at.
2. Even if none of the above was true, in this day and age it's quite irresponsible to drop your kid off at a park drive away with your fingers crossed, hoping for the best. It's not safe. So if I can't make it, one of the other parents will monitor our child, or vice versa, to ensure the kids have a ride to and from, and are safe while doing their sport.

I'm also fortunate that none of my kids' sports allow the crazy screaming fighting parents who get out of control. So it's good family fun.