SPECIAL REPORT : Soccer in America
Its roots firmly established in the scores of immigrant communities across the country and its rules nurtured in the well-groomed fields of Ivy League, soccer has built a substantial following in the United States. But this country’s lack of success in international competition has relegated the sport to minor league status for decades. In the late 1960s, however, soccer gained a foothold. First came the professional leagues. Then the ranks of youth soccer began to grow. Soccer can now boast of being one of the most-played youth sports in the United States. World Cup organizers and U.S. soccer officials are gambling that by holding soccer’s biggest tournament in America, interest in the professional game would prosper.
Here is soccer’s story in numbers:
WHERE SOCCER STANDS
How soccer ranks among youth sports. With participants under 18 years old . . . (In millions) Basketball: 21 Volleyball: 13 Softball: 12 Soccer: 12 Baseball: 10 Football*: 9 Ice Hockey: 1 * Tackle With participants under 12 years old . . . (In millions) Basketball: 9 Soccer: 7 Softball: 5 Baseball: 5 Volleyball: 4 Football*: 3 Ice Hockey: .5 * Tackle
A SMALLER DRAW
The relatively low cost of maintaining soccer programs makes them more attractive to NAIA and small NCAA schools. These smaller schools had more men’s soccer programs than football programs in 1993-94.
Soccer Football Division I 194 221 Division II 127 142 Division III 288 198 NAIA 253 117
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
The number of adults signed up to play in the U.S. Amateur Soccer Assn. ‘93: 154,636 Note: Years refer to school years
SOCCER STATES
The top 20 states with the highest average participation in 1991-93. (youth leagues, high school and college participation). California: 1,630,000 New York: 1,304,000 Pennsylvania: 1,094,000 Texas: 860,000 Ohio: 839,000 Florida: 708,000 Missouri: 575,000 Washington: 559,000 Massachusetts: 494,000 Wisconsin: 494,000 Oregon: 452,000 Michigan: 447,000 Maryland: 429,000 New Jersey: 408,000 Minnesota: 405,000 North Carolina: 383,000 Illinois: 379,000 Indiana: 371,000 Colorado: 270,000 Oklahoma: 244,000
YOUTH SOCCER: IT KEEPS GROWING
The American Youth Soccer Organization has nearly half a million players registered in 1993, more than twice the total in 1980. ‘93: 436,315* Note: Years refer to school years * As of Dec. 31, 1993
SOCCER IN HIGH SCHOOL
Number of students participating in soccer has consistently risen. ’93 Boys: 242,095 Girls: 149,053 Total: 391,148 Note: Years refer to school years
COLLEGIATE SOCCER
Number of men’s and women’s soccer programs in NCAA schools. ’94 Men’s: 609 Women’s: 445 Note: Years refer to school years
THE PROFESSIONAL GAME
The lack of homegrown talent is perhaps the biggest reason professional soccer leagues in the United States have failed to muster a profitable existence. Here are the soccer leagues, past and present, and the years they were established.
Existing:
Continental Indoor Soccer League, 1993
Nat. Prof. Soccer League (indoor), 1993
American Prof. Soccer League (outdoor), 1990
Defunct:
Nat. Prof. Soccer League (outdoor), 1967
United Soccer Assn. (outdoor), 1967
North American Soccer League (outdoor), 1968-1984
North American Soccer League (indoor), 1980-82, 1984
Major indoor Soccer League, 1978-1992
American Soccer League, 1921-1984
HAVENS FOR YOUTH SOCCER
Concentration of soccer activity in the United States. Ranges show the number of children signed up for U.S. Youth Soccer in 1992-93.
More than 100,000 California Massachusetts
New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Texas 50,001 to 100,000 Colorado Connecticut
Florida Ohio Virginia Washington 30,001 to 50,000 Georgia Indiana Michigan Minnesota North Carolina
Oklahoma Oregon Wisconsin 10,001 to 30,000 Arizona Idaho Illinois Iowa
Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Mississippi Missouri Nebraska New Hampshire New Mexico Rhode Island Tennessee Utah 0 to 10,000 Alabama Alaska Arkansas Delaware Hawaii Maine
Montana Nevada North Dakota South Carolina South Dakota West Virginia Vermont Wyoming
