Soccer+in+America

=Soccer In America= toc Soccer, also know as football in Spanish-speaking countries, is one of the most played and most popular sports in the United States. In the past, it was a more aggressive game, but it now has grown to be a sport of skill, agility and talent. It also developed within its rules and limits. The game began several hundred years before it was brought to theUnited Statesin the 1860s. Over years it became a sport played by most teens, either for fun or competition. It also has been modified for those of younger ages who want to share the thrill with older kids and adults.

The Start of Soccer
In the early stages of soccer, the rules were less strict and allowed more things. When soccer first began the violence of the sport was out of control and painful to all players. They allowed tripping, biting, punching, and kicking one another to try to get the ball. The number of players on a team also didn’t matter. In 1815 the Universities and Colleges finally made a set of rules called theCambridgerules which wouldn’t allow any of violence towards each other. Even with these rules set aside, some people still liked to play by the so called “Rugby” rules.

History
The history of soccer is not known to exact dates but is said to have been started by the Chinese. Soccer was finally brought over to theUnited Statesin the mid 1860s from theUnited Kingdom. Many associations were formed and used in theUnited Statesbetween 1880 and 1920 but they were all “football” associations. Not until 1945 did the organizations start using “soccer” instead of football and the use of “football” wasn’t dropped from names until 1974. In 1967 the first two actual “soccer” associations were formed which were the United Soccer Association and National Professional Soccer league. Soon after that, in 1968, the two combined to form the North American Soccer League (NASL) which later fell apart in 1984.

Soccer Today
The rules of a soccer game today might be considered more complex but they are safer and explained in better depth. Each team is allowed ten outfield players and one goalie. Physical contact is not allowed besides slide tackling which must be done correctly and only to get the ball. Punishments of disobeying the rules include being thrown out from several minutes to two games. Touching the soccer ball with any part of your arm or hand is also against the rules. During the game, all players must wear appropriate gear which includes uniform, cleats and shin guards, no jewelry under any circumstances.

Popularity in the US
The popularity of soccer in the United Statesbegan to grow in the 1970s. This was because of National American Soccer league was bringing stars such as Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer who set the level for younger players. Another big factor of the popularity growth was the hosting of the World Cup in the United States in 1994. One factor that helped make this sport popular in the US, especially within the last decade was television. Channels such as Fox Soccer Channel, ESPN and ABC provided soccer games to the states which encouraged people to watch which later got them hooked and wanting to play.

Tournaments
The biggest soccer tournament in the world is the Fifa World Cup. It is recognized and watched all over the world. Since the impact of the tournament on teenagers and younger kids was significant, another tournament was formed which was named the USA World Cup. This tournament takes place in Blaine, Minnesota and kids of all ages and places participate. The participants get to feel the experience of the real Fifa World Cup.

=Analysis=

The popularity of soccer in the 1970s was very important to the United States. It was a sport that soon grew to be known as the most popular sport in the United States and in the world. As the growth increased, it influenced people of all ages including adults. Popularity was also was greatly effected by others such as Pelé, the Chinese and the media. It greatly affected the way of culture and the outlook people had on different religions and nationalities. It not only became popular, it became a way of life.

Along with becoming popular in theUnited States, soccer has influenced things that take a major part in our life. Such as video games, when soccer became popular in the U.S., companies began making video game versions of the sport. While the sports popularity increased, so did the sales of soccer video games making companies content with their investments. Soccer has also influenced stores that contain soccer equipment and souvenirs. While the popularity increased, more and more viewers would go to watch the games at the stadium instead of on television. When this happened the soccer stores also began selling stuff at the fields. This helped a lot because as a game was playing the stores could sell jerseys, posters, t-shirts, jackets and much more of favorite teams to the fans. Along with videos games, stores and all the things soccer has influenced, you cannot forget about the players themselves. Soccer is their passion and without the popularity of it, it may have never grown large enough for them to experience it.

One great influence on soccer was the well known professional players who were made out to be inspirations to younger players. Such as Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, also known as Pelé, who came from a low class family but made it all the way. He inspires soccer players to do their best no matter what because anything can happen. Since the Chinese were considered the starters of soccer, they are a major influence. They created the base of soccer that other religions built off of to make the game of soccer. Without the base of the sport, it wouldn’t have been invented until later. Another influence on the popularity of soccer was the media, especially television and magazines such as MTV and Sports Illustrated. When soccer started to be played on television in the United States, more people heard about it and were able to watch, even the lower class that couldn’t afford to go to the actual game.

Soccer is one of the most diverse sports there is today. Almost every religion and nationality plays some form of soccer whether it is soccer to fútbol.One person claimed that “Soccer is a sport that both unites and divides across global political, religious, and economic differences. More than just a sport, soccer is a cultural phenomenon in which national dramas and individual athletic rivalries are played out. Often a metaphor for cultural and social concerns, soccer paradoxically fuels divisiveness, fierce nationalism, and violence, while at the same time sparking the imagination and passion of millions of players of fans” (Passing It On: A History of Soccer). It shows that soccer has more meaning then just that of a sport; it describes who we are, where we came from and what we believe in. It also shows that even though soccer is a game, we carry it with us everywhere when we walk of the field until the next time. Soccer is also a historically known sport. It can be traced all the way back to ancient times with the Chinese. It wasn’t all of the same rules or equipment but the games show a large similarity. In some cultures back then, it was played to show strength and courage, with some players becoming seriously injured while they played. At the present time, it is played as a sport and hobby that many people enjoy for fun. The biggest similarity of the modern and traditional game is it contains a ball going through a goal using your body.

=Works Cited= "Soccer in the United States." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 19 May 2011. [] // History Of Soccer! // Web. 19 May 2011. []

"About the USASportsSoccer." //About the USA//. Web. 19 May 2011. [] // The Book of Rules: a Visual Guide to the Laws of Every Commonly Played Sport and Game. // New York: Facts on File, 1998. Print. "History of Soccer | Random History." //Random History and Word Origins for the Curious Mind//. Web. 26 May 2011. []

"The History of Soccer." //Soccer Fans Info//. Web. 26 May 2011. []

"The Major Influence Of Soccer To Its Fans." //ENFOKEFOTOGRAFIA.COM//. Web. 26 May 2011. []

"A Biography of Pele -- Latino Legends in Sports." //Latino Legends in Sports Online Magazine//. Web. 26 May 2011. []