by Coach Marvin Thomas
I am not a professional coach, but I am constantly trying to learn about soccer. In answer to the question: "what is soccer all about?" I respond by saying that soccer is a sport where the ball is moved around the field, occasionally in the goal, and in many directions by mainly using your foot. It is for fitness, but it is mainly for fun! Looking at it sensibly, if there isn't any fun, there isn't any game.
In answer to: "what is recreational soccer doing to the game in the US?" I say that the primary accomplishment is to present or get exposure for the game. In other countries, a pick-up game is almost always a soccer game because that is part of their culture. In the US, a pick-up game tends to be basebal, football, or basketball because that has been the prevailing culture here. With recreational soccer and the success of our national teams, this is changing.
A second step for recreational soccer is to hopefully teach the fundamentals of playing soccer by instruction (hopefully there are good coaches like Coach Karl) or by getting them to play the game. Another major influence is to get the kids to love the game. If they love it, they'll play, practice, and dream it. These players are the ones that try to reach the status of Mia Hamm or Brian McBride.
In my opinion, this is what recreational soccer is all about. It may not affect the kids that are playing now, but it may affect their kids in the future because the seed has been planted in them.
Thanks,
Marvin Thomas
