Originally Posted by Cochise (Post 11026850)

The pro league has been increasing its profile pretty steadily. In the early days of MLS they tried pretty hard to Americanize soccer with the counting-down clock and the shootouts, team names, etc... but they have found more success in letting soccer be what it is. Once they got that right, they've been fine.

I think it's a legitimate point that to get more youth players you need to have heroes that kids aspire to be like, they need to see the game on TV and want to emulate that.

You don't need to look any further than how those participation rates would split up across racial lines. White kids grow up idolizing baseball and football players and so they play those sports. Black kids grow up idolizing basketball players more so they play basketball more. There are other factors of course, like the cost of participating and that there are fewer places to play baseball than basketball especially in the urban core, but someone has to want to be something before they will try.

It seems like soccer has long existed in America as an introductory sport for younger children who then move on to other sports. I think in the next decade that will probably continue to change but the league needs to increase its profile on television more than anything else.

Originally Posted by aturnis (Post 11027075)

They also need their fathers to watch it. I think that is likely one of the biggest single factors.

Dad watches the Chiefs EVERY Sunday, takes his bit to the game. Lives and breathes football.

There's a good chance that kid will at least give football a chance as an adolescent.

Originally Posted by aturnis (Post 11027356)

Just b/c it isn't true in your house doesn't mean it's not true.