Explain the allure of soccer to me.

[burpgun]

Soccer... I just don't understand the excitement over it. I've tried to get excited about it but can't. Tell me why I'm a neanderthal and would'nt know an exciting and sophisticated competition if it fell on my head. Soccer is wildly popular around the world so there must be something to it. If you're soccer fan, what is it about the game that keeps you coming back for more? If soccer is'nt your cup of tea, why are you disinterested?

My opinion is it takes way too long for anything exciting to happen. By the time something does happen my short attention span has me contemplating the nuance of various ales or the virtues of the bar maid's sweater. Just for comparison, some competitive sports I do think are exciting are; true football, ice hockey, rugby, and rally/raid racing.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Aragorn243]

There is no allure to soccer.

It's a sport for those that enjoy standing around yelling and screaming and getting drunk for no reason.

Wait, that is the allure to most sports. Sorry, my bad.

Personally, I don't like watching it. I have no interest in supporting it but that goes with the majority of professional sports. I enjoy playing it, it is a "fun" sport to play just not one to watch. If forced to watch, I prefer the women's game to the men's. They seem to be more active in passing and strategy where the men seem to just want to do it all themselves and/or kick it the entire length of the field repeatedly back and forth.

[superbee]

soccer is like watching paint dry!

[jon_norstog]

Guys,

A couple things about soccer. "It's a gentleman's game played by thugs." second thing, the ball is always in play, so there is no letup. It's like basketball, except there are only a few baskets in a game. The play is the thing.

I couldn't care less about watching the game but have enjoyed playing it. All it takes is a ball and a vacant lot. It's a kick, so to speak. If you play the game you would probably appreciate and understand what the pros are doing. My own thought is that soccer fans tend to be soccer players, or ex-players, or maybe future players. And there are a **lot** of soccer players ut there in the world.

I don't watch soccer. I don't watch other sports either, unless I'm in a place where the TV is on sports. I'm more of a participant, I guess

just mt 2 cents

jn

[OxfordAndy]

A very boring sport!

The only possible allure of soccer for me is watching a bunch of over-paid, under-educated imbeciles prancing around, whilst I'm just waiting for that career-threatening dangerous tackle to put paid to their prima donna antics.

Ahhh.....payback!!

[Aragorn243]

Figure I'd add some perspective from an American point of view while realizing the rest of the world loves soccer AKA football.

In the US, we've managed to create and establish numerous very active type sports which involve grave physical danger such as football and ice hockey. For those that like less dangerous pursuits, there's baseball and basketball.

We have the space and finances to install a football/baseball field or basketball court in every town with a population over 2000. Ice hockey not so much but it's getting there slowly. Soccer is easy for everyone because all you need is a ball and a piece of ground. Everything else has pads, gear, bats, sticks, etc, etc.

Europeans and the rest of the world tend to go all nationalistic about things. National pride and all that. In the US, we would rather beat the crap out of the neighboring town rather than say Canada or Mexico.

Most Americans watching a sport are accustomed to points being scored, MANY points. The more points the better, zero-zero ties just simply don't cut it. We have overtime, double overtime, triple overtime and sudden death overtime to eliminate ties. A game of soccer could take weeks to finish.

Soccer's one claim to fame in the US is to the so called soccer moms, also known as helicopter moms who don't want their little boys breaking their arm playing football or getting hit in the head with a baseball. It's viewed as "safe". But the kids grow up and once out of high school, there's just no where else to go.

It simply isn't catching on here and really isn't likely too either. Not so long as we have college and pro football, American style.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Please explain the allure of soccer to me

I don't think it does have an allure in many parts of the world.

It's never been very popular with most Americans, and I think it's very boring. I've often wondered what the rest of the world sees in it and how they become so frenzied during games they tend to literally kill each other.

Football and Hockey do hold an allure to most Americans, but I sometimes feel it follows the human fascination of the Roman gladiatorial games. Sometimes I feel the violence of tackles, etc is as interesting as the game is to many people.

Just look how quickly the 'no holds barred' open fighting that they hold in the cages has become popular. I don't know what they call it, but it looks almost as barbaric to me as the Roman gladiators were.

Aragorn243 -

I just re-read the start of your last post, and I stepped on your toes a bit, and didn't intend to.
We Americans do tend to gravitate toward these types of sports. Please accept my apology for covering some of the same ground.
~ Harlan

[farmritch]

A very boring sport!

The only possible allure of soccer for me is watching a bunch of over-paid, under-educated imbeciles prancing around, whilst I'm just waiting for that career-threatening dangerous tackle to put paid to their prima donna antics.

Ahhh.....payback!!

No different to me than Football,Baseball,Hockey,Basketball or not to mention golf.
Seems odd to get all excited by watching a game that others are playing.
Not even fun to me if I'm playing

some day maybe someone will explain it to me in details I can understand

[Amatikulu]

The US had better get used to it as within a generation Soccer will grow in popularity here in the USA.

Extracted from the internet:


Football (soccer), is another popular team sport played in the United States. It is the number one youth participation sport in the U.S. today, more popular even than American football, baseball, basketball, or hockey, up to about the age of 13. Dramatic growth in youth participation has fueled the men's national team's steady rise in caliber of play since 1990, with the US participating in every World Cup since that time. Almost as many girls as boys play youth soccer in the U.S., contributing to the women's national team becoming one of the world's premier women's sides. MLS (Major League Soccer) and USSF Division 2 are the men's first and second tier professional leagues in the U.S., respectively, and WPS (Women's Professional Soccer) is the top tier of American women's soccer. The designation of "tier" is mandated by FIFA in each case.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

The US had better get used to it as within a generation Soccer will grow in popularity here in the USA.

I'll believe it when I see it!

(I still cannot tell for certain when your tongue is in cheek Niel!
I guess 'popular' needs to be defined further.

As someone said above, 'soccer' is participated in by quite a few Americans in a certain age group. I agree that it's a 'soccer mom' sport and may constitute a growing segment of a 'participated in' sport, but I don't agree it's all that popular, other than by the parents of kids playing. It's good fun for kids and easy to learn to play. Few injuries, and equipment is inexpensive. Good exercise and often it's the only sport many kids have ever participated in (Or ever will participate in for many).
I coached soccer a couple of different years when they were begging for coaches. I refused to coach my son's team though, even as an assistant coach. I did the same for little league baseball, and I never interfered with or questioned his coaches. I'd just sit in my chair away from the dugout and watch the game.

(I developed a certain disdain for low class 'little anything league' parents who interfered with coaches that I don't feel about anyone else)
(Now THERE'S a subject!)

Also agree with above sentiments as far as viewing most sports. I played soccer before I started playing football in Jr high and lost all interest in soccer. Soccer was fun to play. Of course football was much more demanding (tough coaches, etc) but still fun -
Both were fun to play, but I have never got much enjoyment out of watching someone else play most sports.

I guess for that matter, I very much enjoy shooting but don't care anything about watching someone else shoot! (I'm selfish and the world revolves around me)