The Hartman Group has an interesting tidbit up related to youth soccer:
22% of parents in the U.S. claim they prefer to watch their children play soccer – compared to other sports – because there is a much lower probability that their son or daughter will make a crucial mistake that causes their team to lose the game.
Unfortunately there is no reference to where this came from – I can only assume one of the group’s surveys. Knowing the survey demographic and question asked would help. But I find that an interesting tidbit all the same. I wonder why some view soccer this way. Football, basketball, baseball – any player can make a mistake that will lose the game. Sure, certain players get more attention (Goal Keepers, Quarterbacks, Pitchers, etc), but you can still get burned in many court/field sports and give up points.
Interesting, but odd. Why do you all think some parents view soccer as ‘safer’ in this context?
H/T aronvancouver
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December 23rd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Mike–From my perspective as coach of two U6 teams over the last two seasons, I believe that many parents (at least of younger kids in the rec level) don’t really understand the game of soccer that well and see it as a series of shots on goal and saves/goals on each end of the field instead of an integral ballet of motion, position and opportunism end to end. Thus, unless their child is the goalie who is scored upon mercilessly, there is little blame allocated to their kid for missing a pass or an open team mate, not getting back on D, not clearing the ball, standing around and watching, etc. Conversely, in other sports parents know what to expect from the players/game and remember the dropped football, baseball between the legs, missed easy layup and such.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
That probably is the case, but they tend to pickup the game within a year or two for the most part (except offside 🙂 ) I was just surprised that so many felt this way, because I’ve had PLENTY of kids who weren’t the keeper come off the field in tears because they felt they let their team down in a loss. Happens in every sport.