(American Soccer)
Football,
more commonly known as soccer in the United States is the most popular sport in
the world. The sport has an interesting history which dates back centuries ago.
Early evidence of soccer being played dates back to China during the 2nd
and 3rd centuries. It was during the Han dynasty in China that leather
balls were first dribbled and kicked into a small net. Other facts show that
Greeks and Romans also used to play for fun.
The growth of modern soccer has
been said to have emerged in England. The game incorporated rugby rules within
it. The history of modern-day soccer dates back to 1863. In October of 1863,
eleven representatives from London clubs and schools met in order to establish
a common set of rules to control matches amongst themselves. From this meeting,
the Football Association was formed. All rules relating to rugby were formally
banned from the game in 1869. It was during this time that soccer was becoming
it own sport. The popularity of the game started to spread during the 1800’s.
In 1904, FIFA was established. FIFA is credited for organizing the first world
cup which took place in Uruguay. The rich history and culture of the game
continues to grow.
In the United States, the
popularity of the game is slowly starting to grow. Growing up with a father who
played college soccer I was brought into the game from birth. I started playing
as early as I could remember walking. I enjoying the feeling that playing
soccer gives me. As an attacking player, dribbling by someone gives me a feeling
of accomplishment. When you get the ball and began to run by players as if
there not even there, you feel as if no one can stop you. It feels as if the
ball is glued to your feet, like you are one with the ball. The feeling of
scoring a goal is the greatest satisfaction. Seeing the ball go through the net
then celebrating the goal you just scored with your teammates is a feeling that
can’t be beaten.
American soccer is growing due to
the boom of the MLS. The MLS, stands for Major League Soccer. This is the
professional league here in America. Although the standard of play is not as
good as other leagues such as the EPL where the best players in the world play,
it is getting better with time. Better players are slowly starting to enter the
league. As the level of college soccer is growing, better caliber players are beginning
to be drafted into the league. With the growing success of the MLS, youth
soccer is also beginning to flourish. Players are starting to play at a younger
age, giving them more years of experience. In America, college soccer players
are student athletes. In many other foreign countries, kids either go to school
or play soccer. Participating in both is generally not an option. Soccer is a
lifestyle in many other countries as kids live and breathe the game. With time,
the standard of American soccer will someday be among the best in the world.
MLS:
