Eaton Soccer - the "other" fall sport

Eaton Soccer – one of the “other” fall sports.

This is going to be objectionable to some readers, so I am putting this warning up right at the start.  If you don’t like my opinion, that’s fine.  Respect mine and I will respect yours.  Thank youJ

In some countries, well, MOST countries, soccer is the most popular sport.  There are many reasons why…

• All anybody needs to be able to play is a ball.  Not much else is required as far as gear or apparatus.  And what equipment might be needed is inexpensive.

• The premise is relatively simple.  All you need is two teams and a ball.  This makes it one of the only sports that can be played even in developing nations.

• The rules are simple – don’t use your arms, kick the ball into the net.  Of course it’s a little more complex than that, but the general guidelines are easy to pick up.

• Soccer is a game that takes your natural hand-eye coordination and develops it into pure skill.

• It can be played by anyone.  Not just the rich or middle-class.

• Good technique and body proportion make a good soccer player.  Dedication and practice make a good soccer player.  Not being the biggest or tallest person out there.  You don’t get turned down if you are too short.

• Did I mention no gear?  Soccer players take hard falls, knock each other down, get bloodied up, even have pile ups.  There is no padding, no mouth guards, no helmets, no cushioning anywhere.  It is a sport where technique and skill with passing and kicking the ball is used rather than brute force and tackling.

Here are some interesting FACTS about soccer -  

3.3-3.5 billion fans spanning across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia

The 2006 FIFA World Cup had an overall viewership of 26 billion with the final match alone gaining a viewership of 700 million

The 2010 FIFA World Cup had an overall viewership of 30 billion with the final match gaining a viewership off 800 million

Sunday’s 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup Finals between the United States and Japan was seen by an average 13.458 million viewers making it the most-watched and highest-rated soccer telecast on an ESPN network.

So why all of the information and facts on soccer?  Because in the USA, in Eaton Ohio, you would almost think this sport doesn’t exist.  Attendance at Eaton Men’s soccer games is sad.  The amount of press our soccer team gets in the local paper and in the schools is SAD.  The respect the soccer team gets in relation to other sports is SAD.  And did you know, last year the Men’s JV and Varsity soccer teams had the HIGHEST cumulative GPA’s of ANY teams in the fall sports program?

Before you explode at me here, let me make myself clear.  I am NOT against football!  I do go to games; I cheer the team on, and enjoy myself doing it.  I respect the game.  I don’t like it personally, but I respect it.  So I go.  I clap.  I support.  I just wish that the following and support for Eaton Football could be extended to other sports.  Soccer, yes.  And what about Golf?  Basketball?  Wrestling?  Volleyball?

They exist.  The kids keep up the grades and go to the practices and get home late and up early to practice and play these sports. They do two-a-day practices and train in the hot summer heat and way into the cold fall mornings.  Our kids dedicate time and blood, sweat and tears to these games, as do the parents who get them there.  So where are you Eaton?