From childhood through adulthood, one's socioeconomic status determines not just which sports are accessible, but which athletic cultures feel welcoming and familiar...
Here's a thought for those who don't look at their children's sports as a path to social ascendance: try wrestling....it's hardly elitist, an absolute character builder, and let's your child trully test him or herself, without the assistance of multiple teamates. You aren't burdened with helmets and pads, and can't be attacked from behind. If you aren't facing your opponent on your feet, he can can't just tackle you from behind without being penalized. If you are lazy and don't want to work hard, you will suffer in difficult matches. Your wrestling status has little to do with your socioeconomic status. You may have super wealthy parents, but for the most part this won't give you much an edge, even if you go to multiple Summer camps. Equipment and training costs are minimal.
I completely agree. No money can buy the grit and discipline you learn from wrestling especially. Ive been wrestling and training bjj for years and theres nothing quite like it.
I grew up quite poor. Digging into couch cushions for change to buy a box of pasta is among my many vivid memories. But I also grew up in a loving home of hopefulness, optimism, determination and sacrifice. Oh, and Faith. I learned that a strong work ethic, a belief that you really can achieve what you set your mind to, and an infectious positive attitude can open most any door. I played surf and turf: baseball, football, swimming and waterpolo (no horses were harmed). Swimming and water polo through college, where I ended up with three Ivy League degrees. I then chose to serve this land of opportunity in the military. In my experience, I was taught that opportunity is not about the cards you’re dealt, but the bricks you lay. I suppose the cards I was dealt, in terms of a hopeful, determined, and loving family, are what ultimately taught me that. It’s now my passion to lift others and lift communities so they may discover the joys of living a life of true blessing.
I would like to see MLS create academies where potentially talented young athletes can be coached and trained for free. Maybe we could then compete with the rest of the World. Soccer is a thinking, skills, stamina team sport that doesn't need huge investments in equipment. Our youth have embraced it but without a structure to develop the potential talent most kids drop out around 13-14 years old.
I think to some degree they already do. But probably not at the amount they should. Soccer is played by working class kids in the US but those that can pay for club/coaching dominate the sport as far as going to the college level or beyond for the most part.
More locals Clubs and Leagues are forming across America and the future talent will not come just from colleges. Elite academies are becoming better funded like in the Premier League.
I began coaching soccer in the early 80’s when there was meager interest and only a few associations in the Atlanta area. Over the next 20 years helped found or helped grow 6 associations in metro Atlanta. Every year more kids signed up as parents wanted an alternative to American Football.
Look at Atlanta now and the Atlanta United FC. They routinely are selling 70,000 tickets for their matches. IF our National Team can become globally competitive soccer will explode even more.
Here's a thought for those who don't look at their children's sports as a path to social ascendance: try wrestling....it's hardly elitist, an absolute character builder, and let's your child trully test him or herself, without the assistance of multiple teamates. You aren't burdened with helmets and pads, and can't be attacked from behind. If you aren't facing your opponent on your feet, he can can't just tackle you from behind without being penalized. If you are lazy and don't want to work hard, you will suffer in difficult matches. Your wrestling status has little to do with your socioeconomic status. You may have super wealthy parents, but for the most part this won't give you much an edge, even if you go to multiple Summer camps. Equipment and training costs are minimal.
I completely agree. No money can buy the grit and discipline you learn from wrestling especially. Ive been wrestling and training bjj for years and theres nothing quite like it.
I grew up quite poor. Digging into couch cushions for change to buy a box of pasta is among my many vivid memories. But I also grew up in a loving home of hopefulness, optimism, determination and sacrifice. Oh, and Faith. I learned that a strong work ethic, a belief that you really can achieve what you set your mind to, and an infectious positive attitude can open most any door. I played surf and turf: baseball, football, swimming and waterpolo (no horses were harmed). Swimming and water polo through college, where I ended up with three Ivy League degrees. I then chose to serve this land of opportunity in the military. In my experience, I was taught that opportunity is not about the cards you’re dealt, but the bricks you lay. I suppose the cards I was dealt, in terms of a hopeful, determined, and loving family, are what ultimately taught me that. It’s now my passion to lift others and lift communities so they may discover the joys of living a life of true blessing.
That’s a pretty long winded way to say that equipment and training cost money.
I would like to see MLS create academies where potentially talented young athletes can be coached and trained for free. Maybe we could then compete with the rest of the World. Soccer is a thinking, skills, stamina team sport that doesn't need huge investments in equipment. Our youth have embraced it but without a structure to develop the potential talent most kids drop out around 13-14 years old.
I think to some degree they already do. But probably not at the amount they should. Soccer is played by working class kids in the US but those that can pay for club/coaching dominate the sport as far as going to the college level or beyond for the most part.
More locals Clubs and Leagues are forming across America and the future talent will not come just from colleges. Elite academies are becoming better funded like in the Premier League.
I began coaching soccer in the early 80’s when there was meager interest and only a few associations in the Atlanta area. Over the next 20 years helped found or helped grow 6 associations in metro Atlanta. Every year more kids signed up as parents wanted an alternative to American Football.
Look at Atlanta now and the Atlanta United FC. They routinely are selling 70,000 tickets for their matches. IF our National Team can become globally competitive soccer will explode even more.