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ANDERSON — With the World Cup in full swing, the popularity of soccer is only growing stronger.
For evidence, you need look no further than the youth soccer camp this week at Anderson University. More than 400 youth participated. Most came from within Indiana, but 10 other states were also represented.
The current popularity of soccer in America can be tied to the United States hosting the World Cup this summer, as well as the success of the U.S. men’s team, which won three matches and reached the Round of 16, the farthest it had advanced in the World Cup since 2002.
But the sport’s appeal in the U.S. can be traced much farther back, building to today when soccer ranks third among Americans’ favorite sports, behind only basketball and football, according to The Economist.
While the excitement around the home-soil men’s World Cup has driven up soccer’s pulse domestically, the U.S. women’s team has become the world’s dominant force, winning World Cup titles in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019 and Olympic gold in 1996, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2024. Olympic and World Cup tournaments are each played once every four years.
Local excitement generated, in part, by international success continues to raise the profile of soccer across the country. Annual attendance at AU summer soccer camps illuminates the sport’s burgeoning popularity.
Ravens men’s soccer coach Scott Fridley founded the AU soccer camp 32 years ago after playing soccer at the university. That first year, just 26 youth participated. But over the next three decades the camp has drawn 15,000 participants, he said.
“We’ve sold out for 10 years now,” Fridley noted. “I’m just trying to improve, build and grow soccer in the area.”
Eighth-grader Adela Hernandez of Fortville has been playing soccer since she was 6 years old.
“I really love the people,” she explained. “They’re just so nice and supportive. I’ve been with a lot of the same teammates for a while, and they’re such an amazing part. It makes it so much more fun to come to practice.”
This is Hernandez’s first year at Anderson Soccer Camp, and she already plans to attend next year.
Aiden Elmore, who went to Centerville High School, attended the camp the past five years as a camper. Now he’s a camp counselor.
“I like teaching the kids how to play the game, and getting to coach and having kids look up to me now,” Elmore said. “It’s pretty cool.”
Elmore and Hernandez agreed that, with the United States hosting the World Cup this year and the U.S. team advancing deep into the tournament, younger generations are encouraged to try soccer.
As the students were on the field Tuesday afternoon, many could be heard talking about the World Cup and checking on the score of the Argentina-Egypt match being played in Atlanta at the time.
Fridley said the United States, as World Cup host, has done a great job of explaining the rules of the game and having more soccer-related advertisements on TV, as well as highlighting players that the students have begun to recognize through their pro clubs.
In large part, that’s because games in top soccer leagues around the world are now televised in the United States, streamed worldwide and highlighted on YouTube and though social media.
Soccer is by far the world’s most popular sport, with about 3.5 billion fans, according to worldatlas.com.
The entire AU camp contingent gathered inside Reardon Auditorium on campus to watch Monday night’s U.S.-Belgium match in the Round of 16. The U.S. lost 4-1 and was knocked out of the World Cup, but Fridley feels the success of the American team will persuade more students to try soccer.
“Soccer is a sport everybody can play, no matter how old you are,” Fridley said. “I have so many alumni that still play. ... I think (the U.S. team’s success) is a big influencer to get more kids to get started in it.”
Derrick Spires, an assistant director of the camp and the assistant coach of the Anderson University men’s soccer team, said, “Kids see that fun and that comradery, and it makes them want to be a part of it.”
“With the World Cup being here in the U.S, it brings a new passion or renewed insight into it,” Spires added. “The hype around it allows kids to see that the sport is competitive, it’s fun and they have that team atmosphere.”
For those who have never tried playing soccer, Hernandez, the eighth-grade camper, thinks everyone can take something from it.
“I think it would be a really cool experience to get to know some new people,” Hernandez said. “Since it is a team sport, you get to have so much fun and learn so many new things. Especially with soccer, you can just keep expanding your skills. ... You can keep improving.”
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For evidence, you need look no further than the youth soccer camp this week at Anderson University. More than 400 youth participated. Most came from within Indiana, but 10 other states were also represented.
The current popularity of soccer in America can be tied to the United States hosting the World Cup this summer, as well as the success of the U.S. men’s team, which won three matches and reached the Round of 16, the farthest it had advanced in the World Cup since 2002.
But the sport’s appeal in the U.S. can be traced much farther back, building to today when soccer ranks third among Americans’ favorite sports, behind only basketball and football, according to The Economist.
While the excitement around the home-soil men’s World Cup has driven up soccer’s pulse domestically, the U.S. women’s team has become the world’s dominant force, winning World Cup titles in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019 and Olympic gold in 1996, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2024. Olympic and World Cup tournaments are each played once every four years.
Local excitement generated, in part, by international success continues to raise the profile of soccer across the country. Annual attendance at AU summer soccer camps illuminates the sport’s burgeoning popularity.
Ravens men’s soccer coach Scott Fridley founded the AU soccer camp 32 years ago after playing soccer at the university. That first year, just 26 youth participated. But over the next three decades the camp has drawn 15,000 participants, he said.
“We’ve sold out for 10 years now,” Fridley noted. “I’m just trying to improve, build and grow soccer in the area.”
Eighth-grader Adela Hernandez of Fortville has been playing soccer since she was 6 years old.
“I really love the people,” she explained. “They’re just so nice and supportive. I’ve been with a lot of the same teammates for a while, and they’re such an amazing part. It makes it so much more fun to come to practice.”
This is Hernandez’s first year at Anderson Soccer Camp, and she already plans to attend next year.
Aiden Elmore, who went to Centerville High School, attended the camp the past five years as a camper. Now he’s a camp counselor.
“I like teaching the kids how to play the game, and getting to coach and having kids look up to me now,” Elmore said. “It’s pretty cool.”
Elmore and Hernandez agreed that, with the United States hosting the World Cup this year and the U.S. team advancing deep into the tournament, younger generations are encouraged to try soccer.
As the students were on the field Tuesday afternoon, many could be heard talking about the World Cup and checking on the score of the Argentina-Egypt match being played in Atlanta at the time.
Fridley said the United States, as World Cup host, has done a great job of explaining the rules of the game and having more soccer-related advertisements on TV, as well as highlighting players that the students have begun to recognize through their pro clubs.
In large part, that’s because games in top soccer leagues around the world are now televised in the United States, streamed worldwide and highlighted on YouTube and though social media.
Soccer is by far the world’s most popular sport, with about 3.5 billion fans, according to worldatlas.com.
The entire AU camp contingent gathered inside Reardon Auditorium on campus to watch Monday night’s U.S.-Belgium match in the Round of 16. The U.S. lost 4-1 and was knocked out of the World Cup, but Fridley feels the success of the American team will persuade more students to try soccer.
“Soccer is a sport everybody can play, no matter how old you are,” Fridley said. “I have so many alumni that still play. ... I think (the U.S. team’s success) is a big influencer to get more kids to get started in it.”
Derrick Spires, an assistant director of the camp and the assistant coach of the Anderson University men’s soccer team, said, “Kids see that fun and that comradery, and it makes them want to be a part of it.”
“With the World Cup being here in the U.S, it brings a new passion or renewed insight into it,” Spires added. “The hype around it allows kids to see that the sport is competitive, it’s fun and they have that team atmosphere.”
For those who have never tried playing soccer, Hernandez, the eighth-grade camper, thinks everyone can take something from it.
“I think it would be a really cool experience to get to know some new people,” Hernandez said. “Since it is a team sport, you get to have so much fun and learn so many new things. Especially with soccer, you can just keep expanding your skills. ... You can keep improving.”
Continue reading...
