Comments on: The Soccer Mom: A Uniquely American Archetype http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/ Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:10:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: On The Pitch http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-53 On The Pitch Mon, 26 Feb 2007 00:55:26 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-53 <strong>The Culture of Soccer (Moms)...</strong> Watercolor by Maryann Burton If you haven’t had a chance to stop by the relatively new blog ‘Culture of Soccer‘ by David Keyes, you should find some time to do so. I found my way there thanks to Josh over at ThroughBall and have enjoy... The Culture of Soccer (Moms)…

Watercolor by Maryann Burton
If you haven’t had a chance to stop by the relatively new blog ‘Culture of Soccer‘ by David Keyes, you should find some time to do so. I found my way there thanks to Josh over at ThroughBall and have enjoy…

]]> By: Culture of Soccer » Blog Archive » What I’m Reading: February 23, 2007 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-49 Culture of Soccer » Blog Archive » What I’m Reading: February 23, 2007 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 22:50:47 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-49 [...] presidential candidates searching for the buzzword of the 2008 campaign. The early successor to 1996’s soccer mom may be [...] [...] presidential candidates searching for the buzzword of the 2008 campaign. The early successor to 1996’s soccer mom may be [...]

]]> By: David http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-40 David Fri, 16 Feb 2007 15:03:04 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-40 Susan, You may be familiar with it already, but I definitely recommend Paul Cuadros's book <a href="http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/05/futbol-football-or-soccer/" rel="nofollow">A Home on the Field</a> for an in-depth look at Hispanics playing soccer in this country. <a href="http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/01/28/review-of-a-home-on-the-field-by-paul-cuadros/" rel="nofollow">I reviewed it</a> earlier so you may know it as well. The Washington Post occasionally has articles about Hispanic soccer leagues in the DC area (I found <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/06/AR2006080600800.html?nav=rss_world/centralamerica" rel="nofollow">this one</a> particularly interesting) . There are such leagues all around the country. They used to be only in urban areas, but now they are popping up everywhere. Susan,

You may be familiar with it already, but I definitely recommend Paul Cuadros’s book A Home on the Field for an in-depth look at Hispanics playing soccer in this country. I reviewed it earlier so you may know it as well.

The Washington Post occasionally has articles about Hispanic soccer leagues in the DC area (I found this one particularly interesting) . There are such leagues all around the country. They used to be only in urban areas, but now they are popping up everywhere.

]]> By: Susan http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-37 Susan Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:42:06 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-37 David, I am curious about what you will learn in your studies of soccer's place in Hispanic immigrant communities. In the non-Hispanic typical "soccer-mom" areas, the sport is driven by participation on a traveling team and those costs can be substantial. That is one reason why many kids drop out, even in non-immigrant communities. Of course, the costs of participating in almost any sport are quite high these days--kids never just "go out and play" any more. I look forward to learning more about youth soccer's organization in the Hispanic community. David, I am curious about what you will learn in your studies of soccer’s place in Hispanic immigrant communities. In the non-Hispanic typical “soccer-mom” areas, the sport is driven by participation on a traveling team and those costs can be substantial. That is one reason why many kids drop out, even in non-immigrant communities. Of course, the costs of participating in almost any sport are quite high these days–kids never just “go out and play” any more. I look forward to learning more about youth soccer’s organization in the Hispanic community.

]]> By: David http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-36 David Thu, 15 Feb 2007 01:58:05 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-36 Adam - Why are soccer moms the bane of your existence? I do agree with you that they are nowhere close to the entirety of American soccer culture. I have applied to PhD programs in anthropology with the intention of studying the role of soccer in Hispanic immigrant communities. I also live in a mostly Hispanic neighborhood and often play with the local Guatemalans and Salvadorans. I intend to write more about the diverse soccer cultures that exist in this very diverse country. I do think, numerically speaking, there is more soccer played in the type of suburbs that produce soccer moms. That, along with its appropriation in political circles, has led to the widespread use of the term, in my opinion. Adam - Why are soccer moms the bane of your existence?

I do agree with you that they are nowhere close to the entirety of American soccer culture. I have applied to PhD programs in anthropology with the intention of studying the role of soccer in Hispanic immigrant communities. I also live in a mostly Hispanic neighborhood and often play with the local Guatemalans and Salvadorans. I intend to write more about the diverse soccer cultures that exist in this very diverse country.

I do think, numerically speaking, there is more soccer played in the type of suburbs that produce soccer moms. That, along with its appropriation in political circles, has led to the widespread use of the term, in my opinion.

]]> By: David http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-35 David Thu, 15 Feb 2007 01:53:19 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-35 BQ - I agree with you wholeheartedly. I know I have seen statistics which show the drop-off rates between middle school and high school in terms of children who play soccer. And I think the US has also not done as good a job as possible in terms of making children who play the game into adult fans. Instilling a love of the game in American children is just as important in the long run as producing the next elite player. BQ - I agree with you wholeheartedly. I know I have seen statistics which show the drop-off rates between middle school and high school in terms of children who play soccer. And I think the US has also not done as good a job as possible in terms of making children who play the game into adult fans. Instilling a love of the game in American children is just as important in the long run as producing the next elite player.

]]> By: Adam Spangler http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-34 Adam Spangler Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:24:44 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-34 ah yes, the soccer mom. the bane of my existence. i dont think anyone will question the term, but obviously this doesn't exhibit the entirety of american soccer culture. I wish there was more thought given to this than when it first was co-opted as an important campaign demographic. keep diggin David! ah yes, the soccer mom. the bane of my existence. i dont think anyone will question the term, but obviously this doesn’t exhibit the entirety of american soccer culture.

I wish there was more thought given to this than when it first was co-opted as an important campaign demographic. keep diggin David!

]]> By: bq http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-33 bq Wed, 14 Feb 2007 16:13:33 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-33 By the way David, I am an absolute soccer geek and have been coaching the game for 18 years, involved with it for 30. I have talked with other sr. coaches who wonder when they step back from it all if sometimes we just push it all a bit much. Guys who say they never went on vacation during the summer and how their kids missed many a weekend invite to the lake because the kid was involved with a tourney or something. There is no doubt that this has pushed us to produce better soccer players in this country but how many of those millions of kids are still playing soccer? I always tried to instill a love for the game with my players and I think my passion rubbed off on many. At least I have bee told so by many parents of these same kids. But I still reflect and wonder at what price. Not just with soccer as Susan states, but with whatever the sport. By the way David, I am an absolute soccer geek and have been coaching the game for 18 years, involved with it for 30. I have talked with other sr. coaches who wonder when they step back from it all if sometimes we just push it all a bit much. Guys who say they never went on vacation during the summer and how their kids missed many a weekend invite to the lake because the kid was involved with a tourney or something. There is no doubt that this has pushed us to produce better soccer players in this country but how many of those millions of kids are still playing soccer? I always tried to instill a love for the game with my players and I think my passion rubbed off on many. At least I have bee told so by many parents of these same kids. But I still reflect and wonder at what price. Not just with soccer as Susan states, but with whatever the sport.

]]> By: David http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-31 David Wed, 14 Feb 2007 14:44:10 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-31 Susan - Thanks for your comments. I agree that the term soccer mom has little to do with soccer. It could be basketball mom, football mom, baseball mom, etc. The reason I think it did become "soccer mom" and not any of those other examples is to do with class. Soccer in the American mainstream is seen as a white, middle-class (and up, suburban sport. Soccer thus stands in for this longer description of class and race. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you continue to do so! Susan - Thanks for your comments. I agree that the term soccer mom has little to do with soccer. It could be basketball mom, football mom, baseball mom, etc.

The reason I think it did become “soccer mom” and not any of those other examples is to do with class. Soccer in the American mainstream is seen as a white, middle-class (and up, suburban sport. Soccer thus stands in for this longer description of class and race.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you continue to do so!

]]> By: Susan http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-30 Susan Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:35:03 +0000 http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/12/the-soccer-mom-a-uniquely-american-archetype/#comment-30 Back again--sorry, I don't think I addressed your point--it might take a long torturous essay for me to figure out a proper response. :) Anyway, I just saw your Feb. 7 entry about The Soccer Tribe and left a comment there. Nice work! Back again–sorry, I don’t think I addressed your point–it might take a long torturous essay for me to figure out a proper response. :)

Anyway, I just saw your Feb. 7 entry about The Soccer Tribe and left a comment there. Nice work!

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