Comments on: Why Do They Play That Way?

By: gabriel

gabriel — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:54:36 +0000

On most of the americans teams I have played on, regardless of the level of play americans always want to run forward and are very inclined to shoot the ball from far away.
This is very different from the style of soccer I grew up playing, where lateral passes are a big part of the game. And players are very concerned with creating the near perfect action which can be very inefficient sometimes.
Anyway as I told one of my friends, i feel like americans always like to play forward with maximum speed. Thats how I would define american soccer.

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:29:46 +0000

Many have mentioned that American soccer reflects the set pieces of other sports (baseball, football) given basketball has set plays, but think of all the kids that play pick up b-ball in their drive ways and in parks. I don’t think there is a lack of creativity in our sports culture. I think that soccer has not reached the point where it’s played in the streets like so many have mentioned before.

By: Hiten

Hiten — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:48:19 +0000

@Jesse’s comment that Americans are a set piece type of team, I think it’s got a lot to do with their sport culture. Most major US sports are sequential rather than continuous; they are divided into brief bursts of intense activity followed by a lull in which to strategize(ie baseball, football, etc.) Thinking that spills over onto the soccer pitch as well.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:15:40 +0000

Good article, to shed some light on American style of play, I think for one… as a true soccer nation we’re to young to have a true identity that is recognized by other nations. But I think as a national team… and even more so in the MLS, we’re a very physical team as well as being very fit. I think the US National team is one of the most fit teams in the world. Also which was posted already… we are more of a set piece type of team.

I’m sure as the MLS continues and our National team grows… that our “style” will adapt to the changing times. But to sum it all up.. I think the most defining characteristic of American soccer is it’s physical not so pretty type of play. Not to say that is a bad thing… it’s just the American way… it’s how American athletes grew up… playing rough physical games… obviously that’ll show on the pitch with out soccer teams.

By: Addy

Addy — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:41:22 +0000

I have played on a club soccer team since I was 11, and playing organized soccer since I was 4… and it’s all been organized, with costly fees. Rarely are there pick-up games in suburbia. I think this has really shaped American soccer. Notice how improvised Brazilian soccer is. It just looks like so much FUN. If you were to travel to Brazil I am sure you would find pick-up games and kids just playing, no coaches, just eachother. Part of this, I think, has to do with the economy and culture. I cannot speak for Brazil, however, but I can speak for the the U.S. The U.S. is obssessed with organization, organized sports in particular. Parents are willing to shell out the $1500 fee so that there descent athlete can have something to do. Look at American football, every play is to the book, planned, practiced over and over. Baseball: not much room for improvisation. This seems to have carried over to soccer. Every soccer gathering is a planned practice, with coach and practice uniforms and every game is played to win because we are paying alot and we want our money’s worth. Speaking generally, there is no room for creativity. Creativity is developed by just playing. We don’t just play.
Also, because our sports culture is dominated by huge football and basketball and steroid-using baseball players, our soccer relys on speed and strength instead of creativity and footskill.

By: Dmitry

Dmitry — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:42:04 +0000

This is a great post. It’s always fun to project a country’s national history on to their style of play, particularly when that country faces off in the World Cup against a nation where some thorny political history may be shared. From the latest World Cup, we had Portugal-Angola (former colonists vs. colony), Germany-Poland (no explanation necessary), Australia-Japan (battle for Asia-Pacific dominance?). But your post dives into the real history behind the way a country PLAYS and examines the motives behind these developments. Good stuff.

By: terzatempo

terzatempo — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:11:34 +0000

This same issue has come up in Canada as well. Being a melting pot of many different cultures I realized that it would be foolish to think that our style of play would simply just be a mixture of all. Soccer takes many years to develop. Not just in individual players, but in the societies that develop the players. First, countries like Canada and the U.S. will need to produce a stable society, one devoid of racism and other culture boundaries. With the influx of immigration still high in both countries, it is safe to say both countries are still experiencing a high level of change and growth. After a few generations of that, the country will be more in tune with itself. From that, a style will emerge. But I do feel it is quite some time away.

By: Daily Dose 1.28.08 - World Cup Blog - African Cup of Nations 2008

Daily Dose 1.28.08 - World Cup Blog - African Cup of Nations 2008 — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:21:47 +0000

[...] Why your team plays the way it does (Culture of Soccer) [...]

By: Sean

Sean — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:29:25 +0000

I like to think that America does have a style; that of a conundrum. We despise divers, but love it if we score off it. We don’t encourage dribbling and technical skills, but we love to see freddy adu do something exciting. The fact of the matter is were generally confused with identity, which is the nature of America in a nutshell. We are historically referred to as a melting pot, which also coincides with our national play. One can never know what to expect. One day we can look organized like England and the next were fast paced with quick passing like Argentina. Thus my point is that our national characteristic in futbol and in life is that we have no one ideal that defines us. Were unpredictable on and off the pitch. Were a conglomeration of everything. Thus American Style is that we actually have no style; theres some food for thought.

By: d

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:31:10 +0000

I think an american style is one that values fitness over technique, since most players are very athletic from cross training but haven’t played soccer in the street since they were four.