There is a reason why soccer is rapidly growing in suburban America. It's much less violent and the way it is played also allows everyone to be a winner on many of these youth teams!
Soccer as played in the rest of the world is different. Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna broke his leg today for the second time this season. His coach had this to say:
'It is broken fibula, the same leg. He was kicked on it, it has not happened alone.
'When he was kicked, he has broken the leg. The guy closed him down and walked on him. I dont know if it was deliberate or not.'
Just a plain mean lack of sportsmanship. Not the sterotypical soccer attitude that many have in the USA.
He wants to play this sport and I support him 100% because if nothing else, he will have to deal with victory and defeat with his team. He will have to play as part of a team working with others. He will be hit, knocked over, and stand back up playing on, pretending as if the air hadn't just been knocked out of him. Life is full of failures and times we get knocked on our ass. Those that really make it are simply tenacious and can deal with defeat, work as part of a team, and can deal with true adversity that is pain staking, may it be in their education, career, business... The pain and combative component of football, lacrosse, wrestling, boxing, ice hockey is good for a young man.
Boys raised by over protective mothers and absent fathers, typically is the suburban yuppie areas end up being... well lets just say they play other sports like soccer or tennis where there is less concern of getting hurt and “violence.”