Soccer Soars

Larry Day was nervous. It was only a practice game, but Larry, who is twelve, knew that a tough contest loomed. Besides, nearly his entire family would be watching--Brother Mike taking pictures, Sister Judy and Mother Phyllis cheering and providing oranges to cool off the 82DEG day in Seattle, and Father Dale, who once coached the team, offering encouragement.

A Little League ball game? No way. No. 4, Larry Day, was off to help his Federal Way United Tornado team take on the Auburn Checkmates in a soccer match. Following Coach John Young's instructions--"Make them run, then in the second half we'll break them open and score"--the Tornado won handily, 4-0, as Larry turned his nervousness into sparkling, speedy play. After the game, it was home to watch the pro Seattle Sounders on TV. The only missing element in the otherwise perfect day: Grandma Irene, 78, was off in Portland, Ore., unable to use all her persuasive powers to move people out of her view of the field as she has been known to do.

On every level--junior (ages 6 to 19), college and pro--soccer is attracting thousands of families like the Days. In 1964 the American Youth Soccer Organization started in Torrance, Calif, with 100 boys and nine teams. Today the association has 4,100 teams in 14 states and 62,000 kids, including 15,000 girls, booting the checkered, leather balls across the turf. The U.S. Soccer Federation estimates that more than half a million youngsters play organized soccer and projects 3 million by 1980.

Why have the kids gone bonkers over soccer? Mainly because more of them can play it. The most appealing part of the game is its simplicity. In Atlanta, where there are 8,000 junior players, Y.M.C.A. Soccer League Coordinator Barry Christiansen explains: "Anybody can kick a ball. The kid doesn't have to be a certain size like football or basketball players." Other attractions are that kids need little equipment and are rarely badgered by overzealous parent-coaches. As in the pro leagues, no time-outs are allowed; once the game begins, the players are virtually on their own. Youth acceptance of soccer has begun to make itself felt at colleges. At the University of Southern California, Soccer Coach Nuri Erturk gets at least 200 letters a year from students looking for soccer scholarships. While many of the better college teams are still stocked with foreign players, things are changing. Nine years ago, the U.C.L.A. team had 32 players from 22 countries. Now 75 per cent of the squad is American. One thing keeping more U.S. players off the top teams is that they generally lack the finesse of the foreigners.

The game is also on the verge of becoming a successful commercial venture. The North American Soccer League, just eight years old, already has 20 teams playing in four divisions and plans to add four more next year. Though many teams are still losing money, their owners are far from bailing out. Two years ago the L.A. Aztecs were on the block for $150,000; now they are worth an even million, but the owners have rejected the bid. One of them, Pop Star-Soccer Freak Elton John, has brought George Best, onetime star forward for Manchester United, over from England to attract the local crowds. The biggest league-round draw is the New York Cosmos' legendary Pele. Average attendance in the league in its first four weeks is roughly 10,000. And that should be boosted when League Commissioner Phil Woosnam signs a two-year deal with CBS to broadcast at least 15 games.

Future Stars. Regardless of the network deal, the pro league can count on growth, with American youngsters offering a pool of future talent. Some day, perhaps, young women may play professionally. According to one Atlanta coach, "Girls have a better sense of position on the field and don't bunch up as the boys do." More likely, however, is that in a decade, Larry Day will be joining the pros. After watching him last season, Seattle Sounder Defender Dave D'Errico marveled, "The only way you can stop him is to trip him." As far as Larry is concerned, his course is set. Says he: "I'd like to go to England to play in the off-season."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.