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Soccerhead: An Accidental Journey into the Heart of the American Game
A Youth Soccer Coach's Investigation Into The Origins of Soccermainia
On July 10, 1999, 100,000 Americans, mostly women, did something they had not done before, at least not in such numbers. They showed up to watch a soccer match.
Their attendance at the 1999 Women's World Cup Final took the world by surprise, forcing it to recognize much about itself that it had been in denial of for quite some time. Who were these soccer fans? Where had they come from? Why had no one noticed them before?
Award winning journalist Jim Haner asks these questions, and others, as he sets off in search of the origins of the American passion for soccer, uncovering the game's roots in an early industrial Northeast and following them up through the transcontinental suburban present. But Haner is by no means a passive historian of the game; he is the coach of the Hornets, a rag-tag team of ten nine-year-old boys and one determined little girl. Haner provides us with an intimate view of his team's struggles and successes over the course of season, and of his own transformation from reluctant soccer dad to authentic 'soccerhead'.
Seamlessly weaving personal and historical narrative threads, Soccerhead is both an enticing memoir and a cultural inquiry of the first-order--enlightening, entertaining, and informative--shedding new light on a little known chapter of American history.
On July 10, 1999, 100,000 Americans, mostly women, did something they had not done before, at least not in such numbers. They showed up to watch a soccer match.
Their attendance at the 1999 Women's World Cup Final took the world by surprise, forcing it to recognize much about itself that it had been in denial of for quite some time. Who were these soccer fans? Where had they come from? Why had no one noticed them before?
Award winning journalist Jim Haner asks these questions, and others, as he sets off in search of the origins of the American passion for soccer, uncovering the game's roots in an early industrial Northeast and following them up through the transcontinental suburban present. But Haner is by no means a passive historian of the game; he is the coach of the Hornets, a rag-tag team of ten nine-year-old boys and one determined little girl. Haner provides us with an intimate view of his team's struggles and successes over the course of season, and of his own transformation from reluctant soccer dad to authentic 'soccerhead'.
Seamlessly weaving personal and historical narrative threads, Soccerhead is both an enticing memoir and a cultural inquiry of the first-order--enlightening, entertaining, and informative--shedding new light on a little known chapter of American history.
- GenresSportsSoccerNonfiction
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 18, 2006
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December 13, 2019I abandoned this book because it wasn't interesting to me and was boring. It didn't mkae me want to keep reading.
January 16, 2020
My opinion on this book is positive because it has an interesting plot and the reader can learn new things about soccer.
August 27, 2013
This is a great book that examines the life of soccer dad in suburban DC Area and the history of soccer in the United States. Since I am young professional who is nowhere near that part in my life I found the stories about youth sports quite boring. However, If you are in that part of your life of soccer practice, soccer games, carpooling, politics of sports, the money invested in the game then I would highly recommend that you read this book. I read this book primarily for the understanding of the Spread of the soccer game in the United states. Jim Haner does an excellent job of analyzing where the sport came from, immigrants of England and native Americans and Chinese. The latter of the two depends upon what you what you read.
The part that I found most fascinating was the story about Title IX. Since Title IV was established the woman's game is one best in the world. Remember 1999 with the Mia Hamm Team and the US women's team won the world cup in LA on PK's? Player took of her shirt and showed a sports bra? Which every man players does and every woman's player would have done the same thing!?
Haner talks a good deal about the impact that this had on youth players and sport. Hamm's number 9 is extremely popular. The interesting part of about title IX is that there a clause that demands the equal number of boys and girls sports. For example since there is no female equivalent of Mens football, Woman's Soccer grew exponentially because its cheap, most of the facilities are already in place and it is quite to easy to find the players. Here is the Hamm effect gain..
As a math major I just love numbers. Look at this
US Youth Soccer Annual Registration of Players
1974 - 103,432
1980 - 810,793
1985 - 1,210,408
1990 - 1,615,041
1995 - 2,388,719
2000 - 3,020,442
2005 - 3,050,465
2007 - 3,123,698
2008 - 3,148,114
2009 - 3,094,868
2010 - 3,036,438
2011 - 3,025,551
2012 - 3,020,633
Gender Breakdown (boys/girls)
1995 - 55/45
2000 - 55/45
2008 - 52/48
However, George Will the Great Baseball Author and Washington Post columnist disagrees because colleges and universities have cut other non revenue mens sports like Mens track and gymnastics.Now I will not get in the TitleIX debate in this review but its hard to ignore soccers impact with it.
Most of the superstars now and in the not to distant future are not from United States. Some of the it economics, some it if the just the popularity with the sport. Average median Age of people who watched 2013 all star game In New York was 55. Average age of people who watched the gold cup final? 40. That is quite the difference. http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/2/14... has an age problem similar to the population of Japan.
But Soccer doesn't have that age problem.
The part that I found most fascinating was the story about Title IX. Since Title IV was established the woman's game is one best in the world. Remember 1999 with the Mia Hamm Team and the US women's team won the world cup in LA on PK's? Player took of her shirt and showed a sports bra? Which every man players does and every woman's player would have done the same thing!?
Haner talks a good deal about the impact that this had on youth players and sport. Hamm's number 9 is extremely popular. The interesting part of about title IX is that there a clause that demands the equal number of boys and girls sports. For example since there is no female equivalent of Mens football, Woman's Soccer grew exponentially because its cheap, most of the facilities are already in place and it is quite to easy to find the players. Here is the Hamm effect gain..
As a math major I just love numbers. Look at this
US Youth Soccer Annual Registration of Players
1974 - 103,432
1980 - 810,793
1985 - 1,210,408
1990 - 1,615,041
1995 - 2,388,719
2000 - 3,020,442
2005 - 3,050,465
2007 - 3,123,698
2008 - 3,148,114
2009 - 3,094,868
2010 - 3,036,438
2011 - 3,025,551
2012 - 3,020,633
Gender Breakdown (boys/girls)
1995 - 55/45
2000 - 55/45
2008 - 52/48
However, George Will the Great Baseball Author and Washington Post columnist disagrees because colleges and universities have cut other non revenue mens sports like Mens track and gymnastics.Now I will not get in the TitleIX debate in this review but its hard to ignore soccers impact with it.
Most of the superstars now and in the not to distant future are not from United States. Some of the it economics, some it if the just the popularity with the sport. Average median Age of people who watched 2013 all star game In New York was 55. Average age of people who watched the gold cup final? 40. That is quite the difference. http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/2/14... has an age problem similar to the population of Japan.
But Soccer doesn't have that age problem.
August 11, 2014
Haner's story is his own of a dad pressed into service as a youth league soccer coach. The team turns out to have serious talent, so he has to step up his own game as a coach in order to keep up with the players, and in learning about the game, he uncovers the United States' rich, forgotten, and unappreciated history of soccer.
He skillfully interweaves his son's story of success on the field with the story of soccer's rise and fall in the US, with a lot of focus on the Washington, DC area where he lives and coaches. As someone who grew up while a lot of what he relates was happening, I found the story interesting until that point-- and then I read with wide eyes as he named some of the grownups of my youth. I did not know they were threads in the fabric of the game; they were my best friend's father and her league president, who fought successfully for girls to have parity with boys in the youth leagues.
Haner's writing is compelling. He's an excellent storyteller, and you'll be able to see these kids on the field as well as the players from decades ago. Soccer has well over 100 years of history in our country, almost all of it buried, much of it now in a warehouse near where I live. I'm doing my part to help it gain ground again. If you care about the beautiful game or have a child who plays, read this to learn more about why soccer matters.
He skillfully interweaves his son's story of success on the field with the story of soccer's rise and fall in the US, with a lot of focus on the Washington, DC area where he lives and coaches. As someone who grew up while a lot of what he relates was happening, I found the story interesting until that point-- and then I read with wide eyes as he named some of the grownups of my youth. I did not know they were threads in the fabric of the game; they were my best friend's father and her league president, who fought successfully for girls to have parity with boys in the youth leagues.
Haner's writing is compelling. He's an excellent storyteller, and you'll be able to see these kids on the field as well as the players from decades ago. Soccer has well over 100 years of history in our country, almost all of it buried, much of it now in a warehouse near where I live. I'm doing my part to help it gain ground again. If you care about the beautiful game or have a child who plays, read this to learn more about why soccer matters.
April 11, 2017
This is a great book that examines the life of soccer dad in suburban DC Area and the history of soccer in the United States. If you are in that part of your life of soccer practice, soccer games, carpooling, politics of sports, the money invested in the game then I would highly recommend that you read this book.
Exposition: The exposition of this book is how soccer got into the heart of america. It also takes a look at the life of a soccer dad in suburban DC.
Setting: The setting is a park in suburban DC.
protagonist: The protagonist of this book is the soccer dad. The soccer dad is the protagonist because he is trying to get into the heart of soccer mania.
Anatagonists:
Exposition: The exposition of this book is how soccer got into the heart of america. It also takes a look at the life of a soccer dad in suburban DC.
Setting: The setting is a park in suburban DC.
protagonist: The protagonist of this book is the soccer dad. The soccer dad is the protagonist because he is trying to get into the heart of soccer mania.
Anatagonists:
February 16, 2008
A thoroughly entertaining and educating look at Soccer in America. This book is full of tidbits if history of the true American Pasttime that have been lost throughout the years. Interspersed with the author's anecdotes of his introduction to the sport and his subsequent love affair with it, this book has plenty to keep any soccerhead turning the pages straight through the end.
April 30, 2012
Jim Haner took me through his journey as a reluctant peewee soccer league coach to a full fledged soccerhead in this book. He meticulously wrote his naivety of the game to exploring the history of American soccer. Honest, funny and down-right informative, this is a must-read to all soccer heads.
June 1, 2007
This guy reminded me too much of the typical u12 coaches I've come across. This was my first year coaching girls that age. I could relate with most of his stories.
May 16, 2008
Self-absorbed douchebag begins coaching son's soccer team, continues to be self-absorbed douchebag. Ugh.
July 27, 2011
everyone with kids in soccer should read this!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews