Women’s Soccer and the Future
In recent years, the men’s program, while making great strides, was often a source of frustration, with opportunities being denied, backsliding, worries over the future of the program. But the women simply ascended, from one triumph to another, and the steady growth and finally explosion of women’s soccer into the hearts and minds of Americans is truly astonishing. It is easy to forget than a mere fifteen years ago, the national program didn’t exist, professional leagues didn’t exist and people actually wondered if women’s soccer would be more than a college and recreational sport.
Some of the change in perceptions can be attributed to changes throughout the country, both cultural and demographic. Women are moving into all aspects of US society, even the traditionally patriarchal sports world. The 90’s saw the maturation of women’s college programs, and great success in basketball, hockey and other traditionally male pastimes. Professional leagues have been established in softball, football, basketball and hockey. Soccer may have been the last sport to launch a women’s pro team, but the seeds of this were long in coming. And the future looks even better.
In some ways, the creation and growth of women’s soccer in the US was a task of assembling the components. College soccer, the youth programs, amateur clubs, the national team, tournament success, the US Open Cup, farm clubs and finally a professional league. But once it was done (and at an amazingly quick pace at that), the US had gone from a latecomer to the premier women’s soccer program in the world, and is a spearhead that inspires the growth of the game throughout the rest of the world. And the future looks even better.
Source: http://www.mysocceruniform.com
