Without Minsport: what is the secret of the success of American sports

Фото: Depositphotos

The United States gives the world a lot of talented athletes in many sports. A lot of athletes from other countries also live and train here.

The opinion on why sport is so popular and successful in the USA was expressed by Ukrainian immigrant Heinrich Karpinsky living in Washington, DC in his blog for Ukrainian Service “VOA".

I think that among the reasons why at many international competitions it is US citizens who come to the awards ceremony is the popularity of sports as such in American culture, the developed sports industry, as well as the attraction of a huge number of children and youth to sports and support from parents who finance the advancement of their offspring to victory.

All these factors provide a large number of young people who play sports and among which there will definitely be future champions.

Children's sports in the USA are a massive phenomenon. Almost every child is involved in at least some kind of sport in one way or another, and most of them have tried several types. Many children play two or even three sports.

Football fields and basketball halls are never empty. Here children and adults always train or play. Each school district will have at least 1-2 martial arts schools.

Фото: Depositphotos

Children's sports in the United States are an integral part of everyday life. On the street or in a store you can always see children in sportswear. At work or at parties, sooner or later people start discussing their children's latest games or their sports achievements. Sooner or later, a family with children is somehow drawn into sports life. Children can start playing sports when they are 2-3 years old. The most popular sports for little ones are gymnastics and martial arts.

Of course, the main driving force is parents. In the United States there is no department of sports, no central state sports system, and nowhere near any government funding for sports.

There are sports that can be practiced exclusively by children from wealthy families or those who can find a sponsor: these include yachting and equestrian sport. A middle-income family can send a child to gymnastics, figure skating or hockey, but this can be a significant financial burden for the family budget.

At the same time, most children's sports organizations, where children learn to play football (European and American), basketball, volleyball, rugby, lacrosse, are volunteer. They are organized and run by volunteers who do not receive any money for it. The administration and coaches are parents of children involved in these sports who have the time and inspiration to work with children. These clubs are the base for most children starting their sports journey. People begin to play European football at the age of 3-4, American football at the age of 7.

Фото: Depositphotos

When a child grows up and goes to the top-level team, sports can cost a little more for a family. For such teams, professional coaches are already hired, young athletes take part in various tournaments, which parents pay for trips and sportswear.

Sponsors of such clubs are often small and medium-sized businesses whose owners or employees are somehow connected with the club.

Despite this seemingly “unprofessional” and “decentralized” approach, these clubs attract a lot of children. In our suburb of Washington, where about 50 people live, there are 000 children's sports clubs where children are taught to play football, basketball, volleyball, field hockey, lacrosse, and baseball. For example, in our club, about 3 children play in European football teams in the age categories from 4 to 17 years old. For parents, a season in a simple “house” league will cost $2500-80 per player.

The club reserves up to 5000 hours of field time per season. Professional clubs work very closely with children's clubs. For example, children's sports teams are given discounted tickets to games, open training sessions are held for volunteer coaches, children can take part in carrying the team flag onto the field or “lead” players of a professional team.

Фото: Depositphotos

Also in the USA, children can try themselves in different sports and find what suits them best, without overloading themselves with two or three sections at the same time. This is because many sports in the United States are seasonal. An entry-level team plays for one season, which lasts 2-3 months.

For example, in the spring they play American and European football, in the winter they play basketball and engage in wrestling; in the spring you can also join European football, flag football (a non-contact version of American football), lacrosse and baseball. And already in the summer you can sign up for a “yard” swimming team. If a child has already decided on sports, then they can practice them all year round.

High schools play a very important role in children's sports life. Each school has teams that defend the “sports honor of the school.” For example, our typical commuter school has one American football field that is also used for European soccer and lacrosse, 2 European soccer and lacrosse fields, 2 baseball fields, and a large basketball gym.

Our school has teams of American and European football, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, baseball, athletics, swimming and shooting. Training is free there, but in order to get there, you need to pass the selection, and it is very difficult. For example, to qualify for a European football team on 8-10 places somewhere 100-120 wanting.

School home games are always a big deal. The most popular school sport is American football. At our school, about 2-3 thousand spectators come to a home American football game from our side alone. If the school we are playing against is somewhere nearby, then we can expect up to two thousand fans on that side too. The school orchestra always performs during the break. Teams have their own fan clubs, which sometimes even engage in “fan hooliganism.” For example, as the parent committee proudly told us, last year fans of our school and a neighboring school before the team’s game caused about $5000 in damage to both schools.

Such a sports atmosphere since childhood leads to the fact that many children are trying to become professional athletes. And even if they do not reach big sporting heights and do not have a collection of medals from prestigious sports competitions, they continue to participate in the sports life of the country and attach to the sports life of their own children.

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