The Olympics are not like every other sporting competitors on the planet. For 16 days, over 300 occasions representing 35 sports activities and each nation on the planet compete to take dwelling their prized medals, and I’ve seemed ahead to watching the Summer time Olympics each four years since way back to I can bear in mind. However there’s all the time been one thing lacking. One of many United States hottest sports activities, and a high 10 sport all through the world, it seems as if deal with and flag ฟุตบอล may very well be Olympic sports activities by the 12 months 2024, however subject obstacles nonetheless stay for that to change into a actuality. First we’ll stroll by way of some explanation why the street to getting American Soccer included into the Olympics has not been a straightforward journey, adopted by why we consider flag soccer to be the logical answer and selection as a future Olympic sport.
WHY ISN’T AMERICAN FOOTBALL ALREADY AN OLYMPIC SPORT?
In line with an article by NFL.com, the most important logistical issues dealing with the game of American Soccer being included within the Olympics are similar to that of Rugby. With the big numbers of contributors on every workforce, the “gender equality” codecs the place each women and men take part in each sport, and the compressed three week schedule that will be robust with a extra bodily recreation like soccer and rugby. Moreover for American Soccer, the barrier to entry is excessive as a result of it is price to equip all gamers with pads and equipment, and therefor has additionally been sluggish to undertake in lots of international nations, particularly of the poorer selection.
Understanding all this, it is onerous to see how both sport can be a superb match for the Summer time Olympics. Rugby is so much like Soccer in that little or no is required to play the game when it comes to gear and follow at it is base stage, and has a a lot bigger worldwide following. This amongst different causes has just lately allowed Rugby to be cleared for the Olympics beginning in 2016 by altering the normal model to a much less conventional “sevens” format which is quicker paced with much less folks, which might assist carve an identical path for American Soccer, or flag soccer extra particularly.
TACKLE SAFETY CONCERNS
Even increasingly highschool, faculty and professional groups are beginning to scale back the variety of contact practices, nonetheless sporting the likes of soft-padded headgear and shoulder pads for added safety. However what if we might restrict the contact gamers see earlier than highschool and center college whereas additionally addressing a number of the issues for the game associated to it being totally accepted into the Olympics?There’s loads of speak just lately revolving across the security of deal with soccer, and never simply within the NFL the place concussions are a serious concern. Beginning way back to the youth soccer stage, current proof has surfaced supporting the concept that even in need of a concussion, repeated head impacts and collision can manifest in related mind accidents later in life for teenagers examined between the ages of Eight-13. Many researchers are suggesting youngsters should not be taking part in soccer in any respect, suggesting that youngsters’ heads are “a bigger a part of their physique, and their necks aren’t as sturdy as adults’ necks. So youngsters could also be at a higher danger of head and mind accidents than adults.”
DREW BREES BELIEVES FLAG FOOTBALL CAN SAVE FOOTBALL
As of 2015, research present that flag soccer is the quickest rising youth sport in the US, significantly outpacing the expansion of conventional deal with soccer. Many particular person excessive colleges are making the change to flag soccer over deal with, getting different colleges of their areas to comply with swimsuit creating organized leagues and divisions. It is even an formally acknowledged varsity sport in lots of states, and with ladies particularly flag soccer is a solution to permit simpler participation versus the bodily nature of deal with.And he is not the one one. Just lately Drew Brees was interviewed by Peter King for NBC’s pregame present and had some sturdy phrases on why he believes flag soccer is the reply. “I really feel like flag soccer can save soccer,” Brees mentioned. Brees coaches his son’s flag soccer workforce, and performed flag soccer himself by way of junior excessive, by no means taking part in deal with soccer till highschool. “I really feel like (flag soccer) is a good introductory technique for lots of youngsters into soccer,” Brees talked about. “In any other case I really feel it’s totally simple to go in and have a foul expertise early on after which not wish to ever play it once more. I really feel like as soon as you set the pads on there are simply so many different components to the sport, and also you’re on the mercy of the coach in loads of instances too. And to be sincere, I do not assume sufficient coaches are well-versed sufficient regarding the true fundamentals of the sport particularly when the pads go on on the youth stage.” Many different professional athletes and coaches have expressed related sentiments as properly, singing praises for the game of flag soccer, and the rise in reputation of the game echoes that.
Flag soccer is not a fluke or only a leisure improvement instrument that feeds into deal with soccer, it is a full-fledged motion that has it is personal id and objective and it is time we acknowledged that distinction.