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 residence their prized medals, and I’ve seemed ahead to watching the Summer season Olympics each four years since way back to I can keep in mind. However there’s at all times been one thing lacking. One of many United States hottest sports activities, and a high 10 sport all through the world, it appears to be like as if sort out and flag soccer could possibly be Olympic sports activities by the yr 2024, however subject obstacles nonetheless stay for that to turn out to be a actuality. First we’ll stroll by way of some the explanation why the street to getting American Soccer included into the Olympics has not been a straightforward journey, adopted by why we imagine flag football news soccer to be the logical answer and selection as a future Olympic sport.
WHY ISN’T AMERICAN FOOTBALL ALREADY AN OLYMPIC SPORT?
In accordance with an article by NFL.com, the largest logistical issues going through the game of American Soccer being included within the Olympics are similar to that of Rugby. With the massive numbers of individuals 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 may be robust with a extra bodily sport like soccer and rugby. Moreover for American Soccer, the barrier to entry is excessive resulting from it is price to equip all gamers with pads and equipment, and therefor has additionally been gradual to undertake in lots of international nations, particularly of the poorer selection.
Realizing all this, it is exhausting to see how both sport can be an excellent match for the Summer season Olympics. Rugby is rather a lot like Soccer in that little or no is required to play the game by way of gear and observe 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 standard model to a much less conventional “sevens” format which is quicker paced with much less individuals, which may assist carve an analogous path for American Soccer, or flag soccer extra particularly.
TACKLE SAFETY CONCERNS
Even an increasing number of 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 may restrict the contact gamers see earlier than highschool and center faculty whereas additionally addressing among the issues for the game associated to it being absolutely accepted into the Olympics?There’s a variety of discuss just lately revolving across the security of sort out soccer, and never simply within the NFL the place concussions are a significant concern. Beginning way back to the youth soccer stage, latest proof has surfaced supporting the concept even in need of a concussion, repeated head impacts and collision can manifest in comparable mind accidents later in life for youths examined between the ages of Eight-13. Many researchers are suggesting children should not be taking part in soccer in any respect, suggesting that children’ heads are “a bigger a part of their physique, and their necks are usually not as robust as adults’ necks. So children could also be at a higher threat 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 USA, vastly outpacing the expansion of conventional sort out soccer. Many particular person excessive colleges are making the swap to flag soccer over sort out, 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 method to enable simpler participation versus the bodily nature of sort out.And he isn’t the one one. Just lately Drew Brees was interviewed by Peter King for NBC’s pregame present and had some robust phrases on why he believes flag soccer is the reply. “I really feel like flag soccer can save soccer,” Brees stated. Brees coaches his son’s flag soccer workforce, and performed flag soccer himself by way of junior excessive, by no means taking part in sort out soccer till highschool. “I really feel like (flag soccer) is a good introductory methodology for lots of children into soccer,” Brees talked about. “In any other case I really feel it is very straightforward 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 parts to the sport, and also you’re on the mercy of the coach in a variety of instances too. And to be trustworthy, 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 comparable sentiments as properly,