Girls Soccer.... (players, team)

[Chava61]

Two of my nieces (ages 9-11) are playing on girls' soccer teams in Southern California. I was wondering if this is a popular activity for young girls in other places in the USA. What do you think?

[Johnbiggs]

In the US, I've always viewed soccer as more of a girls' sport. It was certainly very popular with the middle-class/suburban girls around here (Maryland).

[Sage of Sagle]

According to the US Soccer Federation, the number of youth soccer players in the USA doubled to 4.04 million from the mid-1990's to 2010, and the number of high school soccer players has doubled (so they're carrying it through their teen years). This is the fastest growth rate of ANY sport in the USA. The growth rate IS much higher among women than men. At the NCAA collegiate level, women soccer players increased (since the 90's) by 115% whereas the men only increased by 28%.

[infinitekid]

So many cool stories, so little time.