| The dissertation traces the history and development of professional soccer in the United States from 1850 to the present. An integral part of the work deals with the sociological concept of the dominant-minority societal structure and its relation to immigration in the United States. Negative attitudes regarding immigrants fostered by the press, as well as by groups such as the APA and the KKK, led to a general dislike, if not hatred for, immigrants and their activities.; As a result, soccer, a sport which had been played throughout the United States before any other team sport and which had also been played throughout the world, acquired a "foreign" connotation. Up to the time of the depression, any native-born American playing soccer was doing so virtually by accident rather than by design. With the closing of the door to immigration in the early 1930's, players' sources for the professional leagues dwindled and there was suddenly a need for the "grass-roots" development of American players. During this period the American Soccer League published magazines for youth, ran clinics, and made a concerted effort to foster soccer in the United States. In 1950, the effort proved worthwhile as the United States defeated England in the World Cup in Brazil. This incredible event was hailed as the forerunner to a great era of soccer in the United States but proved to be more of a culminating activity as promotional activities centered around the importation of entire foreign teams to stage exhibitions.; In 1968, a legitimate professional league, the North American Soccer League, was established complete with a television contract. Interest was revived in America and many youths began to play the game. The professional club owners continued to recruit only foreign players; and despite a great interest in youth soccer, professional soccer continued to lose a great amount of money because of low attendance.; In 1973, Kyle Rote, Jr., an American-born player, led the league in scoring; and in 1975, the great Brazilian Pele came to play in America, thereby adding to the growing enthusiasm for soccer. By 1976, youth soccer players outnumbered players in all other sports combined. The USSF, previously known for its neglect of development, hired Walt Chyzowych as the national coach to harness the growing enthusiasm. . . . (Author's abstract exceeds stipulated maximum length. Discontinued here with permission of author.) UMI... |
