But, as stated in the article, it’ s challenging for soccer to get more coverage on radio and TV stations because those media companies are in partnerships with other sports. When a network has paid a billion dollars to a sports league for the long-term rights to broadcast their hockey, basketball or football games, they are not likely to promote soccer very much. It’ s not in their best interest. Add to that, soccer has low TV ratings. Very few people watch soccer on TV in comparison to other sports. We must do all we can to increase viewership of soccer.
Coaches are our best avenue to educating and encouraging players— and the families and friends of the players they coach— to watch soccer as much as possible. In fact, increasing viewership of the game on TV is the best way to develop players. Yes, player development, that dreaded play-to-play model that is so widely criticized, would all come to an end if TV ratings in soccer would challenge other sports. It’ s one reason pay-to-play is not really an issue in the UK and Europe. In fact, they face a different issue that is the complete opposite of our pay-to-play problem. That’ s a story for another day, but if you want to read a book that will open your eyes to the problems in the UK because there is too much money going around, read the book“ No Hunger in Paradise” by Michael Calvin.
If we can bring ratings up so that TV revenues match what other sports make, then a lot of the money would filter down to the teams and academies so that they can help local clubs with funds. Then, like other sports, the best players in the country, regardless of family income, could get the best coaching and be able to play in the highest caliber leagues.
So then, our coaches must get the ball rolling and help build fans. It’ s not just about coaching your players and trying to win trophies. If you want to make an impact in building fans, which will inevitably help you and your players, then you must do your part to build a soccer culture, and to do that there are a few basic ingredients needed. To build a fan, they need to be entertained, and in this regard, soccer is competing with not only other sports, but also other forms of entertainment. You are asking them for their most important asset. Their time! Never lose sight of that. To entertain, you must educate and promote the key personalities. We need to make sure that not only our players understand the game but their parents and friends as well. Soccer has a reputation of being a slow, boring sport, but that’ s only because the average American doesn’ t understand the game. That’ s where we come in. Explain the game to as many people as possible and give them important bits of information that make them understand the game better so they can enjoy it and be entertained by it. Not an easy task, but if you do this before the World Cup starts, when all eyes will be on soccer, then maybe the people you encounter may actually enjoy the game more and hopefully continue to follow it after the World Cup is over.
many more female fans have started following NFL football, and particularly the Kansas City Chiefs, since Taylor Swift started dating Travis Kelce? That number is staggering.
When something interesting comes up about soccer personalities that can engage non-soccer fans, talk about it, promote it. For example, both David and Victoria Beckham have had Netflix specials. Promote it. I don’ t have to tell you about“ Ted Lasso.” This is great for soccer. Tell people to watch it.“ Welcome to Wrexham” is another great way to educate non-soccer people. Do your part to promote those shows. Mark Consuelos of“ Live with Kelly and Mark,” owns a soccer team in Italy( Campobasso) and is doing something like the Wrexham series. Find out about it and promote it.
And in a recent episode of the TV show,“ Shark Tank,” both the founder of Reddit, Alexis Ohanian, and Kevin O’ Leary( Mr. Wonderful) invested in a street soccer program in the U. S. Find out about it and promote the heck out of all this stuff. This is fantastic for our game and will get people talking. If TV, or Netflix ratings go up, then more and more businesses will redirect some of their marketing dollars to soccer and away from other sports.
“ If you want to make an impact in building fans, which will inevitably help you and your players, then you must do your part to build a soccer culture...”
People are attracted to personalities, so your job is to teach them who they are. Who are the top players from around the world and what is it about them that makes them interesting? Sometimes, it’ s what happens off the field. Do you know how
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