Soccer is the most played game in America, far exceeding every other sport in total athletes of every age group. With that statistic in mind, it is incredibly ironic how unpopular soccer is in mainstream American culture. There is a following for soccer, however, and those who play soccer are immersed in a sport very different and far more complex in organization, outside NCAA Football’s BCS formula.

Unlike the majority of other American sports, soccer has a variety of different methods of play, from three vs. three (known as 3v3) tournaments to club and travel team tournaments, as well as the more traditional high school sports seasons and coinciding high school soccer tournaments. Many soccer players participate in several of these organizations.

The most common tournaments played are high school tournaments organized by schools and the rule making body in charge of athletics. Coaches and players are involved with the school they represent in play, with the main purpose being to generate recognition for the school they represent as well as creating well-rounded student athletes by involvement in high school soccer.

In some soccer schools, or powerhouse schools, a higher number of ‘elite’ players may participate and branch into club play. This can be from involvement in tournaments such as the Kick-It 3v3 tournament that Disney’s Wide World of Sports hosted championships for in 2008. Athletes of many ages competed on smaller teams in varying field size (by age group) have up to six members to a team (three starters and three substitutions with at least two field players at a time), and must maintain a certain level of sportsmanship that has come to be expected of them.

Also in these smaller tournaments, the rules are edited in order to accommodate changes, mainly in playing participants, to make the game flow more efficiently as well as protect the well-being of the athletes. Some of the rule changes consist of banning slide tackling and removing certain penalties such as offsides. All players must be able to truthfully and accurately provide credentials for their age at all times during the tournament. Outside of these rule changes, the French Federation International Football Association (FIFA) rules apply.

Another option many choose is the multiple age group clubs that compete at the amateur level, usually between the ages of 11 and 19.
Many tournaments are set up via invitation based on win/loss records, quality of opponents, as well as attempting to maintain a balanced representation of teams geographically. At these tournaments, the United Sates Youth Soccer Association and the United States Soccer Federation rules apply, which are based upon those set forth by the FIFA, but may have amendments based upon necessity and situation.

In any of these tournament modes, coaches are critical to the success of these teams. Coaching high school soccer players requires a vast amount of knowledge about the sport as well as the specific conditions of the tournament. Being a great high school soccer coach at an elite soccer school will do little good if the coach is required to prepare a six-man squad to participate in a 3v3. Also, being fundamentally sound and educated in the requirements of the specific coaching task are critical to the success of the team. Each tournament will have slightly varying rules, and a good coach will familiarize himself or herself prior to accepting an invitation or entering a tournament.

As an electronic scoreboards continue to light up.