The Sport

Soccer, or football as it is known everywhere in the world outside of the United States, is the most popular sport in the world and one of the most popular youth sports in the country.  If your child is playing soccer, it helps to know the basics of the sport.

There are 20 U.S. women competing at the Beijing Games who are also mothers, some still competing at the highest level in their sports well into their thirties. Kate Markgraf, 31, soccer star and mother of 21 month old baby boy, Keegan, proves that contrary to belief, women can have it all.

Soccer is a popular youth sport because it teaches kids and parents lots of valuable lessons.

Youth soccer has become one of the nation's most popular sports because it offers many advantages, among them being that it is relatively easy to learn and teaches teamwork and mental focus. Ironically, some of the reasons youth soccer is a good choice for your child can also be drawbacks, as its popularity often leads to cutthroat competition at the higher age levels and to politics rearing its ugly head.

There are eleven players per side in soccer, a goalie and ten in the field playing a number of different basic positions (forward, midfield and defense) in a variety of different formations.