By Steve Malone

When soccer coaches gather, a recurring topic is media support for our sport. A common theme is that we don't get enough attention and when we do get attention it's negative. I won't dispute these ideas, because I've expressed them myself on occasion.

Changing public perceptions is like turning an ocean liner--it takes time and a lot of effort, and it never seems to move fast enough, especially in the era of instant everything and the 15-second sound bite. However, there may be many ways we can help our sport. We can support it ourselves.

I'm sure each of us supports soccer an each does it in the strongest way we see possible. I think we can probably do a little better. I certainly don't mean to suggest any of us don't support soccer.  I just think we might be able to do a better job.

I think that, too often, we become too caught up in our own coaching and don't think about other areas in which we can support the game. High school coaches go to other high school games, college coaches go to other college games and youth coaches go to other youth and club games. My thought is that we don't cross over into other realms enough.

I believe high school coaches should attend as many college games in their vicinity as they can. And not just Division I games. Excellent soccer is played at the Division II, Division III, NAIA and junior college levels. Try to attend some of these games, and when possible take some of your players along to watch with you. Encourage your players to watch the game at all levels.

High school coaches also should make an effort to see as many youth and club games as possible. This can be done without spending an inordinate amount of time. A Saturday spent at a recreation field or club tournament could enable you to see several games in a relatively short period of time.

I realize how tough it is for college coaches to get out and watch high school games, not to mention youth games. To find time to recruit players is hard enough without trying to see games involving players you aren't recruiting. However, if you only see one high school game and one youth game in your community involving players you aren't recruiting, it could reap great rewards for your program. The interest you demonstrate through your attendance at their games can generate goodwiill and encourage them to attend your games.

When I was a high school athletics director I always made a plea at our first high school faculty meeting of the year. I told my colleagues I knew how busy they were and how much they enjoyed their time with at home with their families; however, I asked each of them to try to see one game in each sport we had at school. No can see all of the games, but one per sports is possible. I told them they had no idea how much it might help them in the classroom. I mentioned that even though the athletes were concentrating on the game, they also have a way of knowing who is attendance. Their mere presence might help with classroom activities. One year during a faculty meeting on school spirit, a teach stood up and mentioned my annual plea. She said she never believed that the athletes knew who was at the games until she tried it. She said every player she had in class mentioned her being at the game the night before. It wasn't earth-shattering for her, but she admitted it helped. Sometimes it's the small gestures and the small steps that, when added up, gain the most ground.

I would like to see youth and club coaches attend local high school and college games. Even better, take your players to games involving the high school they will be attending. Take them to college matches so they can see the game played at a very high level. As the high school coach if ball runners are needed for games. This is an excellent way to work cooperatively. Suggest a "recreation" and "club" night in which players in uniform get free admission and maybe even play a short game on the field at halftime. High school and college coaches can encourage their players to get involved by coaching or officiating in the local recreation and club programs.

Another way to support our sport is by watching professional games in your area. If you're not in an MLS market, find the USL franchise in your area--there are a number of levels to the professional game in this country. If soccer is to become a major player in our sports world, we must present a united front and do what we can do to help each other.
 
We often complain about the lack of soccer on television; however, when it is on there are times we don't watch. If we watch the games and then talk to our players about them the next day it might encourage them to become more frequent viewers.

The NSCAA has taken on a huge responsibility in presenting soccer on television through the creation of the College Game of the Week on Fox Soccer Channel. Our Board members, office staff and college members have put a great deal of time and effort to get this package. Watch it when possible. I know not all cable and satellite companies carry FSC--during the first two years of our agreement I couldn't get the games because none of our cable companies carried the channel. Finally, in December I was given another choice, a company that carries not only FSC but GolTV. I changed companies. I look forward to September when I'll be able to watch our TV package. It's also kind of neat to be able to turn on televison and be able to see soccer almost 24 hours a day.

In summary, we all support soccer, but maybe we can do just a little more.