ABSTRACT
It is estimated that there are nearly 3 million youth (under 19 years of age) registered players in the United States as of 1998 (J.Cosgrove, US Youth Soccer Association, personal communication) and this figure represents a 235% increase since 1980 (Soccer Industry Council of America, personal communication). The Council survey of all soccer participation in 1996 showed that there are 7.7 million frequent (>25 and less than 52 days/year) of which there are 3.2 million “core” (>52 days/year) participants. In the youngest ages (6-11 years of age), participation in soccer ranks 2nd and ranks 3rd for older children (12-18 years of age).
