Can’t play here: the decline of pick-up soccer and social capital in the USA

Abstract

In this article, the authors argue that over-bureaucratization of the sport of soccer could have a deleterious impact on both the development of innovative soccer skills and the proliferation of beneficial social interaction -particularly for youth whose only exposure to sports is through pay-to-play leagues. This article relates these concerns to broader questions about democracy and grassroots interaction that have emerged in 'social capital' literature over the last twenty years. Curiously, while social capital advocates like Putnam posit a decline in formal participatory organizations, the number of organized youth sports leagues is in fact growing steadily. And, although Putnam would laud the merits of an increase in structured play, the authors highlight the negative repercussions of this occurrence. Specifically, the authors examine literature on the sociology of sport, as well as literature from public administration and political science, to explore the manner in which 'pick-up' games fit into the broader societal landscape. The authors then use this literature to construct a framework for comparing the Ghanaian soccer experience with that of the USA. Ultimately, this comparison reveals the differences in player development across the two cultures and crystallizes the implications that a decline in informal play poses for civic engagement in a democratic society.