How Soccer Explains New England…

A Soccer Blog from a New England Transplant Looking for Answers

October 9, 2008

By Kevin Meek

Okay, so before I introduce myself or the purpose for this blog, let me say YES, for those wondering, the title and impetus for this blog blatantly rip-off Franklin Foer and his novel, “How Soccer Explains the World.” But I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s more original and much more sincere than my first choice—A Heartbreaking Work of Forbiddingly Intense Genius…a New England Soccer Coach’s Story.

Of course, as part of the interactive nature of blogs, and particularly this blog, please feel free to email me appropriate, curious and intensely engaging title alternatives.

SO, WITHOUT ANY MORE STALLING…

This will be a bi-weekly soccer blog written by a former Butler University midfielder and current club and women’s college soccer coach living in Western Massachusetts, where I have resided for the past four years with my lovely wife, Amy, and not-so-lovely grey cat, Casper. I’m not going to bore you with credentials or my past, other than to say that up until four years ago I played, coached, studied, and lived in Indiana, and only had a vague, cliché-riddled understanding of New England constructed from a collage of bad movies and brief encounters, and a former soccer coach from Rhode Island that I barely understood.

Can Kevin's time at Westfield State teach him more about New England? (Source: Westfield State Athletics)

So, what does this have to do with soccer or a soccer blog, or as my grandpappy used to say, what the heck’s that there got to do with corn chowder in spring? Well I’ll tell you, in a word—everything.

WHAT’S THIS BLOG ALL ABOUT?

Part of Foer’s motivation for writing his novel stemmed from an obsession with International soccer and an intense curiosity regarding the towns, villages, cities and countries various teams resided. He wondered whether globalization (yeah I know it’s a big word) had diluted the way towns across the world identified with and informed the cultures of the various clubs nearby. He wondered if super clubs like Man United or Barca and the international exchange of players between clubs and cities and countries had altered or dissipated the culture unique to each town, city and club. He also wondered if a team (including its coach, players, formation, and style of play) could inform, affect and embody the culture of the town. Could you still watch a game and learn what the town was like?

My answer, in a word—YES!

This past summer the women’s soccer team I coach – Westfield State College -- traveled to Germany, and instead of watching Bayern Munich play, we decided to watch a second division team called Alemmania Aachen play – AND IT WAS AMAZING! I knew nothing of the town or the team, and don’t follow the Bundesliga as much as English and Spanish leagues, but just sitting in a general admission seat within a tide of yellow and black fans, separated from the field and the upper class by towering steel fences—yet singing, cheering and following each outlet pass and overlap run, each shot…it was intense and I felt like I knew the town.

They were built around strength and a disciplined 1-4-4-2 with one playmaker up front, a South American munchkin sometimes a full foot smaller, yet seemingly playing at an entirely different speed. No through passes or crosses were allowed to touch the ground, no quick run was unchecked, no 1 v 1 went unchallenged…they were a strong, working class town that valued family and supported each other, and were willing to do whatever it took to win.

http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/teams/the-jan-schlaudraff-goal-construction-kit.html

It was at that moment that I wondered if I could learn something similar from watching soccer teams play throughout New England – not just men or women, not just high school or college – but club teams at all levels. Could soccer help explain New England?

SO WHAT NOW?

I’m going to look at my own team and other teams throughout New England. If I watch one game, interview one coach or set of players, or experience a day at a New England soccer club, can I understand a bit more about that particular town? What do you think? I know that my women’s soccer team is comprised, mostly, of players that grew up in very small Massachusetts towns where soccer was the primary sport and high school soccer reigned supreme.

Several players competed on club teams throughout the region or even ODP at one time or another, but clubs and ODP became too distant, too far from family and too expensive. They work in the off season, live close to home, haven’t ventured that far from the places they grew up, love soccer, work very hard and respond well to communal styles of short play and support…can closer observation or understanding really reveal to me the culture and identity of this town? I have no idea, but it will be an interesting experiment to say the least.

Along the way I’ll update scores, showcase interviews or game-day observations evaluate or discuss coaching methods, training sessions, and pregame warm-ups. Maybe I’ll even deconstruct uniform choices or touch upon the standings and or focuses from each city. I’ll go just about anywhere, time permitting, but I’m going to begin with the hometowns of each player on my team and then venture out…YOU LET ME KNOW WHERE TO GO OR WHAT TO SEE.

IT’S UP TO YOU…

I’m going to continue with this blog until the US wins the World Cup in South Africa (I’ve already got plans and tickets so I’ll be your correspondent on the ground) and my women’s college team wins their first NCAA Tournament game, so you’ve got one or two years.

Kevin Meek is a former player for Butler and a current coach at Westfield State. You can email Kevin comments, ideas and feedback at kevinmeek@yahoo.com.

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