Everybody’s Game: Ensuring Access to Opportunity in Soccer

By Alex Campbell
Medill Reports

Soccer has become increasingly popular across America in recent years. However, youth participation rates have declined, partially due to the high costs of many youth programs and lack of access to opportunities to play the game.

I spoke with officials from various levels of soccer here in Chicago, from the Park District up to the United States Soccer Federation, about what is being done to ensure access and opportunity to the most popular sport in the world.

Photo at top: Winter indoor soccer program at Calumet Park (Alex Campbell/MEDILL)