Soccer gaining popularity in Bloomington-Normal

Posted on July 11, 2015
soccer ball
Soccer has been gaining popularity since the recent U.S. Women’s World Cup win. (Photo courtesy Flickr)

By Terry James

BLOOMINGTON – The Women’s World Cup was the highest-rated soccer event ever on American television.

Bloomington Park and Recreation athletics program manager Denise Balagna said soccer is big in Bloomington-Normal.

“I think that soccer has been a growing sport for a long time,” Balagna said. “This is giving the sport an even bigger boost to the interest level for youth and adults. There’s an adult group that plays soccer here in town as well.”

Balagna said kids and adults who play in city leagues get excellent training.

“Both of those are organized by Challenger Sports,” said Balagna. “We work with them and they actually bring in international coaches that come in and teach soccer skills.”

Two city soccer camps are taking place in the next few weeks.

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…