Video Buzz: Skyview success and the social power of high school soccer

The Skyview High School Storm of Vancouver, Washington, have had a lot of success on the soccer pitch recently. Watching some videos about that success we are reminded about the ongoing discussion over US Soccer’s decision that USSDA players (boys) will no longer be eligible / allowed to play for their schools, and how this idea is spreading to girls leagues as well. Former Seattle Sounders team captain Danny Jackson wrote about this a few months ago.

Skyview High School players share their 2012 WIAA State soccer trophy with their community. (video screen capture)

Danny Jackson: “In America, soccer is one of many sports that make up the high school experience, a unique piece in this culture’s social fabric. And while high school sports have always been a stepping stone for professional athletes of all stripes, for many players the experience is mostly about camaraderie and community. High school sports hold an iconic place in the hearts of Americans. It’s a world that’s often portrayed on TV and in movies; the experience of playing, and then receiving your letters and letterman jacket. This is an attainable goal, compared to college and professional play. And because it is possible, and because of the way it’s elevated in our hearts and minds, it becomes very influential.”

Whatever the tactical sports-related reasons behind these changes, high school soccer remains what it has always been…a way for the sport of soccer to be part of a social history, and part of community in America. Here’s to Skyview High School and the success they have shared. The videos below speak louder than words.

High school soccer matters in the state of Washington.

(See an ongoing discussion thread at WPS-Soccer.com)