US Sports - some background info
If you’re reading our Thanksgiving special weekly email, you might like some background on how sport in the US operates. We’ve compiled this list of reasons why US sport is different to UK sport, including some terms that you may not have come across before. If there’s anything else you’d like to know, drop us an email hello@Wearegirlsinsport.com or comment below.
Community vs franchise
Unlike the UK where teams have origins in communities, most U.S. teams are owned by corporations, like businesses and so teams are known as franchises. A business could own teams in multiple sports. A franchise is not tied to a geographical area and so, can be moved around the country. Imagine London City Lionesses, say, moving to another city like Bath, for example - crazy, right?!
Golden State Storm is a new franchise in women’s tackle football
Sport is big business in the US
As the sports teams are business, sport is big business too. They want ‘bums on seats.’ Attracting spectators and ensuring that they have a good time is key. Sport and entertainment go hand in hand in the US and sport really is a big part of the nation’s culture. There are multiple channels showing sport every day of the week and all the sports that you can imagine. Women’s sport doesn’t receive as much coverage as men’s but it is changing.
US sports’ league set-up
Due to the size of the country, there are often a number of leagues of the same standard. In women’s sport, this isn’t the case as much as they’re in their infancy but it’s something to look out for as sports grow in popularity, for spectators and investors alike.
There isn’t the concept of relegation and promotion as we have in some sports leagues. League winners compete for titles in play-offs which are often the best of seven games. We think they’re missing out, right?!
The path into professional sport
The path into professional sport is clearly defined and well-structured. Pro-sport players are chosen from college teams in televised and highly-anticipated ‘draft picks.’ The team that finished bottom in the previous season gets first pick of the drafts in the next season.
College team sport is much bigger than UK university sport - it’s often televised, players become household names, and it generates a lot of revenue, for colleges and players alike. Talented sports men and women compete for sports scholarships in high school (some people even stay back a year in high school to give themselves a better chance of securing a scholarship). But, only a small percentage of sports men and women in college actually ‘make it.’
Some recent examples of those who did ‘make it’ are gymnast Jordan Chiles (UCLA), basketball player Caitlin Clark (Iowa State) and Sha’Carri Richardson, who made history on the track at Louisiana State University before turning professional after her first year.
Sha-Carri Richardson turned professional after a year of college and breaking records!
Title IX significance
Title IX is a US law that says schools and colleges that receive federal funding can not treat people unfairly because of their sex or gender. It started in 1972 and completely changed the landscape of education and sports. It gave girls equal access to facilities, coaching and those all-important sports scholarships.
Thumbnail image: Kelly Osario, Storm photographer