Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-25

mi nouncement by the United
VI States Foot Ball Association
4 of semi-f1nal pairings for the
national amateur soccer COM
petition calls to mind the immense
growth Of this sport throughout the
country since the war.
In the East and Middle West,
wherever one happens to be in the
Winter months on a Saturday, a
Sunday or on holidays, he Is more
likely than not to run into a soccer
match. Upon athletic fields established
and conducted by great factories and
mills, upon the sandlots or in munich
pal arenas teams are engaged In
competition week after week through
out the Winter season.
The time is not far distant when the
game will stand second to base ball
as professional sport and when the
amateur division will claim wide
spread popular interest.
AS in the Civil War. base ball re-
ceived its great impetus through
games among the soldiers, so in the
World War soccer was emphasized.
The game, of course, Is practically a
national sport in England, and the
enthusiasm of the British soldiers for
soccer was caught by the Americans
and international play marked many
<AA AASNlA 0AC All Tic hStlbiIE III AohNS'
Game Widespread.
In the professional branch or soccer
In this country and In the amateur
division crack teams represent cities
in New York. New Jersey, Pennsyl-
varlia, Massachusetts,. Rhode. Island.
Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan,
Illinois, Missouri and Canada. while
in practically all States the game is
vNtN 1l.. al
An interesting phase Of the sport Is
that many of the leading teams repre-
sent great American industries. and it
has been found that enthusiasm OF
the workers for their outfits is valu
able in establishing and maintaining
n very fine spirit among the personnel
of the plants, a spirit which is mani.
tested not only upon the soccer fields
and along the. sideiines, but in the
daily routine Of work.
The organization of soccer leagues
throughout the country is compre-
hensive. The United States Foot
Ball Association is the governing
body, and affiliated with this asso-
citation are the American Foot Ball
Association, the Municipal Soccer
League, the United States Referees
Union, and all the State, city and
sectional organizations.
1t is estimated that between $4,000
and 10000 athletes now are playing
soccer under these organizations, and
this number does not include college
and high school soccer, which is
growing year by year
Some Players Imported.
At first the more important teams
depended upon foreign material. and
many players were brought to this
country from the British Isles. This
is still the case I'm some measure, but
much less so than 1t used to be be-
fore native bred soccer players OF
high class were as abundant as they
are today
The great competition in the
United states Ii for the national
challenge cup. which is held annual
II and Involves from -135 to $50
teams from the various States. It Is
open to both amateur and profess
sional combinations. and after su-
lions - Eastern and Western - the
winners meet in an intersectional
match for the IL months custody of
the trophy.
are played III the national amateur
challenge cup competition, announce
ment OF pairings for which was re-
ferred to above. THESE preliminary
matches, which will have been de-
cided on or before March 10. will in
volve at least 80 teams from various
cities in the East and Middle West.
Basket ball In the college leagtes
throughout the country is beginning
to swing into its final phase. AS Is
usually the case in this swift, shutting
gsY,ne. always so filled with uncertain
ties, no single collegiate Ave has
emerged in any section as sure shot
for titular honors.
The nearest approach to such a
condition is on the West coast, where
II looks as though California and Ore
gon quintets will win the honors of
fighting 1t out for the Pacific Coast
Conference championship.
In order to clinch honors In the
Southern division California must de-
feat Stanford on Saturday night. The
Bears have already downed the Cardi-
nails, and by ten-point margin, and
are strong favorites to repeat.
Oregon has but to win one of her
two remaining games to win the right
to represent the Northern section In
b game against the leading Southern
team for the championship.
The Oregonians, a veteran combina-
ton for the most part, have been