7 A “Formula” for a Perfect Youth Soccer Story

A rise of interest in sports-related youth literature in the United States is pushing educators to seek out increasingly more sports stories for their libraries. One sport in particular gaining recent national popularity is soccer, and thus soccer-related literature is also increasing popular. However, many of these soccer stories are memoirs or biographies by and about well-known athletes and retell their journeys as players. This style of book can often be more difficult, and potentially too didactic, for young readers who may be newer to both reading and soccer. In this study, we examined fictional stories that potentially combine the authenticity of true soccer with the excitement and reading level of the middle-grades. After examining stand-alone fiction novels, we also investigated popular fiction middle-grades soccer series.

In our larger study, we examined a corpus of fictional middle grade soccer books (24 titles total) to determine typical characteristics, possible patterns, and significant relationships between them. Using a pre-determined codebook with a set of categories, each book was coded by two research team members and final codes were agreed upon. We then examined the common results around characteristics such as theme, characters, author relationships to soccer, and soccer presence.

Following this study, we examined an additional 5 fictional soccer series (23 total books.) The series were selected using the same criteria as the individual books. Additionally in all 5 series, the individual books stayed in the same setting/universe, and, in all but one of the series, the main character rotated from book to book within a set of friends/teammates. Overall, typical characteristics of the books matched the findings from the individual book study, suggesting there may be a “formula” for successful soccer stories for middle grade readers.

However, one significant difference emerged between the two studies: “soccer presence” within the books. Soccer presence was determined by coding chapters of individual books as containing informal or formal play and/or discussion about soccer. This led to a percentage for each title of how much “soccer” was explicitly present in the book.

For individual books, the average soccer presence was 47%. Because the soccer presence in the individual books had a wide range (12 – 86%), we sorted the books into three categories:

These categorical results match with the average soccer presence results, again suggesting generally higher soccer presence in series books. If we collapse the categories Medium and High together, thus looking at how many books are at or above 33% soccer presence, then we see a 4:1 ratio in the series books (Medium and High as compared to Low) and a 2:1 ratio in the individual titles (Medium and High as compared to Low.)

Our overall examination of the fictional soccer series compared to the examination of the individual titles suggests that there may be a typical “formula” that defines the characteristics of these youth books. However, there is a slight exception related to soccer presence. Educators seeking soccer books for their middle grade readers should be aware that soccer series books will generally provide more text devoted directly to soccer play and soccer talk. Thus, they may want to start their especially soccer-enthusiastic readers with these series books prior to “passing” them individual soccer titles.