The fastest growing sport in America is Lacrosse, not Soccer. Any coincidence that it is totally reliant on hands?
Anyone who watches a lacrosse game can see in ten minutes why it is booming with American kids:
The running of soccer
The physicality
The higher scoring
My son plays lacrosse and soccer. Likes soccer - loves lacrosse. Our indoor “major league” lacrosse team (box lacrosse) just won the championship. The high scores, huge hits and VERY fast pace makes field LAX look very tame and slow.
I’d even go so far as to say I enjoy box LAX more than hockey.
The one thing with LAX is the cost of gear. That is a great thing about soccer - it is pretty cheap. And if you don’t have the greatest skills there are places on the field for you until you get better.