Like many other activities, soccer can provide an OPPORTUNITY for young people to focus on a healthy activity in a positive and supportive environment. Also like any other opportunity, individual players can choose to focus on that, or turn their attention elsewhere. Over the years, I've seen a lot more young people positively influenced by youth sports than introduced to bad crowds and habits through them, and I certainly wouldn't throw out the theory based on "a few" players who may have gotten mixed with some bad influences.
