FAQ and things you need to know
The questions you have asked......  

large product photo

Six Guidelines for Soccer Parents


1.Cheer
2.Relax and Let Them Play
3.Yelling Directions = Distraction
4.Remember, They Are Your Kids
5.Have Reasonable Expectations
6.Meet with the Coaches

 

Basic equipment for soccer parents

•Comfortable lawn chair –comfort is important because you are going to be spending a lotof the time sitting in that chair watching youth soccer players having FUN!
•Comfortable clothing –you will out in the sun, the rain, the heat and the cold. Dress to be comfortable so you can sit in that chair and watch youth soccer players having FUN!
•A sense of humor and joy at watching youth soccer players have FUN!

Why Do Players Quit?


1.Criticism and yelling
2.No playing time
3.Over-emphasis on winning
4.Poor communication
5.Fear of making mistakes
6.Boredom
7.Not learning

Four Red Cards for Parents


1.Living Out Dreams -A parent who is continuing to live personal athletic dreams through his/her child has not released his/her child to the game.
2.Too Involved -If a parent tends to share in the credit when the child has donewell in sport or has been victorious, the parent is too involved.
3.Trying Too Hard -If a parent is trying to continue to coach his child when the child probably knows more about the game than the parent does, he has not released the youth athlete.
4.Too Serious -A parent should realize that he is taking everything too seriously and has not released the child to the activity when the parent:
–is nervous before his/her child’s game.
–has a difficult time bouncing back when the player’s team suffers a defeat.
–makes mental notes during a game so he can give his/her child advice at the conclusion of the game.
–becomes verbally critical of an official.

What Can I Expect?
•Children differ greatly due to age, gender and maturity.
•Soccer is “the game for all kids”and that means there will be all types of kids playing together.
•Most volunteer directed programs are conducted by parents and coaches who know they will be involved for only a few years while their own children are participating.
•85% of volunteer directed youth sports are coached by parents with a child on the team.
•Women coach only 20% of the 5 to 14 year-olds on non-school-affiliated teams.
•Less than 10% of the volunteer coaches in the United States havehad any type of coaching education.

Game Day
Sideline Behavior
•Children want cheerleaders to applaud their success, not adults yelling instructions. Think of the soccer field as a playground and not as a sports venue.
•What’s appropriate at a sport stadium with adult athletes is NOT appropriate for young children at play.
•Focus on the process of playing and not the outcome

What about Referees?

Everyone sees the play differently.
•The maingoal of the referee is to make the game safe and funfor thechildren.
•Being a referee is not as easy as it appears.They are a another coach on the fieldfor small-sided games.
•Remember,many refereesare brothers and sisters ofsoccer players or soccer players themselves. Others are fellow parents trying to just help youthsoccer players have FUN!
•Recognize that the referee is doing his/her best. It may not bewhat you saw, but the goal is to let the game be played so that children can have FUN!

Why Do Players Play?

1.To have fun
2.To be with their friends
3.To make new friends
4.To improve and learn
5.To feel good
6.To wear the stuff

How to Be Supportive Soccer Parents

•Give consistent encouragement and support to their children regardless of the degree of success, the level of skill or time on the field.
•Stress the importance of respect for coaches through discussionswith their children, and highlight the critical nature of contributing to the team and its success.
•Serve as role models, see the “big picture”and support all programs and all players.
•Leave coaching to coaches and do not criticize coaching strategies or team performance.
•Avoid putting pressure on children about playing time and performance.

Four Emotional Needs of Players
Children have four basic emotional needs in organized sports
1.To play without unhealthy pressure to win imposed by parents andcoaches
2.To be treated like children, not miniature professionals
3. Adult role models whose sportsmanlike behavior helps make participation fun
4. To play without adult-imposed pressure for financial gain inspired by professional or big-time collegiate sports

Being a Good Soccer Parent
•Encourage your child, regardless of his or her degree of success or level of skill.
•Ensure a balance in your student athlete’s life, encouraging participationin multiple sports and activities while placing academics first.
•Emphasize enjoyment, development of skills and team play as the cornerstones of your child’s early sports experiences.
•Leave coaching to coaches and avoid placing too much pressure on your youngster about playing time and performance.
•Be realistic about your child’s future in sports, recognizing that only a select few earn a college scholarship, compete in the Olympics or sign a professional contract.
•Be there when your child looks to the sidelines for a positive role model.