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The following is
a list of points of emphasis from a handout given to parents with
children in the Mount Laurel (N.J.) United Soccer Association. This
handout is designed to minimize and eliminate sideline coaching from
parents. We hope that you can adapt some or all of these guidelines
in this form or another to your coaching situation.
1.
Be positive.
Be supportive. Cheer for the team. Encourage all of the players.
Keep negative comments to yourself, especially those directedat
another parent's child. Remember that the players are doing the best
that they can and that playing good soccer is more difficult than it
looks.
2.
Do not coach.
Let the coaches make adjustments as they see the need. Many times
the instruction from a spectator is exactly the opposite of the
instruction given by the coach. Allow the players the freedom to
make their own decisions and learn from their mistakes. Spectator
statements like "Stay Wide," Clear It," "Pass The Ball," "Get Rid of
It," "Move Up," "Move Back," etc., tend to undermine the need for
players to communicate with each other.
3.
Never address
players on the other team,
except to encourage.
4.
Treat the
officials with respect.
All officials make mistakes. All humans make mistakes. Let the
officials be human. Let the coaches approach the officials if they
feel the need. The referee may be wrong, but perhaps not as often as
you are. Have you ever seen a referee change his mind because a
parent shouted at him or her?
5.
Do not engage
is game-related discussions with parents from the opposing team.
We will be playing these teams for many years to come. We want to be
known in the soccer community as an organization that has class
whether we win, lose or draw. The game score will not be remembered.
The argument or inappropriate remarks will be.
6.
Leave the game
on the field.
When the game is over, no amount of comment, question or discussion
with the players, officials or coaches can change the outcome.
Regardless of the outcome, the coaches will evaluate the
performance, reinforce the good things and work to correct the
things needing improvement.
7.
Keep the game
fun.
Winning is more fun than losing, but each player should enjoy
playing because they love the game. Avoid offering bribes or
"pumping up" your child. Allow them to become self-motivated. Make
sure that you take time to enjoy the game yourself. I have heard
comments from some of the team that they dread it when their parents
start shouting at the referee. It is noticeable that when some
parents get more and more agitated, their child gets more and more
withdrawn during the game.
Think about your
own job. If you have someone who you knew was going to shout at you
every time you made a mistake, wouldn't you stop putting yourself in
the position to make thie mistake? That is what happens with some of
the players on the team. they would rather not have the ball than
risk having it and making a mistake! |
