The role that parents play in the life of a soccer player has a tremendous impact on their overall experience.  With this goal in mind, here some helpful reminders for all of us as we approach the upcoming season.

 

 

Help keep priorities straight

Help your child maintain a focus on schoolwork, relationships and other things in life beside soccer. Also, if your child has made a commitment to soccer, help them fulfill her obligation to the team.

 

Support and cheer for all players on the field

Foster teamwork. Remember that your child's teammates as well as the opposing players are not the enemy. When they are playing better than your child, your child now has an opportunity to learn.

 

Reality test

If your child has come off the field when their team has lost, but they have played her best, help them to see this as a “win."  Remind them to focus on the “process” and the things she can control and not the scoreboard. The athlete's fun and satisfaction should be derived from “striving to win."

 

Keep soccer in perspective

Soccer should not be larger than life for you.  If your child’s performance produces strong emotions for you, suppress them. Remember your relationship will continue with your children long after their competitive soccer days are over.  Keep your goals and needs separate from your child’s experience.
 

Let the coaches coach

Leave the coaching to the coaches. This includes motivating, psyching your child for practice, after game critiquing, setting goals, requiring additional training, etc.  You have entrusted the care of your player to these coaches and they need to be free to do their job.  If a player has too many coaches, it is confusing and their performance usually declines.
 

Understand and display appropriate game behavior

Remember, your child’s self-esteem and game performance is at stake.  Be supportive, cheer, and be appropriate.  To perform to the best of her abilities, a player needs to focus on the parts of the game they can control (fitness, positioning, decision making, skill, aggressiveness, etc.)  If they start focusing on what they cannot control (the field condition, the referee, the weather, the opponent, even the outcome of the game at times) they will not play up to their ability.

 

Monitor your child’s stress level at home

Keep an eye on the player and make sure that they are handling stress effectively from the various activities in their life. Be sure your child is eating the proper foods and getting adequate rest.

 

Have fun!

That is what we will be trying to do!  We will try to challenge your child to reach beyond their “comfort level” and improve themselves as a player, and thus, a person.  We will attempt to do this in environments that are fun, yet challenging.