1. Let
the coach’s
coach:
Leave
the coaching to the coaches. 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 for them and their performance usually declines.
2. Support
the
program:
Get
involved.
Volunteer.
Help
out
with
fundraisers,
car-pool;
anything to support the program.
3. Be
your
child's
best
fan:
Support
your
child
unconditionally.
4. Support
and
root
for
all
players
on
the
team:
Foster teamwork. Your child's teammates are not the
enemy. When they are playing better than your child, your child
now has a wonderful opportunity to learn.
5. Encourage
your
child
to talk
with
the coaches:
| If
your
child
is
having
difficulties
in
practice
or
games,
or
can't
make
a
practice,
etc.,
encourage them to
speak
directly
to
the
coaches.
This "responsibility
taking" is
a
big
part
of
becoming
a
responsible
player.
By
handling
the
off-field
tasks,
your
child
is
claiming
ownership
of
all
aspects
of
the
game
-
preparation
for
as
well
as
playing
the
game. |
|
6. 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 their abilities, a player needs to focus on the parts
of the game that they can control (their fitness, positioning,
decision making, skill, and aggressiveness, what the game is
presenting them). If they start focusing on what they can not
control (the condition of the field, the referee, the weather,
the opponent, even the outcome of the game at times), they
will not play up to their ability. If they hear a lot of people
telling them what to do, or yelling at the referee, it diverts
their attention away from the task at hand.
7. Monitor
your
child's
stress
level
at
home:
Keep
an
eye
on
the
child
to
make
sure
that
they
are
handling
stress effectively from the various activities in their life.
8. Monitor
eating
and
sleeping
habits:
Be
sure
your
child
is
eating
the
proper
foods
and
getting
adequate
rest.
9. Help
your
child
keep
their
priorities
straight:
Help your child maintain a focus on schoolwork, relationships
and the other things in life beside soccer. Also, if your child
has made a commitment to soccer, help him fulfill his obligation
to the team.
10. Reality
test:
If
your
child
has
come
off
the
field
when
their
team
has
lost,
but they have played their best, help them to see this as a "win".
Remind them that they are to focus on "process" and not "results".
Their fun and satisfaction should be derived from "striving
to win". Conversely, they should be as satisfied from success
that occurs despite inadequate preparation and performance.
11. Keep
soccer in its proper perspective:
Soccer should not be larger than life for you.
If your child's performance produces strong emotions
in 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. |
|
12. Have
fun: That
is
what
we
will
be
trying
to
do!
We
will
try
to
challenge
your
child
to
reach
past
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.
We
look
forward
to
this
process.
We
hope
you
do
too! |
