Parent
Rules
Every sport has
its own rules and regulations to try to make the sport as enjoyable
to watch and play as possible. One of the main differences between
soccer an the other main sports is that there are no time-outs and
the game is continuosly flowing.
You have all
heard all the rules how to act on the sidelines, about being positive,
supporting the team, not yelling at the referees and other guidelines
that are required in every sport. But when it comes to soccer...
...what exactly does this mean:
-
We all hear parents..and coaches.. say: "It's not whether
you win or lose, it's how you play the game."
Next time
you hear yourself or somebody else say that, step back for
a minute
and see if your actions TRULY back this up. For
example....
- Remember, we all like to win. But keep it all in perspective. Let
your child play. As well-meaning as you may think you are, just
let the coach, the ref and especailly the players have fun!
- To
help make life easier for your coach, the players, and yourself,
give support to your child and the team, but do
not give orders or direction to the players,
even your own. It is up to the coach and the players
to
make the decisions. Your
direction may be different than what the coach
wants and this does not help the team andmay frustrate
your child.
- Do not publicly
question the referee's calls. Try to enjoy watching your son or
daughter play. Do not try to alter the game from the sideline
by yelling at the referees. The referees really are not biased
against your team and they can make mistakes also... just like
the rest of us.
- Help your
child work toward skill improvement during practices and during
the week and have your child work toward hard work, good sportsmanship
and fun during the game. The sport will teach your child.
- Teach your
child always to play by the rules. Cheating breeds more cheating.
- Do not ridicule
or yell at your child for making a mistake. Everybody makes
mistakes and players will learn by those mistakes. What may
seem innocent may not. For example....
- Never blame
a child for losing a game. There are 11 players on the team. No
player can lose the game all by himself.
- Smoking
or drinking of alcoholic beverages are prohibited at ALL practices,
games and other AYSO-sponsored events
.
- Bring a
chair, sit back and relax and have fun!
By the time
a coach or parent has yelled out a command, the entire situation
on the field play has changed and usually the instructions are then
meaningless. This gives the players a lot of responsibilty on the
field to make their own decisions.
The joy of
this non-stop play is that the game is taken out of the hands of
the coaches and the parents and is preserved for the players.
Whereas,
in other sports, there is time for instructions from the coach
or parents, there is little time in soccer for a player to listen
to
the sidelines and then react.
This gives the player the ability to learn and
to make his or her own decisions-important life tools.
Also, see the Kids Zone section.
"Children Learn What
they Live" poem
