by Andrew Ransome: National Coaching Director, Britannia Soccer USA, MSCAA Advanced National License, English FA License
Have you ever thought how much influence a parent has over the athletic performance of their son or daughter? Most coaches will train a team for a couple of practices a week and coach the team at the weekend. This may amount to about 5-hours of contact in a structured soccer environment. What happens the rest of the time? What happens on the drive to and from the field? What happens during the evening and on weekends when there are no practices or games?
As a parent, try to instill in your player that it is their pre-practice or pre-game responsibility, not mom or dad’s, to pack all necessary equipment – cleats, socks, shin guards, shorts, jersey, warm-up, sunscreen, hair ties, water, and a ball. If you know that you will be running late, make sure that your son or daughter arrives in uniform rather than changing at the field. Arriving on time for practices and games always makes a big impact on the coach, and shows a degree of commitment to the team from the parents as well as the player.
Taking your finely tuned soccer player to get fast food immediately before strenuous activity will not lend itself to a quality performance or promoting healthy eating habits. Providing your son or daughter with a soda for a half time water break may be convenient, but the carbonation and high sugar content may cause stomach cramps. Good nutrition is important for good performance.
If practice is cancelled due to inclement weather (and all homework has been completed) do you have a soccer video that your young player could watch? Electronic soccer games may be good for exercising the fingers, but they don’t teach the finer points of teamwork. Could you record an English Premier League or Major League Soccer game so that they can watch and then try to emulate the skills of professional players?
During an evening when there is no training, do you encourage your son or daughter to practice their individual skills? Do you take an active interest in asking them to show you their skills or go out and play 1 v 1 with your child? Is there another soccer player in the neighborhood that they could play with to hone their skills? Is there a high school, college, semi-pro, or women’s game that you could go and watch together?
When was the last time that you asked the coach what your soccer player could do to become a more complete player? Many coaches offer “homework skills” sheets or “soccer fun” handouts so that players have some structure to practice in their own time. Have you ever watched your son or daughter at a practice? Have you seen the way that your child’s coach interacts with the team? This may provide an insight to answer playing time and positional questions.
Children should be allowed to be young athletes, unaware of adult issues. Complaining about lack of playing time or the abilities of other players on the team in front of your own son or daughter will not benefit your child or the team. Instead, is there a favorite song or CD that your young player likes to hear to get them excited and “up” for the game? Can you talk about a great goal that you saw on TV? Can you make a ritual of praising or rewarding your player for their efforts after the game regardless of the results?
Parents can earn a poor reputation for their actions regardless of intent, which inevitably affects their child’s success in soccer. However, positive parental participation and support is crucial to soccer and is an important element of American youth sports. Taking a healthy, active interest in the development of your son or daughter as a player is important in developing a skillful player and a solid team member. Keep up the good work. Watch, listen, learn, cheer and have fun!