Standing on the Sidelines by Alan Maher

I have been coaching for more than 35 years. I have a clear memory of the early years, because they were fun. I was learning as much as the players were; we learned together. Parents would come and stand next to me for practice and at the games. We would talk, quietly.

I remember three who were there near the begining of my coaching career. The first was an Englishman who frequently said, "Soccer is a simple game; keep it simple." He often told me to remember two things - defenders need to mark and cover, and attackers with the ball need support ( do not run away from the ball). That was it. Two simple rules have stayed with me all these years. Do we stress that today? I wonder.

The second parent was Joe Maca. He had played on the famous American team that in 1950 beat England in a World Cup match in Mexico. I was in awe of him and he was a plain and simple man. He joked with me and helped me to relax during games. He never offered any advice, but was supportive of what I was trying to do with the boys. Some people felt that he should have been a wealth of knowledge for me to tap, but we had a very nice relationship. As I said, he was supportive of what I was doing, or trying to do, with the boys. And he stood next to me for most games.

The third parent was Gordon Bradley, who at the time, was the coach of the famous New York Cosmos.  I coached mon of his sons.  When he had time, Gordon came to games and practices.  Again, he was supportive of what I was soing with the boys, was always positive, and never interfered.  We became good friends and I became president of the Cosmos Coaches" Corner, a club for coaches in the New York area.  Gordon and I met with groups of coaches all over the area.  Fun Times.

When Gordon had a chance, he came to my son's high shcool games.   Gordon would make comments that were positive.  i did not coach the team, and so we stood on the far side, away from the crowd who might recognize him.  He showed me how to watch a soccer game, and I learned from him in a quiet way.  He was filled with stories and was a delight to be with on the sidelines, watching games.

I try to imagine a coach having parents or famous couches standing on the sideline of a soccer game today.  I try to imagine having a pleasant conversation with the nerby parents.  I try to imagine a civil atmosphere near the sidelines, with parents behaving themselves. No Way!

Thirty-five years have turned soccer upside-down.  Now we have ropes by the sidelines and uniformed people keep the parents at a "distance" fro the field.  People are arrested and /or sued.  Restraining orders are issued.  People are banned from the fields of soccer (and other sports).

Soccer is an old sport in the world of athletics and we have done a good job of killing it in less than two generations.  We should all be ashamed of what we have done to take away a treasure that belongs to our children.

Unfortunately, I will not be albe to attend the CYSA "Expo" on Jan. 26th,but I hope that those of you who have a clear memeory of those early years make an effort to go.  I would like for you to find the newbies, and exchange your experiences and ideas with them.  I sincerely believe that by working together, we (old timers and newbies) can bring back the treasure of our children enjoying to play this wonderful game!