Most coaches recognize like most teachers that challenge is a key part of any great learning environment. They spend endless hours trying to make sure challenge is appropriate for every player at their practice, designing activities and games that ensure growth, enjoyment and, of course, learning.
I thought it may be a good and proactive idea to share some challenges for all the key participants in youth soccer this Fall Season. Please share with as many as you can in the hope that we can create a tipping point within Eastern New York that reframes youth soccer.
PLAYERS
- Treat all your teammates and opponents with respect and kindness as you give your best as a competitor in every game.
- Treat all coaches, parents and referees with the same respect and kindness.
- Do your best in every practice and game to help all your teammates fulfill their potential by doing all you can to make practices the very best learning environment.
- Never result to cheating or bending the rules. Be a true model of what a great sporting person should be.
- Remember, it’s a game and throughout its duration, compete at the best level you can. At the end of the game, regardless of the result, be grateful for the fact that you got to play and focus on what you learned.
- At the end of each game, say “Thank you” to all the people who enabled you to compete: your coaches, teammates, referees, and, of course, the parents.
COACHES
- Remember, the game belongs the players and allow them toi think and make decisions without you screaming in the background as they try and think.
- Treat all other players, coaches, parents and referees with the same respect and kindness as you wish to be shown.
- Be a role model for all those around you handle success and disappointment with dignity and class.
- Applaud when your players are brave enough to try skills learned in practice in the middle of a competitive game.
- Have a healthy perspective on learning v winning. It is not professional soccer, and most will not get scholarships thankfully due to your impact they may play soccer well into adulthood and stay healthy for life.
- At the end of each game say thank you to all the people who enabled you to coach: your players, assistant coaches, the referees, and of course the parents.
PARENTS
- Remember, the game belongs to the players and allow them to think and make decisions without you screaming in the background as they try to think.
- Treat all parents, coaches, players and referees with the same respect and kindness as you wish to be shown.
- Be a role model for all those around you. Handle success and disappointment with dignity and class.
- Applaud skill and tactical mastery for both teams and sets of players.
- Support the referee unconditionally and have some empathy for how difficult the job is.
- On the car ride home, avoid sharing your thoughts on how the game went and simply go with the magical sentence, “I enjoyed watching you play today.”
REFEREES
- Ref each game, whether at the start or end of your day, as a labor of love.
- Treat all parents, coaches and players with the same respect and kindness as you wish to be shown.
- Recognize kids and some adults are not great at self-regulation and be prepared to smile and calm them down as appropriate.
- Whatever the level of the game, remember your first priority is the safety of all players.
- Teach when you can. Players and parents all deserve to learn.
- Apply the rules in a developmentally appropriate manner. A young player learning to run and manage his or her body may not be trying to hurt other players.
- I think if all the key participants try and deal with the challenges above, we could be in for the best season ever.
