The same link is provided at NotSoFastBook.com.Soccer moms, dads, grandparents, and coaches, please ignore the title of the following article and read it before this weekend’s matches:“For Kids Only…”(The end of the article echoes my post about doing the best we can.)
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I read this last week when you send out a twitter link to it. In fact, I read it to my husband who is a first time coach of 8-9 year olds. This was packed full of good reminders for us (coach and soccer mom) both.
Jane Anne: I’m glad it was helpful–my husband, who has volunteered as a soccer coach for several years now, feels strongly about this issue and shares the same philosophy as that article’s author (e.g., kids need to learn to think for themselves on the field; the game should be fun; yelling rarely helps; and often the parents will yell contradictory instructions from what the kids have been told or are trying to set up, confusing the players). It’s hard not to get all excited or want to “help” a player who seems to be in the wrong place…I am happy to report that last week I sat quietly through the matches and watched all of my kids play without uttering anything other than “yay!”
Thanks for the reminder. We’ve got two games tomorrow.
Ann, I am re-visiting and just saw your comment. I don’t yell much, anyway, but I am going to try to only cheer at tomorrow’s games. We have 2 games – both at 9 a.m. Looks like Dad (aka coach) will be at one game and I will be at the other.