| One problem that confronts youth coaches is | | | | are yelling for the defenders to fall back, which allows |
| parents. Unfortunately, trying to figure out how to | | | | the attackers to get that much closer to the goal. |
| coach soccer requires more than just learning kids | | | | You may be teaching your wings to stay wide, and |
| soccer drills. It also requires learning how to coach | | | | the parents are yelling for the wings to push in to help |
| soccer parents, and teaching them how to behave | | | | the center midfielder. You might be working on short, |
| properly. | | | | controlled passes, and parents are yelling for the ball |
| The best way to handle parents is to lay out your | | | | handler to make a long pass. The point is, parent |
| expectations of them at the beginning of your time | | | | don’t always know or understand your game |
| with the kids. A great time to do this is at the | | | | strategy, or what you are trying to teach your |
| beginning of the 2nd or 3rd practice. It is best to be | | | | players. The more you learn how to coach soccer, |
| upfront about the fact that you are trying to learn how | | | | the more you will be trying new things during games. |
| to coach soccer, and you would appreciate their input | | | | Parents that don’t respect what you are trying to |
| (privately, not in front of the players). Even though | | | | do will cause serious problems between you and your |
| you’re are just starting to learn how to coach | | | | players. |
| soccer, you are the teams coach, and that parents | | | | Explain to parents that the amount of time their child |
| should not second-guess your decisions in front of the | | | | will get to play depends on how well they attempt to |
| players. If they are truly interested in helping, you can | | | | do what you tell them to do. If a child’s father tells |
| let them work with you as an assistant coach, and you | | | | them to do something different, there is a good |
| can learn how to coach soccer together. | | | | chance the child will ignore you and listen to the |
| Let your parents know that the best thing they can do | | | | parent. If you tell them to make the short pass, and |
| for the team is to be cheer leaders. Children are | | | | the player listens to dad and boots the ball long, you will |
| typically very sensitive to criticism from adults, and | | | | end up pulling the child from the game for not listening |
| having parents on the sideline pointing out their | | | | to you. It’s a situation where nobody wins. |
| mistakes will hurt their self esteem, and will negatively | | | | Unfortunately, it happens time and again during youth |
| affect the way that child plays in the future. Youth | | | | soccer games. |
| soccer players need to be encouraged. You may be | | | | It comes down to getting the parents to understand |
| asking them to do something different, or to play a | | | | that even though you may be just learning how to |
| position that is not comfortable for them. If a parent | | | | coach soccer, you are the coach. The more they |
| begins to criticize the child, that child will revert back to | | | | can support your decisions in front of the children, the |
| a more comfortable habit, even if it is the wrong thing | | | | easier your job is, and the quicker your team will learn |
| to do. | | | | what you are trying to teach them. |
| One frustration that many youth soccer coaches | | | | Learning how to coach soccer parents how to |
| endure is having parents that insist on coaching their | | | | behave on the sidelines is a big key to reducing the |
| child from the sideline. You may be trying to teach | | | | stress on game day. |
| your defenders to set an offside trap, and the parents | | | | |