3 pitfalls to avoid as a parent as your player starts their soccer journey
1.If they are not developing, it is time to look elsewhere
Do not be afraid to leave a team if your player is not developing… even if that means living a good group of friends( and as a parent, leaving a good group of parents).
I want to couch this by saying, yes your player should be having fun and enjoying going to practice.
It should be an absolute joy to be competing,learning, and developing with your friends. But the key words are “competing” “learning” and “developing.”
Not just hanging out with their friends.
We want players to have fun and enjoy but they should be learning as well!
- Leave the game at the game
You want to give them advice , I get it but now is not the time or the place.
Post game is not the time to talk about the game.
If they want to talk, absolutely listen and engage with them.
If they don't, you need to let it go!
This is their thing, and it is up to you to keep it that way.
Support them instead of just telling them what they could do better.
- Be their parent, not their coach
Listen to this scenario
You help your player study for their test.
You practice.
You drill.
You do your very best to help them prepare.
When it's school time, do you go to the back of their classroom and yell the answers to them?
No?
Then why do you do it at soccer games?
[Shout out to Dan Blank for the great illustration]
You know what they need most from you? Study Support and encouragement from you.
Yes cheer them on and support them but do not coach them.
Let the coach be the one who figures it out
Let your player figure it all out on their own.
Here’s a glance at this episode…
- [01:00] First pitfall to avoid: If your player is not developing, it may be time to leave the team
- [02:40] Second pitfall to avoid: Leave the game at the game( Avoid the post game argument!)
- [05:00] Third pitfall to avoid: Be their parent, not their coach!
Get the full transcript here!
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