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As a parent, you play a special role in contributing to the
needs and development of youngsters. Through your encouragement and good
example, you can help assure that all the boys and girls learn good
sportsmanship and self-discipline. In AYSO, young people learn to work
together, to sacrifice for the good of the team, to enjoy winning and deal
appropriately with defeat - all while becoming physically fit and healthy.
Best of all, they have fun.
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| Support
Your Child |
• Supporting your child by
giving encouragement and showing interest in their team is very important.
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| • Help your child work toward
skill improvement and good sportsmanship in every game. |
• Teach your child that hard
work and an honest effort are often more important than victory - that way
your child will always be a winner despite the outcome of the game!
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Always be Positive |
• Parents serve as role models
for their children. Become aware of this and work to be a positive role
model.
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| • Applaud good plays by your
child's team as well as good plays by the opposing team. |
| • Support all efforts to
remove verbal and physical abuse from youth sports activities. |
Remember: You Child Wants to Have Fun |
• Remember that your child is
the one playing soccer, not you. It's very important to let children
establish their own goals - to play the game for themselves. Take care not
to impose your own standards and goals on them.
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• Don't put too heavy a burden
on your child to win games. Surveys reveal that 72% of children would rather
play for a losing team than ride the bench for a winning team.
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• Children play for the fun of
playing.
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Reinforce Positive Behavior |
• Positive reinforcement is
the best way to help your child achieve their goals and their natural fear
of failure. Nobody likes to make mistakes. If your child does make one,
remember it's all part of learning, so encourage your child's efforts and
point out the good things your child accomplished.
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Don't be a Sideline Coach or Referee |
• Coaches and referees are
usually parents just like you. They volunteer their time to help make your
child's youth soccer experience a positive one. They need your support too.
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• That means refraining from
coaching or refereeing from the sidelines.
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| • As a volunteer organization,
there's usually always an opportunity for you to take your interest in
coaching or refereeing to the next level and become one yourself! |
