Buy a ball and play!

It’s simple, buy a ball. It’s important for kids to have a ball at home to play and practice with. You can have hours of fun playing soccer with your child. Check out the section called Playing With Your Kids.

Provide soccer material

There are a tremendous variety of videos and books about soccer that are not meant for coaches. For example, highlight videos of star players, activity books, and documentaries on the World Cup. It can be very exciting for kids to see what they are doing reflected in the ‘bigger’ world around them. Watch soccer on TV and take your kids to professional games.

Learn the game

You don’t have to be an expert at soccer to participate and have fun. However it can make a big difference if you make an effort to learn about the game. You can dramatically improve communication with your child and increase your confidence when dealing with coaches, league officials or referees.

• Subscribe to a soccer magazine
• Watch soccer on TV
• Search the Internet
• Take a coaching certificate
• Read this book

Create a positive environment

Parents play an important role in creating a positive environment for everyone. A positive environment is one where everyone is learning and having fun. A positive environment is not just for the players, it’s for the coach, parents and referee as well. No one wants to get yelled at whether they are seven years old or seventy. As a parent you can help create a positive environment by:

• Understanding how to give positive feedback
• Not being involved in the outcome of a game
• Communicating in a constructive manner
• Learning the game for you and your child

Support the team

A very important part of being a soccer parent is helping support the team. Supporting the team can be as simple as bringing oranges or hot chocolate once a month to a game. Duties and ideas for parent participation should be discussed in a team meeting.

Prepare your child

It’s important that your child be properly prepared for games and practices. Soccer is not a babysitting service. It doesn’t mean you have to be there, but it does mean you have to respect the people who are volunteering their time.

• Be on time for games and practices
• Have the proper equipment
• Eat properly before games and practices
• Avoid sleepovers the night before a game.

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