What's wrong with youth soccer? Parents. Part I of many...

Here's the first in what I'm guessing will be a nearly endless stream of observations about the things that is most wrong with youth soccer: Parents.

Today's reason why parents are what's wrong with youth soccer is that most don't know when to cheer and when not to cheer because they don't know the game. Big deal, you say, but in actuality this is a serious issue. If a child hears the sideline go crazy with applause and encouragement when they do something that's actually wrong, then those kids are likely to repeat the mistake.

Case in point: A defender gets the ball and boots it as far as he or she can down the field. OK, there may be times when this is the right thing to do. But usually the better thing is to settle the ball, control it and pass it to maintain possession. 

I am so sick and tired of parents yelling "Way to go!!!" any time a player kicks the ball way downfield when the result is just to give the ball back to the other team. Long kicks don't necessarily equal good things. Same thing with goalie punts. 

Also, I've seen parents scream to good players when they get the ball at midfield to "Take it all the way!" Well, maybe the better thing would be to run the proper offense. It's hard, though, for kids to ignore the pleas of adults on the sidelines.

So, my advice is this: Not everything that looks right is right, and if you don't know the game please be careful not to reinforce negative behavior. You wouldn't cheer for your child if she wrote in crayon all over the wall, would you? I too often see parents cheering for the soccer equivalent...

Comments

[freelance writing jobs]

i love soccer but soccer doesn't like me i tried to hard to be in soccer team in our school but i never passed in the try out maybe i choose different sport were i'm good.

[writers job]

Yeah, parents can make a monster. Or just make their child a total loser...

[opinion essay]

Since 6 Weeks to Innovate is already recorded, you can scratch the iphone if you must.