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Your child
is playing soccer for fun. It is a game that captivates the imagination
of youngsters because, if they practice correctly and often, they
will be constantly and visibly improving. You can play a vital part
in helping your child have fun, learn new skills, and feel good
about his/her self. You and your child will gain maximum enjoyment
from the sport by following the simple advice below:
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DO NOT FORCE AN
UNWILLING CHILD TO PARTICIPATE.
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CHEER ACTIVELY
AND LOUDLY when your child plays the ball well. Be generous
with praise. Applaud good plays by other teammates and by
members of the opposing team.
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DO NOT SHOUT INSTRUCTIONS
to your child during the match. This will cause distraction
and may confuse your child. Wait for a quiet moment to offer
suggestions. Let the coach do the coaching. If a player has
too many coaches, it is confusing for him/her and his performance
usually declines. If you have a beef or concern, take it up
with the coach later, away from the kids.
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ENCOURAGE YOUR
CHILD TO TALK WITH THE COACHES. If your child is having difficulties
in practice or games, or can't make a practice, etc., encourage
them to speak directly to the coaches. This "responsibility"
taking" is a big part of growing up and developing confidence.
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SHOW RESPECT FOR
REFEREES. Referees are certified and trained to ensure fun,
fair, and safe play. Your behavior has the potential to convey
future values to your child. Control your urge to second guess
officials. We all know they are going to miss AT LEAST HALF
the calls. Besides they are volunteers, how are we going to
play games if we drive off all our referees ?
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DO NOT CONCERN
YOURSELF WITH THE FINAL SCORE. Will it matter next week ? Next
month? Next year ? By next week your child will probably have
forgotten the score. However, both of you will remember that
you had a good time watching/playing the most popular sport
in the world. As long as your child has tried his/her hardest
and played his/her best, he/she is a winner, no matter what
the final score.
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HELP YOUR CHILD
KEEP HIS/HER PRIORITIES STRAIGHT. Help your child maintain a
focus on schoolwork, relationships and the other things in life
besides soccer. Also, if your child has made a commitment to
soccer, help him/her fulfill his obligation to the team. Keep
soccer in its proper perspective: Soccer should not be larger
than life for you or your child. If your child's performance
produces strong emotions in you, suppress them. Remember your
relationship will continue with your children long after their
competitive soccer days are over.
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SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.
Get involved. Volunteer. Help out with committees, fundraisers,
car-pool; snacks, anything to support the program. Ask if you
don't know how to help. It's more fun and we can get more done
when everyone pitches in a little
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