SOCCERisms

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I always hear "I love to watch you play" screamed on the sideline from a proud mom, followed by "Unlucky"............

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I find myself saying Nice Idea to the players. To me, it's a way to say something positive when they mis-execute. I guess I could yell "What the Hell was that" or "that sucked" but I choose to try to say something more positive. Usually the kids feel pretty bad after they try to do something that they've been coached to do, but just don't execute it correctly. The last thing they need is some moaning from the parents side to reinforce their negative feelings.

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Nice or Right Idea

I find myself saying Nice Idea to the players. To me, it's a way to say something positive when they mis-execute. I guess I could yell "What the Hell was that" or "that sucked" but I choose to try to say something more positive. Usually the kids feel pretty bad after they try to do something that they've been coached to do, but just don't execute it correctly. The last thing they need is some moaning from the parents side to reinforce their negative feelings.

Those are expressions used at the highest level of soccer and aren't synonyms for a mistake. For example, a cross that is just a bit too high, or a through ball that is cut off by a good defensive play. Same with unlucky. It can be a great play that simply didn't work out. For example, a shot that hits the post that bounces out rather than in. That's unlucky. I suppose you could yell "you suck" but that would be inappropriate.

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Say Nothing.

I find myself saying Nice Idea to the players. To me, it's a way to say something positive when they mis-execute. I guess I could yell "What the Hell was that" or "that sucked" but I choose to try to say something more positive. Usually the kids feel pretty bad after they try to do something that they've been coached to do, but just don't execute it correctly. The last thing they need is some moaning from the parents side to reinforce their negative feelings.

Kids, even very young ones, know when a mistake was made. To amplify that mistake the parents yell encouragement like "nice try" or "unlucky". The kid now is absolutely certain that you saw and noted the mistake. Just say nothing.

[Unregistered]

It Depends

Kids, even very young ones, know when a mistake was made. To amplify that mistake the parents yell encouragement like "nice try" or "unlucky". The kid now is absolutely certain that you saw and noted the mistake. Just say nothing.

On the flip side: Kids know Mom or Dad saw the mistake. "Unlucky" or "Nice Try" has the effect of letting them know that their biggest supporters think it's great that they are taking risks and to forget about it and play on.
I guess it will be viewed by a child as encouragement or critical depending if you're consistently a positive or critical parent.

[Unregistered]

On the flip side: Kids know Mom or Dad saw the mistake. "Unlucky" or "Nice Try" has the effect of letting them know that their biggest supporters think it's great that they are taking risks and to forget about it and play on.
I guess it will be viewed by a child as encouragement or critical depending if you're consistently a positive or critical parent.

Exactly. And I say it to all of the players on the team because some of them have parents who are highly critical of them. They have parents who moan when they do something poorly. So I say nice try or nice idea so that they feel better and will continue to try to apply their coaching. By moaning or even saying nothing, they get down on themselves and won't try to apply the coaching.