Team Parents: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly?

[Unregistered]

Please, no parents, players, or club names, but how are the parents on your childs soccer team? Good? Bad? Ugly? Are they friendly and helpful or bitter and biting? Is it a political juggernaut or a populists playhouse? Do tell.

[Unregistered]

Mixed

Please, no parents, players, or club names, but how are the parents on your childs soccer team? Good? Bad? Ugly? Are they friendly and helpful or bitter and biting? Is it a political juggernaut or a populists playhouse? Do tell.

The vast majority are very helpful and nice. A few simply don't understand the game. As the player gets older and college recruiting looms, some become petty and nasty. It has been my experience with two daughters that more parents and players lie about their college recruitment possibilities including fake offers. Players more often than not pad their GPA's on club resumes for whatever reason, college coaches do check. In any event, parents are just fine. I've had more concerns about club coach's abilities and misinformation particularly about playing in college.

[Marbull]

My oldests team gets along great. Very social.

[Unregistered]

I've had some good ones, some great ones, and some not so good ones. But what always confused me was the inability of some parents to miss the fun, miss the opportunity to meet new people and enjoy the experience, regardless of outcome, or playing time, or lousy refs, or bad fans, or muddy pitches, and just HAVE FUN. At it's core, regardless of the college opportunity, of the possibility of money or fame, this Soccer, this football is a game. Games without the function of fun are NOT games. So, parents, new to this, or those old hat, learn something about the parent next to you at a practice, at that tournament. Shake a hand of a parent of an opposing team. Smile. Take a shot at fun. It makes wins bigger and losses easier to forget and along the way, who knows, maybe you will make a life long friend, learn something new, or set a greater example for kids and parents alike. Yes, preachy isn't it? Probably. But I will bet you will have memory of the game far longer if we met, exchanged pleasantries and attempted to have fun, for just an hour or so, while watching the GAME.

[Unregistered]

Yes

I've had some good ones, some great ones, and some not so good ones. But what always confused me was the inability of some parents to miss the fun, miss the opportunity to meet new people and enjoy the experience, regardless of outcome, or playing time, or lousy refs, or bad fans, or muddy pitches, and just HAVE FUN. At it's core, regardless of the college opportunity, of the possibility of money or fame, this Soccer, this football is a game. Games without the function of fun are NOT games. So, parents, new to this, or those old hat, learn something about the parent next to you at a practice, at that tournament. Shake a hand of a parent of an opposing team. Smile. Take a shot at fun. It makes wins bigger and losses easier to forget and along the way, who knows, maybe you will make a life long friend, learn something new, or set a greater example for kids and parents alike. Yes, preachy isn't it? Probably. But I will bet you will have memory of the game far longer if we met, exchanged pleasantries and attempted to have fun, for just an hour or so, while watching the GAME.

I loved this post... Thanks for the effort!!!

[Unregistered]

I've had some good ones, some great ones, and some not so good ones. But what always confused me was the inability of some parents to miss the fun, miss the opportunity to meet new people and enjoy the experience, regardless of outcome, or playing time, or lousy refs, or bad fans, or muddy pitches, and just HAVE FUN. At it's core, regardless of the college opportunity, of the possibility of money or fame, this Soccer, this football is a game. Games without the function of fun are NOT games. So, parents, new to this, or those old hat, learn something about the parent next to you at a practice, at that tournament. Shake a hand of a parent of an opposing team. Smile. Take a shot at fun. It makes wins bigger and losses easier to forget and along the way, who knows, maybe you will make a life long friend, learn something new, or set a greater example for kids and parents alike. Yes, preachy isn't it? Probably. But I will bet you will have memory of the game far longer if we met, exchanged pleasantries and attempted to have fun, for just an hour or so, while watching the GAME.

Great post. Thank you!

[Marbull]

Ive found that soccer parents that have fun together have kids that have fun together

[Unregistered]

Ive found that soccer parents that have fun together have kids that have fun together

Exactly.
If you, as a parent, are talking smack, b*tching, P*ssing and moaning about this that and the other (be it the coach, style of play, playing time, other players, whatever) - your child WILL do the same thing. Difference being, they will do it where their friend / fellow players hear them instead of behind whispers like you do. You WILL adversely effect your child and their chances at being part of their team. Not to mention the fact that you WILL adversely effect the way your child's coach and club views them.

Parents: Just shut up and enjoy watching your child be part of a team and let them have fun!

[Unregistered]

Exactly.
If you, as a parent, are talking smack, b*tching, P*ssing and moaning about this that and the other (be it the coach, style of play, playing time, other players, whatever) - your child WILL do the same thing. Difference being, they will do it where their friend / fellow players hear them instead of behind whispers like you do. You WILL adversely effect your child and their chances at being part of their team. Not to mention the fact that you WILL adversely effect the way your child's coach and club views them.

Parents: Just shut up and enjoy watching your child be part of a team and let them have fun!

Many parents make comments when they see politics on team. Young kids should not have to deal with politics. You want parents to shut up then coaches need to be fair and base performance on ability. I get tired when everything is blamed on parents and nothing on coaches and politics. I think first start would be to have tryouts where the evaluators are not even part of clubs. You maybe see more fair play from start. Keep the politics off the team and many parents will shut up.