The REAL Soccer Mom » parents

Silence Obnoxious Parents AND Make Money for Your League!

The Real Soccer Mom — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:11:45 +0000

Obnoxious fans aka hooligans. They’re not just at European soccer matches anymore.

We had a problem in our Classic I league a few years ago where refs were threatening to not work and clubs couldn’t get parents to volunteer as field marshalls, it was so bad. They instituted a “Silent Saturday” which seemed to work — at least the most offensive parents placed themselves far away from the sidelines, like in the trees, up on hills or in their cars (maybe with binoculars).

What’s an embarrassed Team Mom* to do?

Serve them Tootsie Pops!

A savvy Team Mom brought along a supply of Tootsie pops, which she gently and wordlessly handed to any parents who started to get verbal. It worked and the pops became a staple at our games from then on.

$$$ Fundraising idea $$$ stock your concession stand with Tootsie Pops, and make sure all team managers are aware of the availability. Delight the siblings who are dragged to the games and provide a handy “disciplinary tool” for unruly adults!

* or frustrated Ref Assignor, or volunteer Field Marshall

Soccer Kid Video: Not Sure What to Say But This is So Sweet

The Real Soccer Mom — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:51:07 +0000

Soccer kid video. Touted as one of the best commercials ever. I might just agree. Brought a tear or two.

6 Things Soccer Parents Should Say to Their Players

The Real Soccer Mom — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:00:38 +0000

Mr. Watson was telling me about Doyle’s U-13 game today, and he said, “Ya know, I didn’t say any of my usual stuff to him before the game. But he really played well and seemed to be having a good time out there.”

Wow. Resisting the urge to point out a possible cause-and-effect, I dug this classic from my files. From Bruce Brownlee, USSF “C” License, Tophat Soccer Club, Atlanta, it circulated throughout the soccer world ten years ago, but remains valid today.

A lot of soccer parents with good intentions give a 30 minute lecture, covering all the player’s supposed deficiencies and giving playing advice, in the car on the way to each match. The kids arrive far off their optimal mental state, and dreading the critique they are likely to hear, whether they want it or not, on the way home.

Kids who are massaged in this way tend not to play badly, they just tend to not play, possibly to avoid making mistakes.

The easiest way to detect this problem is just to ask the player if it is a problem. Kids are more than willing to share this grief. The easiest way to correct this problem is to speak to the parents, as a group, about your expectations, and to cover this as a routine problem. Many of the parents will recognize themselves if you can present this problem with humor and illustrate the importance of the kids having fun and arriving in a good state of mind.

For best results, parents should memorize and use the following.

Before the Match:
I love you
Good luck
Have fun

After the Match:
I love you
It was great to see you play
What would you like to eat?