How To Be a Good Soccer Parent

Playing soccer all our lives, we have had our own parents kicked off the field for getting too intense, and at the same time, we have cherished our trips to competitions, when they came as our number one fans. Now that we are parents of our own three children and run a soccer program in New Jersey, we have some thoughts on how being a soccer parent must be a carefully thought out endeavor that you take - because your child’s eyes are on you. Let’s make sure that we make soccer about having fun, no matter what level your child is playing in.

Always be their number one fan. Constantly cheering on your child, being a positive encourager is the best way to parent your child in any sport. Remember to affirm the effort and not necessarily the results - research suggests that this leads to your child being more motivated!

Be supportive of the coaches and the referees.  When children see how you interact with somebody that you do not agree with, they are learning some very important lessons on conflict management. Respecting authority is something that you want to have in your household, so remember to display these same principles at your child’s soccer game.

Cheer on the other team too.  There are so many games where there is a clear division of which part of the stands are for each team. It’s not a problem to sit and cheer for your own team, but think about what an impression you are making when you recognize and compliment the other team’s all-star player. Talent is talent, and although there are two teams, lifting up a player for their incredible skills shows you can get past the divisions that can sometimes be created by intense competition.

Save the criticism until after the car ride home.  Too many times we are all worked up from the performance a child had during their practice or game and we use the car ride home to talk about that negativity. Let’s reserve the car ride home for how much you enjoyed watching your child play and then maybe at home or the next day, you can work together on how they can improve their performance.

Play soccer together! Perhaps something we forget is that soccer doesn’t have to just be about the game or about the practices that they are going to. Playing soccer together in a light hearted, non-competitive setting can decrease stress and increase the parent-child bond in an incredible way.

We know that there’s so much to juggle as a soccer parent, but with the above suggestions, we truly hope that your child will be able to enjoy any sport and all the life lessons that come with that experience, both on and off the field.

As parents of three young children and previous college soccer players, Scott and Alisa Kuppe are passionate about sharing with others the game that has had such a profound impact on their lives. Through their experiences both abroad and in the US, they have seen the universal importance of encouraging the development of positive characteristics, along with a healthy lifestyle, at a young age. Scott and Alisa hope to inspire lasting, positive change for kids, who will in turn transform families and communities for a better world. They chose to start Soccer Shots Central Jersey in 2012 after four years in Japan and returning to the Hopewell area.  For more information visit www.soccershots.org/CentralJersey.