Soccer for Parents
By Dr. Chad Peters
I coach kids soccer and have for a few years now.
I LOVE my teams and, for the most part, love my parents, that are piled along the sidelines screaming and cheering for their kids.
Last season, I had more than a few parents who assured me they didn’t understand the game. I often hear the parents (on the far sideline from me) instructing their kids to do the wrong technique or skill. They are missing a vital element of the sport, which keeps them from enjoying sports at a higher level.
First off, your kids love soccer, and it may be the #1 BEST sport for kids.
“You kids get out there and run after the ball for an hour. That’ll tire you out.”
How I Coach
The way I coach, we don’t practice a lot. My players are into multiple sports and extra activities, and my wife and I have decided MORE is not better. Be a kid. Try it all.
But because of this, I teach my kids to hack the game. Understanding accelerates learning.
A bit of understanding speeds the advancement of the kid’s skills and enjoyment of a beautiful game (soccer is actually known as “the Beautiful Game”). Often, this enjoyment is handicapped by a misunderstanding of the sport itself.
Add to it hyper excited parents wearing “parent goggles” demanding their kid gets a fair shake at life.
This leads to terrible advice from the sidelines, a confused look on the kid’s faces, and way too many prematurely balding coaches throwing clipboards.
This Isn’t Just Soccer
This is not unique to soccer. My kids also play baseball, softball, football, surf, and do Ninja Warrior stuff, plus a hundred other things. Even I am guilty of being that dad that will sometimes, in the heat of excitement, shout out “GO!” at the exact time he should have stopped while I’m out there cheering for my kid.
The problem is, there are often times in all sports where “GO” is a terrible idea and sabotages the plan.
A Quick Example
Just last night, I was at my daughter’s softball game where every single parent, one coach, and even the dugout mom yelled “GO!” when a third baseman bobbled a ball. My daughter had just stolen third, and the catcher gunned it to the third baseman, who dropped the ball as the slide came in.
Everyone yelled, “GO, GO, GO HOME!”
Are you not sure of my point?
Exactly.
The point is, that’s really terrible advice. All the kid at third had to do was pick up the ball and throw it home. Science has proven a thrown ball travels much faster than a running kid. Thus an easy out and a lousy play.
The teaching of poor techniques and poor understanding.
Why Soccer Gets It the Worst
Nowhere is this more obvious than soccer. I guess being born in the US just predetermines us to be oblivious to how the sport works. That multiplied by “I’m not really sure what’s going on out there.”
So leave it to me to fix this, just like I do for my kid’s teams and the parents every fall and every spring, all over again.
And I can fix this easily, as soccer is the most straightforward sport in the world to understand.
Indeed, because of this seemingly inexplicable lack of understanding, last season I put together a little “Soccer for Parents” Handbook.
In addition to being able to annoy your friends at work with your professed soccer knowledge, it will make you better soccer parents. As now, you will actually be yelling out correct things to your kids.
Making better soccer parents is my #2 bolded headline at the beginning of the season.
I grew up a coach’s kid, and I’m a long time sports practitioner. Nothing is more embarrassing and sad than the sports mom that doesn’t have a clue as to what her kids have been doing for the last nine years.
Don’t be that mom that just stands, claps, and cheers then whispers to the person on her left, “What just happened?”
Don’t be that dad that says, “Back in junior high, I played soccer for a week in PE. Here’s what I think they should do.”
Concept #1
Soccer Really Is One of the Easiest Sports in the World to Understand
As of the completion of today’s article, you can no longer say, “I just don’t understand soccer.”
The rules go like this:
When ball goes in a goal, it’s a point.
That’s all.
The entire article is finished, done, and straightforward.
Well, ok, there’s this.
The team in blue goes this way, and the team in red goes that way.
If the ball goes out of bounds, you throw it back in.
Now here’s where it gets a little crazy. So stay with me here.
Concept #2
Positions Exist
There are positions. Now, this isn’t unique. In fact, every team sport I can think of has positions. I’m not sure why this is so difficult for soccer parents, but it’s the most obvious mistake I see while watching parents when I should be watching their kids.
Some players should be trying to move the ball towards the opponent’s goal and score. There are also positions that are set up to keep the other team from scoring. There are also positions, specifically made to play a kind of in between. A do it all, pass it here or there, help out on defense, and just sort of figure out what’s happening and make it work.
As in most sports, they can collectively be broken down into offense and defense.
The go between guy I was speaking about is called midfield.
So please quit telling your kid to take the ball and score when that’s not his position.
I tell my 8 year olds, “There are two ways to win at soccer.”
Score more goals.
Don’t let the other team score.
Both are equally important.
Passing Wins Games
Let me share a concept that helped clear this up this season, especially to the parents.
We know football here in Texas, so we’ll start with that.
For instance, are you aware that Tom Brady doesn’t actually catch most of his own touchdowns?
It’s true. And yet, despite having only two or three catches for TDs in his lifetime, he is still quite famous and financially stable.
It seems that the majority of what has made him the most popular football player in history is his ability to pass the ball.
In soccer, it’s the same. The ability to pass is an under taught, under appreciated, and often neglected skill.
Have you ever told your kid you’ll give them $5 if they score?
I tell my players, “Tell your parents you’ll take $3 every time you set up a score. Kid, you’ll make a lot more cash.”
Passing made Tom Brady.
It can make your kid too.
Concept #3
Soccer Isn’t Boring
Soccer is tough. There’s a goalie right there who can use his hands. A goal is unbelievable. But there is much more beauty and skill happening outside of goals being scored.
Get a little FE up in there and get excited already.
It’s up to you to create it and feel it.
The rest of the world does.
Concept #4
If You Know Basketball, You Know Soccer
Soccer is virtually identical to basketball, with just a bigger field and more players.
The concepts match.
If you know hoops, you know soccer.
See? I told you you knew this sport.
Concept #5
Soccer Has a Secret Code
Soccer fans are weird. And they like it that way.
Shoes are called boots.
Zero is nil.
Sidelines are touchlines.
The field is the pitch.
Teams are clubs.
Tournaments are cups.
It all makes sense now.
It’s easy.
