ATTENDANCE will be taken
EVERY player must have the correct equipment:
MEETING TIME:
WARM-UPS:
AFC KIT must be worn in full with no excuses.
NO player will be allowed step on the field if wearing another pair of shorts/socks that are not AFC.
BALL must be with every player as the coaches need plenty of soccer balls for the warm-ups.
1) Encourage your child to make mistakes
Although it may seem a little out of the ordinary, encouraging your child to take more risks can be productive. Mistakes are a natural part of any sport; young athletes are especially prone to making mistakes. Instead of trying to critique them, tell them to take more chances. A child is well aware of when they make an error; it is a coach’s job to help them fix the problem and important for the athlete to learn from the experience. The worst thing that can happen is a youth athlete becomes timid and afraid to take chances.
2) Don’t fight a battle that is not yours to fight
Some parents start out with good intentions when it comes to their child’s athletic career. However, somewhere along the way parents become obsessed and too possessive. They want their child to succeed so badly they lose focus on what is really important. They start complaining to coaches, parents and even other children about things that aren’t their concern. Instead of causing trouble, let the coaches do their job and encourage your own child to take ownership of their game.
3) Talk to your kids about practice
Practice is important for any athlete, but especially for young kids who are learning how to play a specific sport. Developing good work habits and building a physical skill set is crucial. Talking about practice is a good way to emphasize its importance and learn about what your child is doing. Odds are if your child is practicing hard and properly, the more he or she will shine on game day.
4) Cheer, don’t coach on game day
Every parent should cheer for their child when they are playing a game. Cheer loud, cheer soft, be loud, go crazy but make sure you are cheering for the right reasons. If your son or daughter makes a great play, you should cheer. If one of their teammates does something good, you should cheer. Just remember to stray away from coaching them or giving them advice when they are in the middle of a game. That is a coach’s job and if it needs to be corrected, it probably will be. Also make sure if your athlete is playing a team sport that you show support for the team no matter what the outcome is.
5) Don’t over analyze the game after it’s over
Talking about what happened after a game is perfectly normal and can be constructive. However if you continuously talk about the results, good or bad, it can have an ill effect on the athlete involved. He or she can become sick of the sport they are playing and totally lose interest. It can also lead to that particular athlete becoming obsessed and overcompensating for their performance on the field. Once a game is over, talk about it for a little bit, then move on to the next one.
6) Support the Coach
A very key component to a player’s development comes from knowing that their parents support the coach, especially through tough times. Once the player hears mom or dad speaking negatively about the coach, typically the player will begin to tune out the coach. This hurts the player most of all.
7) Don’t engage the referees nor opposing team parents/players
You can’t control the referees, the other team parents, or the opposing team’s players so learn to let go. The coach and the team captain can ask the referee questions in a respectful manner. Parents should never confront referees. Truth be told there is a mass reduction in referees in the United States in large part due to this issue. Referees have been assaulted both verbally and physically by out of control parents and coaches. Parent to parent confrontation has also increased. If a parent says something you don’t like, move away from them. Do NOT engage. There is no upside to the confrontation. You are there to cheer for your child, nothing more
Soccer is the players’ game. Coaches bear responsibility for teaching their players to strive for success!
AFC wants to ensure that games are fair, positive, and an enjoyable experience for all children and adults involved. A soccer game should be friendly and unifying – a spirited social and athletic occasion for players, coaches, referees, and spectators.
We Stress two points:
