Does this guy look like he's having fun?
Competitive youth soccer is about many things. At Eastside FC having fun is one of our most important goals. These are the indelible golden years in our kids' soccer experience. They'll look back on them for the rest of their lives. So of course we want them to enjoy this time. They work hard, train with commitment, and overcome challenges. When game day arrives, and all that work comes together, it should be the most fun they have. The work's over, now it's time to play!
How we conduct ourselves on the sideline matters. As a club we believe in support for each other and respect for individuals. We recognize that the words we speak and the way we present ourselves impart values to our kids, for better or worse, and greatly affect the enjoyment of the game for all involved.
The Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association produced a video focusing on the issues of sideline behavior of adults, and specifically on how that behavior can affect the player experience, player retention, and retention of qualified referees. They've created a valuable tool that serves to remind us of the impact of negative sideline behavior.
The video had its national debut at the US Youth Soccer Workshop in Indianapolis in 2004 and it's worth revisiting from time to time.
It has actual footage shot during games and tournaments. Some of the clips are pretty hilarious. More sobering are the comments from young players and young refs about how parent behavior affects their enjoyment of the game.
The video may be viewed online at the following locations on the Mass Youth Soccer Website.
http://www.mayouthsoccer.org/video/attitudes.wmv
http://www.mayouthsoccer.org/video/attitudes.mov
Keep it fun out there!
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