Are You Ready to be a Soccer Parent?
In collaboration with Soccer Parenting, we’ve created a series of short educational videos for parents. These videos aim to help parents understand what to expect when placing their child on a soccer team, and to clarify their role in fostering a positive and productive youth soccer experience.
Asking the questions like—Are you ready to let another adult take the lead in your child’s experience? Or, are you ready for your child to experience disappointments?—helps to prepare parents for what they will experience in this journey and to be intentional about accepting their role in it.
We are providing these videos to our member clubs, for you to use the way you think will have the most positive impact on your soccer community—please feel free to share. Downloads are available in English & Spanish below each video.
VIDEO #1 — Are You Ready to Let Another Adult Take the Lead?
Up to now, parents have had total control of their child’s life. Are they ready to let another adult make decisions and lead in a different way than they would?
Download: English Version, Spanish Version
VIDEO #2 — Are You Ready to Embrace Your Child’s Disappointments?
The beauty of youth sports is the ability to teach the child life lessons. Are they ready to use the obstacles and disappointments that their children face as valuable learning opportunities?
Download: English Version, Spanish Version
VIDEO #3 — Are You Ready to Give Your Child Autonomy?
The youth sports journey belongs to the child. Increasingly so as they get older. Are they ready to let the child take the lead?
Download: English Version, Spanish Version
VIDEO #4 — Are You Ready to Model Self Control?
The game is stressful, referees make mistakes, the child might get hurt, the coach may sub them off for making a mistake. Are they ready to accept all of these things and remain calm, supportive and focused on the bigger picture?
Download: English Version, Spanish Version
VIDEO #5 — Are You Ready to Prioritize the Team?
Joining a youth soccer team is a commitment. It takes up evenings and weekends and the rest of the team is relying on their child to be there consistently at practices and games. Are they ready to prioritize the commitment to the team over most other things?
Download: English Version, Spanish Version
