Soccer Coaching - Don't Let Parents Get Out of Control
As a Junior Soccer Coach you will find that there will be times when some of the parents of your players get a little out of hand no matter how well or badly your team are playing. This can manifest itself in loud, obnoxious behaviour and is just bad form says Neil Travers of www.juniorsoccercoach.com a website dedicated to the development of young soccer players and their coaches.
(PRWEB) December 19, 2004 -- As a Junior Soccer Coach you will find that there will be times when some of the parents of your players get a little out of hand no matter how well or badly your team are playing. This can manifest itself in loud, obnoxious behaviour and is just bad form says Neil Travers of http://www.juniorsoccercoach.com a website dedicated to the development of young soccer players and their coaches.
It's difficult enough at the best of times and you do have a fine line to tread during training, and on match days, when your sole concentration should be firmly fixed on the players. You have a responsibility to the players on your team not to be distracted by "poor home support" or that they are put off the the oppositions support. What should you do?
Here's 6 tips to help you manage the parents more effectively:
1) Don't ignore the problem. If you have witnessed or its clear to you that inappropriate behaviour is taking place then something needs to be done about it.
2) Don't let someone else take charge of the situation, resolve the problem immediately.
3) One method that works particularly well is going over to the offending parent and stating in a firm but reassuring tone that "it isn't fair to our team, our opponents or the officials that you are being so noisy". This tends to get the right reaction, a "sorry, I just get a bit carried away!" from the offending parent, this is where a simple statement said in cheerful manner like "that's a yellow card this time, next time your off" often diffuses any tension that may have built but the parent is left with a message.
4) If the problem persists then you need to sort it out quickly. Bad feelings on the sidelines, fester and start to involve others quicker than a bushfire!
5) Chat with any offending parents after the game and explain clearly that you, the club and the league take unruly behaviour seriously and that you will not stand for such behaviour.
6) Have your parents sign a code of conduct form at the start of the season which provides guidelines on what's expected of them. This document is a great tool to get your point across & facilitate any discussions and is available at www.juniorsoccercoach.com
Further information on dealing with difficult parents is available at http://www.juniorsoccercoach.com/public/245.cfm
###
|
