Since the soccer season is about to start I thought it might be a good idea to have a beginners class for the parents. Every season I try to prepare the parents for the many roles of the soccer parent.  After all, it should be about the kids and with a little coaching and guidance, we can keep it that way.

Equipment Manager. It is your job as a parent to make sure your child has the proper equipment. Uniform, cleats, shinguards and a soccer ball is a great starting point.  Make sure they have the appropriate size ball for their age group. Keeping all the equipment in a small bag makes it easier when heading out to the field. Definitely double check before you go. There’s nothing worse than driving to the field and realizing that you’re one shinguard short of a pair!

Transportation Director. This is certainly another task that involves some preparation. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at the field ten to fifteen minutes before the scheduled practice or game. No player likes to be the “late kid.”  This job definitely gets tougher as the players get older and could possibly be traveling to different towns. I recommend creating a carpool network for pick-ups and drop-offs. Parents with multiple children will definitely appreciate this. There’s nothing worse than finding out that  soccer practice, dance class, and karate are all scheduled for Tuesday at 4PM!

Hydration Specialist (formerly known as the “Waterboy”). Pretty simple but sometimes forgotten. A bottle of water is recommended and always bring a “backup bottle” just in case. Make sure it has your player’s name on it. Eight players with eight “Poland Spring” bottles gets awful confusing! Many players prefer sport drinks (Gatorade, Powerade, etc) which is also acceptable. Please remember that many towns with synthetic turf fields don’t allow anything other than water on them.

Nutritionist. This typically goes hand and hand with Hydration Specialist. I recommend parents send their players with fruit and/or granola bars. They should not load up on snacks before a practice or game. Candy on the field is a “four letter word” and definitely frowned upon.

First Aid Attendant. Any good coach will have a first aid kit available at all practices and games. That being said, I still think it’s a good idea for parents to keep a small kit in the car or soccer bag. Bandaids, cold packs, athletic tape, etc. always come in handy. If your player has asthma or allergies and needs an inhaler or EpiPen make sure it is always readily available. You should also make sure your coach is aware of these conditions.

Spectator. And last but not least, this should be everyone’s favorite role. If you’re not playing,  coaching, or officiating you should be on the sidelines enjoying the game. Let your kids know that you’re their number one fan. Take pictures, talk with the other parents, and have fun! Be a good cheerleader and provide encouragement.  No need to give direction and put unnecessary pressure on your child. Be supportive of the coach and official. Remember, it’s youth soccer not the World Cup. Be a good role model for your children. When the game is over, don’t ask about goals scored or winning and losing. Ask them if they had fun. They will provide you with all the details!

These are just some of the things that will help get the season off to the right start. I only gave each topic a brief paragraph, but in the weeks to come more detailed information will be provided. Hopefully, we will get some good ideas and stories from all the players, parents and coaches out there. The blog was created to be a forum for you so the more discussion the better. I am looking forward to reading your input. Enjoy the season!