Coaches and Parents

Experienced travel coaches know that when dealing with parents, it is important to remember that their principal concern is for their son or daughter, rather than team considerations. While the travel team exists as a vehicle for the development of its players, one of the lessons that should be learned from team sports, like soccer, is that all members of the team are important. With younger teams, parents and players sometimes have "star" expectations from their developmental/recreation soccer experience that cannot be met. This can be a source of conflict.

Our most desired option is for each team to have an experienced, qualified coach. However, from time to time, the Academy does utilize qualified parent coaches who have experience and expertise in the game. Many parent coaches "retire" and turn over the coaching reins to a professional/paid coach at the U-13 or U-14 level. It is about this time that many players can actually play at a higher level than many parent coaches. In the eyes of these coaches, it seems inconsistent to try to provide training to someone who can play better than they can play. There is not necessarily anything wrong with a parent coach retiring after two or three years. On the other hand, some parent coaches retire prematurely. Particularly when aided by professional trainers and/or experienced coaches, many parent coaches with expertise and experience in the game can continue to be effective coaches all the way through high school. Experienced coaches assess their performance after each season and, if appropriate, may decide to use trainers to supplement the program.

Most trainers are "known quantities" who have trained other club teams, ODP, local high schools, etc. Check their credentials and reputation.

Many trainers are also coaches and/or have special relationships with particular clubs or coaching organizations. Some are over committed. You may or may not like the baggage which they carry.
Trainers, like coaches, have areas of strength and experience. Some trainers are better with younger teams; some trainers have more experience and a better record with a particular gender; and some trainers are strong teachers of particular skill sets (such as fast footwork) but weaker in teaching other skill sets.
The fees which trainers charge vary widely and, therefore, it is a good idea to check out the market before agreeing on a particular fee schedule.
If your team uses a trainer, make clear what the trainer's role and responsibilities are. The trainer is an assistant to the coach, who should continue to make decisions as to what skills are worked on in practice; how the practice is run; how the games are run; and, perhaps most important, what are the team's priorities and tone and tenor.

Parents Involvement

Experienced travel soccer parents appreciate and understand the following do's and don'ts:

Do attend games and cheer for the team, not only your child. This helps reinforce the team values soccer teaches. If all parents on a team become "fans" of their player's teammates, this strongly contributes to a positive environment;
Do participate in the operation of the team. In a very real sense, it's not just United Soccer’s team, or the coach's team, or even your son or daughter's team—it's your team, too. There are lots of critical parent jobs, including Team Manager; Team Treasurer; Travel Coordinator for out-of-town tournaments; and Fundraising Coordinator, etc;
Do expect the travel coach to recognize that your son or daughter is responsible for his/her participation on the team. The travel coach will communicate areas needing improvement first with your son or daughter;
Do make your player available on time (including the designated warm-up period) for all regular season practices, games, scheduled tournaments and scrimmages. If at all possible, don't schedule family vacations or trips that conflict with your child's team responsibilities. If there is a problem in this regard, be sure to talk with the travel coach in advance;
Do expect that the travel coach will be honest and candid with you about your child's status and, on older teams, that the travel coach will provide your child with periodic verbal evaluations of their play and an identification of areas that need improvement;
Do expect openness and honesty from the travel coach. Do expect to get advance notice from the travel coach if your child is at risk of being dropped from the team and an opportunity to work on areas that need improvement;
Do expect, particularly on younger teams, that the travel coach will be receptive to your child's participation in other sports -- but do not expect that the travel coach will acquiesce if your child misses practices, games or tournaments because your child is participating in another sport;
On older teams, do expect the travel coach to facilitate your child's participation on high school soccer squads and on ODP squads;
For high school age teams, do expect the team coach to help your child with college admissions, including the preparation of letters of recommendation;
Do expect competence in teaching fundamental soccer skills;
Do expect fair treatment of players and parents by the travel coach and never tolerate any type of abusive behavior, physical or otherwise, by a travel coach. Discuss such behavior with the travel coach and contact the Board of Directors;
Do expect the travel coach to make player safety a priority and to insist that your child not play if the child has not warmed up and stretched, or is injured or sick; and
Do expect that the travel coach will enjoy working with young people; create a fun environment for the players; and be enthusiastic about the squad.

On the other hand, as a travel soccer parent:

Do not expect that your child will necessarily have equal playing time. It is, however, highly unusual for a healthy player to receive no playing time or very minimal playing time. If this happens, talk to the travel coach;
Do not expect the coach to honor requests for playing time in a particular position;
Do not expect your child to be guaranteed a permanent position on a travel team. Players must make the squad each spring and, in exceptional circumstances (set out in the league rules in which the team plays), a child may also be cut between the fall and spring seasons;
Do not position players or yell out coaching-type instructions from the sidelines. During practice and matches the coach(es)/trainer(s) are there to give direction. Parental input is not appropriate, helpful to the player or appreciated by coaches;
Do not yell at referees. You will be expelled from the sidelines and the travel coach will receive a yellow or red card if your behavior is sufficiently disruptive;
Do not argue or fight with parents from opposing teams; remember your are a role model for your child and other team members;
Do not talk to the coach about player issues during or immediately after a game or practice. Take time to cool down before discussing the issue with the coach. This provides time to evaluate concerns unemotionally;
Do not make negative comments about other children on the team;
Do not permit your child to try out for other soccer teams without letting the coach know that you are considering moving your child. Trying out for other teams is often part of the "travel soccer process." As such, this should not be a consideration on the part of the travel team of whether your child remains on or is selected for the team; and
Do not wait until just before the start of a season to move your child to a new team. If you are going to move your child, notify the coach in June or December. It is very frustrating to a coach, and unfair to other team members, when a player leaves the team without giving sufficient notice to permit the team to accept or recruit a replacement.