Parents Do's and Don'ts

Northboro Parents,

Welcome to Northboro Youth Soccer Association (NYSA). We are glad you have decided to enroll you child in our soccer program. Keep the following thoughts in mind as you participate in or observe NYSA games.

Remember that it is a game! The primary purpose of enrolling our children in soccer and other youth sports programs is so that they have an opportunity to play. There are other benefits: exercise; development of motor and social skills; learning to strive; learning to lose and not quit.

Whether you win or lose, trying your hardest and working to improve your ball skills and tactics produce pride and satisfaction, for most children the purpose of the game is pure play. Parents' and coaches' emphasis should be the same. Let the kids have fun at every practice and game. Instruction should only come from the coaches. When parents yell in direction from the sidelines it can confuse the players and may be counter to the strategy the coach discussed with the children before the game.

We do welcome enthusiasm, but there is a difference between yelling and cheering. So, be general in what you shout. Say, "Go!" instead of "Shoot!" or "Pass!" Let the player think for himself, it is an important part of the game. At the end of a play, you may then be more specific by saying "Great pass!" or "Great effort!" or "Great save! "

To ensure that your child is prepared to play soccer, NYSA will provide the following:

• Coach
• Soccer balls for practice and games
• Game uniform (shirt, short and socks)
• Cones, corner flags pinnies for practice
• Referees for games

Parents are asked to provide the following:

• Soccer shoes
• Shin guards
• Mouth guard and water bottle for practices and games
• Transportation to and from practices and games

The philosophy of NYSA is to allow each player to grow and develop to the best of their ability while having fun. Recreation teams typically practice once a week for one and a half hours, while select teams typically practice twice a week. At the beginning of the season the coach will tell you where and when your practice location(s) will be. For practice sessions, we ask that your child arrive on time and be ready to play, and that you be there at the end of practice to pick up your child. It is our goal to make the most of our practices and teach your child the skills they need to play in games.

For games, plan to arrive 30 minutes before the start time to allow for warm-up drills and any instructions the coach may have. There will be a referee officiating at the game. Parents must refrain from addressing the referee at any time during the game. In addition, parents must sit on the opposite side of the field from the teams, and we encourage you to cheer for both teams, remembering that these are young children playing to have fun. Our emphasis is on playing, learning and having fun, not on winning.

Each coach is a volunteer and must complete a CORI form (criminal background check) before they can work with children. In addition, many coaches have experience playing and coaching soccer and all are encouraged to attend coaching workshops and licensing clinics. In the event that you have a concern regarding your child’s coach or team, please address the issue directly with the coach and allow adequate time for resolution. If the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, please notify our recreation coach coordinator Scott Taggart, or our select coach coordinator Ian Wallace.

At the end of matches, we hope to hear more players, coaches and parents thank the referees for a good game. No adult should ever berate a young referee. If you criticize the referees you are in the wrong, it is that simple.

Please instruct your children to stay off the goals, nets, and corner flags. Every year there are injuries in this country, sometimes fatal, due to kids climbing on soccer goals that topple over onto them. Please help us keep the players and others from climbing on the goals or nets at all times.

NYSA is staffed entirely by volunteers. Many people put in a tremendous amount of their personal time so that your child can enjoy soccer. We always need more volunteers to assist us in many different ways so we can continue to run a successful youth soccer program. Please contact one of our Board members to find out how you can help out.