On the Parents Page we will be constantly adding; brief soccer terms and definitions, club philosophy, important soccer articles and links.  Each new entry will be dated, so keep scrolling down for important club standards and new information:

June 25, 2010

How parents effect players playing time: 
Parents should have players at practice ten minutes before the start of practice so they are dressed and ready to play when practice starts.   Your players needs to be at every practice in order to have success on the field.
Players who are late or miss practice miss game time.  Players who miss practice and do not learn the necessary skills to succeed miss playing time.

Food and water affect playing time:
In Arizona proper hydration is essential to survive.  In team sports proper hydration is critical for the player to be at his/her best to succeed the rigors of training.
Proper meals with a balance is good carbs and protein build strong players.
Good eating habits and proper hydration will give your player the extra stamina to keep them playing at their best from start to finish of every training session and game.

Parental Attitude affects play:
Don't beat up (verbally) your player after a bad play or a bad game.  He/she is well aware of the situation.  Encourage them to work hard in practice and train for success so that they perform better the next time.

Don't criticize or belittle the coach within ear shot of your player, or after the game on the drive home, or at the breakfast or dinner table.  If the players parents do not respect the coach, how do you expect the player to.  This is a huge road block in training for success, the player must by into the program and the coach for success.

Parents are soccer experts:
The short answer is no they are not.  Please do not assume you know what the coach is thinking in his decision making.  If you have a question, make an appointment and discuss the concern with the coach.

Encouragement:
Always, always, always, encourage your player to do his/her best at practice.  Your player has chosen to play the sport of soccer.  The club and the trainer have a program that encourages training for success.  Your player is young and learning life lessons everyday.  Parents, schools, society, and yes team sports help give your child the tools he/she needs to be a success in life.  If the player does not train hard and learn to reach within themselves to overcome a challenge at practice, they surely will not be able to succeed in the game as well.  Encourage your player to try their best in every practice and game.  This positive attitude and training for success will make your player the best he/she can be.

My player made the team so he/she should have equal playing time:
Every team no matter how good, competitive, adult ,child, professional, all teams have players of different abilities.  They also have players of different work ethic, stamina, and tactical abilities.  The coach takes into consideration each of these individual strengths and weakness as well as the opponent of each game in determining playing time for each player. If you have a question as to how your players soccer strengths and weaknesses affect your players playing time, again make an appointment with the coach to discuss.  No matter what the level of the players skills always ask the questions "What can my player do to improve his/her soccer skills"??  What can I do to help??