RSC Guidelines
Team Manager Guidelines
Parental Guidelines
Parents should use the appropriate order of escalation in addressing issues with a coach.
The RSC order of escalation is as follows:
- Coach
- RYSL/RSC Director of Coaching
- RSC Chairman, RSC Commissioner
Players should be available to talk with their coaches. “Taking responsibility” whether about playing difficulties, or missing an upcoming game is a big part of soccer.
Parents must let the coach’s coach. This includes goal setting and psyching up your child for practice and post game discussions. Having more than one “coach” confuses children.
Parents should not bribe or offer incentives. Motivation should be left to the coach. Offering money for scoring goals, for example distracts a child concentrating properly in practice and games.
Parents should support all players on the team. Teammates are not the enemy. When they are playing better than your child is, she/he has a wonderful opportunity to learn
Support the program. Get involved through volunteering, helping with fundraisers, carpooling, or however else you can.
Parents must understand and display appropriate game behavior. They should cheer appropriately, help their child focus on the parts of the games she/he can control (positioning, decision making, technical, etc.). If a player begins focusing on elements she/he can’t control (field condition, the referee, the weather, etc.), she/he will not play up to their ability.
Parents can help a player keep priorities straight. A youngster needs help balancing schoolwork, friendships and other commitments besides soccer. Having made a commitment to soccer, she/he also needs help fulfilling their obligations to their team.
Pass the reality test. If a child’s team loses but she/he played their best, a parent must help them see this as a “win” and remind them to focus on the process, not the end result. Fun and satisfaction should come from “striving to win”. Conversely, a player should not be satisfied with “winning” if it comes from inadequate preparation and performance.
Parents and players must keep soccer in its perspective. The games should not be larger than your life. If a child’s performance produces strong emotions in a parent, they must suppress them. Parents must keep their own goals and needs separate from their child’s. Remember that relationships with your child will continue long after their competitive soccer day’s end.
