Parents Do not have to attend soccer games!!! UPDATE

[Coconut36]

Actually we don't know that. It is one of the possible reasons suggested for this policy, but we don't know that it's a contributing factor.

Let's be honest..how unlikely is it? How many policies and procedures have been put in place because of liability concerns and our litigious society? We might not know it for fact but it isn't unreasonable to consider it as a possible reason.

 

[sam_gordon]

1) Er, OP was talking about "U12 soccer", and THAT is what I was responding to. Let me restate:
"I'm glad my kids aren't in a sport where I have to attend all the practices. What a waste of time."

2) I thought U12 soccer was for age 11, not 4 to 9.

My daughter active in dance between about 4 and 9 (and son between 4 and 6). It's not the same atmosphere as most sports, but I'd still call it a sport (group of kids practicing together with one teacher). Not only did I except my child to behave, but also to listen. Parents were allowed to wait outside the dance studio, but we weren't allowed inside the studio to watch.

My son was in taekwondo from about 6 to 9 and again was excepted to behave, listen, and pay attention, but there is no way the teacher would ever allow a parent to scold his or her kid during practice. My son was in football at 9. Again, he was excepted to listen and behave. Parents could come to practices (which were 2 hours, 5 days a week), but weren't required.

If the problem isn't misbehaving but rather not listening, that's the coach's problem during practice, and my problem after practice. Going up to my child in the middle of practice to scold him or her for not paying attention or following directions undermines the authority of the coach. It would be like going to Kindergarten and doing the same thing in front of the teacher.

Although the more I think about it, of my three examples, the first two were paid professionals, so that changes things a bit, I guess.

Assuming, at this point, I had another child, and that child, at the age of 4, decided to join a sport, I would show up for at least the first few practices to make sure the coach wasn't a creeper and that my child got along with the other students, followed directions, etc., but I would most likely NOT attend every single practice, and would balk at signing up for any group that required so.

3) I don't know what the rules were in my son's football team, but if this is true, then policy should be changed to allow for children who are behavior problems to be removed.

1) I apologize. I read your previous comment as soccer being a waste of time.
2) The policy in the OP referenced "U12 and under". In my neck of the woods, that would include U5 through U12.
3) I'm guessing a coach could go to a board and argue their case, I just haven't seen extreme athlete behavior that would justify that.

I personally don't like the policy. I do think for 4-6yo's it's not unreasonable for a parent (or designated representative) to stay. For 10yo+, I think you're at an acceptable "drop off" age. It's the 7-9yo's that would depend on the maturity level of the child. Yours is fine, mine is fine. But that doesn't mean all 7yo's are mature enough to be left.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I personally don't like the policy. I do think for 4-6yo's it's not unreasonable for a parent (or designated representative) to stay. For 10yo+, I think you're at an acceptable "drop off" age. It's the 7-9yo's that would depend on the maturity level of the child. Yours is fine, mine is fine. But that doesn't mean all 7yo's are mature enough to be left.

I would agree. I am sure things are not the same everywhere, but here a 4-6 year old playing soccer would not have practices during the week. Their practices would actually be right before their "games" (put in quotes because there is no official score/ ranking and you will find that most children have a parent there (or at the adjacent playground with a LO) or another adult. But, as you get older things change drastically. If my 8 year old was playing soccer, it would be practices during the week as well as travel games to other towns. And, due to the location of our town, that often means a journey of 1+ hours. This is when you start to see a lot of carpooling.

 

[scrapquitler]

I would agree. I am sure things are not the same everywhere, but here a 4-6 year old playing soccer would not have practices during the week. Their practices would actually be right before their "games" (put in quotes because there is no official score/ ranking and you will find that most children have a parent there (or at the adjacent playground with a LO) or another adult. But, as you get older things change drastically. If my 8 year old was playing soccer, it would be practices during the week as well as travel games to other towns. And, due to the location of our town, that often means a journey of 1+ hours. This is when you start to see a lot of carpooling.

My DD was going to do TBall when she was about 5. Until I found out that there were 3 days of practice plus 1-2 games per week. I just didn't think that at age 5, I needed to be committed to 4 days a week for something like that. It might not be like this everywhere, but in my neck of the woods it certainly is.

 

[SmallWorld71]

My DD was going to do TBall when she was about 5. Until I found out that there were 3 days of practice plus 1-2 games per week. I just didn't think that at age 5, I needed to be committed to 4 days a week for something like that. It might not be like this everywhere, but in my neck of the woods it certainly is.

Now that's crazy! Mine all played t-ball. It was 2x a week for about an hour. Overall, I've found my kids activities didn't become too involved time wise until about age 8. I was able to let them choose multiple activities which was good for them to see what they were interested in.

DS16 ended up choosing hockey - although he just started playing football as well since high school hockey has a much shorter season than youth hockey.
DS12 - chose baseball, clarinet and scouting
DD8 - chose ballet and scouting

So, they don't do a lot, but what they do is very involved.

 

[SingleFather]

Yay Yay Yay. Got an email from our coach today. The stupid rule was a mistake and not authorized!

Dear ******* parent:

Recently you may have received information from ********* ******** about the Spring 2012 soccer season. There is a statement on your paperwork that one of the parents of your child MUST attend all practices for U12 and under boys and girls.

Please note that this statement was not endorsed by *************** *************** and was inserted without authorization from anyone involved with *************** ***************.

Any authorized adult, parent or guardian may drop off or pick up the players. Having talked to other coaches throughout the league, we agree that parents of U6 players are requested to remain at practice. However, we have no requirement that they do so.

Speaking for myself but agree with other coaches of U8 and up, I prefer that parents not remain at practice. We are all parent volunteers, but we have found that both boys and girls thrive when there is only a coach and/or assistants acting as coach. Those of you know me personally know that my philosophy is not to coach by committee. I have appreciated your support of this philosophy this past season as well as your lack of interference during games with referee calls.

As always, I remain available for any questions you may have.

Thank you,

Coach ***

From what I can gather from the soccer mom network is that the person who put in the statement is no longer working for the association! The phone to the association has been busy for two days straight!

 

[cari12]

I would agree. I am sure things are not the same everywhere, but here a 4-6 year old playing soccer would not have practices during the week. Their practices would actually be right before their "games" (put in quotes because there is no official score/ ranking and you will find that most children have a parent there (or at the adjacent playground with a LO) or another adult. But, as you get older things change drastically. If my 8 year old was playing soccer, it would be practices during the week as well as travel games to other towns. And, due to the location of our town, that often means a journey of 1+ hours. This is when you start to see a lot of carpooling.

Here for both soccer and t-ball/baseball for all the kids (even 4-6 year olds), practice is in the evening during the week and games on Saturday or Sunday.

 

[scrapquitler]

Yay Yay Yay. Got an email from our coach today. The stupid rule was a mistake and not authorized!


From what I can gather from the soccer mom network is that the person who put in the statement is no longer working for the association! The phone to the association has been busy for two days straight!

It's nice to see that common sense won out. I can imagine that everyone was calling to say WHAT???

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Yay Yay Yay. Got an email from our coach today. The stupid rule was a mistake and not authorized!


From what I can gather from the soccer mom network is that the person who put in the statement is no longer working for the association! The phone to the association has been busy for two days straight!

That's good news!

You realize this will upset some Dis parents who thought the rule was fine for 12 year old/middle school kids.

 

[Mama Who]

Gald it worked out for you. It did seem odd that the coaches would *want* all those parents hanging around.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Yay Yay Yay. Got an email from our coach today. The stupid rule was a mistake and not authorized!


From what I can gather from the soccer mom network is that the person who put in the statement is no longer working for the association! The phone to the association has been busy for two days straight!

Thanks for the update.

 

[bumbershoot]

Glad it has worked out.


On the other hand....DS takes classes at the Y, and I almost always hang around (but if I don't I'm still working out somewhere IN the building and can be paged or found), and I've had a lot of opportunity to watch things.

I remember one time a girl in a higher level, must be invited, and parents pay extra, gymnastics class (held at the same time in a different area of the gym as the free class DS was in) fell HARD on the top of her head during a tumbling run. While crying, she started wheezing, crying more, wheezing more, etc. It took 30 minutes for them to get her mom there, from wherever on earth she was. That was a LONG time for that girl. Neither aspect of it was bad enough for an ambulance, at least from their perspective, but it was bad for the girl.

(strangely, though, when the mom DOES stay she's one of the evil gymnastics moms, coaching from the sidelines and screaming at her girl...so really they can't win, LOL)


After that, I stay almost all the time. And never leave the building. If DS were in soccer, I bet I'd sit in the car and read...just in case.

 

[C.Ann]

It's nice to see that common sense won out. I can imagine that everyone was calling to say WHAT???

Even if it hadn't been a mistake, I can imagine the uproar it would have caused.. If you have several children, different ages, different sports, possibly a single-parent household, that NEVER would have worked - unless you only allowed one of your children to play a sport..

Even if it said, "Any authorized adult", I don't think it would have caused too much of a problem for most (not all) parents..

Glad it worked out, OP..

 

[Bob NC]

Yay Yay Yay. Got an email from our coach today. The stupid rule was a mistake and not authorized!


From what I can gather from the soccer mom network is that the person who put in the statement is no longer working for the association! The phone to the association has been busy for two days straight!

Is a DISer out of a job?

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Oh, glory be, no one will be forced to watch one of their children practice. Cue the confetti.

 

[sam_gordon]

Oh, glory be, no one will be forced to watch one of their children practice. Cue the confetti.

Really? There have been plenty of reasons posted why parents shouldn't be forced to watch practices. Don't like them, watch away.

 

[mjkacmom]

After that, I stay almost all the time. And never leave the building. If DS were in soccer, I bet I'd sit in the car and read...just in case.

Pretty easy to do with an only child. Out of the HUNDREDS of times I've left my kids with coaches/teachers, we've not had a single injury. Fortunately, I'm never more than 10 minutes away, and I trust those I leave my children with to handle the situation until I get there. The most serious injury we've had was when ds got hit in the nose with a baseball - blood spurting, eyes became black and blue and almost swollen shut. DH happened to be there, and ds wanted to continue to practice. Never even saw a doctor (because he certainly didn't want anything done that would interfere with baseball season).

 

[Bob NC]

Oh, glory be, no one will be forced to watch one of their children practice. Cue the confetti.

Nice.

Excellent, well thought out post.

Very helpful to everyone.

Keep it up.

 

[happygirl]

Oh, glory be, no one will be forced to watch one of their children practice. Cue the confetti.

well said. People use coach as babysitters end of story,

 

[U2_rocks!]

Pretty easy to do with an only child. Out of the HUNDREDS of times I've left my kids with coaches/teachers, we've not had a single injury. Fortunately, I'm never more than 10 minutes away, and I trust those I leave my children with to handle the situation until I get there. The most serious injury we've had was when ds got hit in the nose with a baseball - blood spurting, eyes became black and blue and almost swollen shut. DH happened to be there, and ds wanted to continue to practice. Never even saw a doctor (because he certainly didn't want anything done that would interfere with baseball season).

My kids' worst injuries have been at school .......... and I'm not allowed to stay there all day and watch them like a hawk even if I wanted to!

So far I have never been called to soccer or cricket for my son, and never had an issue at gymnastics, ballet or art class for my DDs. They all have my number - they can find me if need be.