A key player in the QSL team lineup is the Team Parent. The
Team Parent can be responsible
for taking the organizational pressure off the Head Coach and his/her assistants. The Team
Parent
is the primary communicator between the Coach, players, and parents. He/she oversees and
coordinates telephone/parent list, team snack roster, team parties, clerical duties, and
anything
else that pertains to their team. Listed below are some duties of the Team Parent:
Fruit or some type of snack
Drinking water, juice or soda
Please remember to clean up your area before leaving the complex
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I Will...
- remember that children participate for their enjoyment, not mine
- be a good role model because children learn best by example
- respect and support volunteer coaches and both youth & adult referees
- teach that teamwork and doing your best are more important than winning
- applaud good plays by my team and by the other team
- encourage my child to improve skills and to be a good sport
- urge my child to play by the spirit of QSL and the laws of soccer
- support efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from youth sports
- make my child feel like a winner, no matter what the score
I Will Not...
- force my child to participate in sports
- ridicule or yell at my child (or any other child) for making mistakes
- question referee judgment calls
- question the coaches ability to coach during a game
- go out on the field during a game unless asked by a referee
QSL soccer encourages positive self-esteem, discipline, personal responsibility,
teamwork, perseverance,
and acceptance of and learning from both disappointment and success. It is also an
enjoyable game to watch
as well as to play. We believe that quality recreational soccer can and should be
developed and that it can
and should be fun. Therefore, the emphasis of our program is not on who wins but how did
the individuals
and teams develop and have fun in doing so. We want all participants to reach their full,
grade-appropriate
potential and to enjoy themselves in the process.
As spectators, we must all realize that the players are trying their very best and
deserve our very best in the way
of support and encouragement. Negative comments have no place on the field or on the
sidelines. We need
to recognize that the effort of each player is well intended and we encourage each player
to maintain that effort.
Allow the coach to be the sole source of coaching during the game, communicating
tactical or technical
adjustments to the players. As a coach, be sure that your coaching during the game
is limited, positive,
and instructive. Giving play by play instructions to the players thwarts their ability to
put into effect the
lessons you have stressed in practices and disallows them the opportunity to think on
their feet.
An important aspect of the QSL program is sportsmanship. Our children need to experience:
One of the ways in which our children can learn and continue to have these experiences
is by our demonstration
of good sideline behavior. Our children learn by watching our conduct. Keep a positive
outlook and
demonstrate it by supporting the coaches, the players, and the referees, in spite of any
mistakes they
may make during the course of a game.
| How can I help make my child's experience as good as possible? Tough question, because as parents we want our child to be the best. We spend a lot of time comparing our child with other children and wonder why mine can’t be as " good " as them or sometimes, why is the other child not as good as mine. When we do this we are forgetting the most important thing about our child. That is, he/she is a unique individual with special talents and that team sports allow children to participate among other children with a whole range of abilities. All players on a team do not run at the same speed or have the same ball skills, but as a group they can compliment each other and be successful. As parents we need to focus less on the final score and more on the EFFORTS of all of the children. We need to set realistic goals for our children to compete with themselves and improve their own ability, rather than always compare them with the best player on the team. When watching the game, focus on all players not just your child. Begin to encourage teamwork and applaud effort even if not always successful. With encouragement all children will respond and grow. We as parents are so very important for our children as role models and positive encouragement is the best we can offer to them. |
| Soccer is a physical game. The best way to prevent injuries is to become knowledgeable about the game and work with your child to encourage hard but respectful play. All players should warm up and stretch before playing. Watch the game from the perspective of how the whole team is doing, rather than just focus on your child. Also be safety conscious. Make sure your child is wearing proper equipment, shin guards/shoes, etc. Always bring water. Become involved with other parents to positively encourage your team. Some injuries occur because so much pressure is put on kids to win and play hard that they try to do too much, leaving them more vulnerable to injury. Also, let your coach know about any needs your child may have. If your child has a condition that will need special handling, arrange for your coach to have a "Treatment Plan". (i.e.. don’t just give the inhaler to the coach, show him/her how it works) More importantly, realize that the coach is trying to deal with 15 children so maybe a parent should be available for the child's needs during games and practices. |
| Grandparents are so very important to children. The QSL family lost a special grand parent in 1998. Roger Francour who was one of the founders of the QSL died in January 1998. 31 years ago Roger started the QSL with a small group of parents and soccer enthusiasts. He then spent most of his life working to give kids and adults opportunities in sports and life. 4 years ago he attended a QSL beginning coaches clinic because he was helping coach his grandsons team. In today's world kids need all of the support they can get. Let’s all follow the example of Roger Francour and help let our grandchildren and all children know that we do care about them and their activities. |