• BE POSITIVE.
• Be supportive.
• Cheer for the team.
• Encourage all of the players.
• Keep negative comments to yourself, especially those directed at another parent’s child.

Remember that the players are doing the best that they can and that playing good soccer is more difficult than it looks.

• DO NOT COACH. Let the coaches make adjustments as they see the need. Many times the instruction from a spectator is exactly opposite of the instruction given by the coach. Allow the players the freedom to make their own decisions and learn from their mistakes. Spectator statements like “STAY WIDE”, “CLEAR IT”, “PASS THE BALL”, “GET RID OF IT”, “MOVE UP”, “MOVE BACK”, etc. tend to undermine the need of the players to communicate with each other and the coaches.
• NEVER ADDRESS THE PLAYERS ON THE OTHER TEAM, except to encourage and congratulate.
• TREAT THE OFFICIALS WITH RESPECT. All officials make mistakes. All humans make mistakes. Let the officials be humans. Let the coaches approach the officials if they feel the need. The ref may be wrong, but not as often as you are? Have you ever seen a ref change his mind because a parent shouted at him?
• Do not engage in game related discussions/arguments with parents from the opposing team. We want to be known in the soccer community as an organization that has “CLASS” whether we win lose or draw. The game score will not be remembered. The argument or inappropriate remarks will.
• LEAVE THE GAME ON THE FIELD. When the game is over, no amount of comment, question or discussion with the players, officials or coaches can change the outcome. Regardless of the outcome, the coaches will evaluate the performance; reinforce the good things and work to correct the things that need improvement.
• KEEP THE GAME FUN. Winning is more fun the losing but each player should enjoy playing because they love the game. Avoid offering bribes or pumping up your child. Allow them to be self motivated. Make sure that you take the time to enjoy the game yourself. It is routing to hear comments from the kids that they dread it and are often embarrassed when their parents start shouting at the ref or their team. It is noticeable that when some parents get more and more agitated their child gets more and more withdrawn from the game. Think about your own job, if you had someone who you knew was going to shout at you every time you made a mistake, wouldn’t you stop putting yourself in the position to make the mistake? That is what happens with some players. They would rather not have the ball than risk making a mistake.
• PARENTS ON ONE SIDE OF THE FIELD - TEAMS ON THE OTHER. In most leagues, teams are required to be on one side of the field, spectators on the other. Only coaches should be with the players. The only exception to this rule is that some travel leagues (MOSA, OC REC, Jersey Coast) require small sided teams (U-8, 9 & 10) to be on the same sideline as their respective teams. This means one team & parents on one side, the other team and parents on the other. The BTSA Recreation Program requires that coaches and teams be on one side, parents & spectators on the other.