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Sideline Behavior Expectations for Parents

You are their biggest fans and most important teacher in life. Support them in all they do, let them make decisions, and let them learn from their successes and their mistakes.

" POSITIVE" BEHAVIOR BY PARENTS MEANS..... "NEGATIVE" BEHAVIOR BY PARENTS MEANS...

Supporting Players
- Your biggest job is to positively cheer and applaud great plays and great efforts by ALL players and the team.
- Try to look for the little improvements in all the players.
- Being specific helps. "Great Cross, Jimmy" "Nice run, Emma" etc

Motivating Players
- Embarrassing your child in front of teammates for his play by trying to make him work harder or analyzing his play. This only frustrates the player. True, it may make your child work harder for a few minutes just to make you happy, but it won't keep a positive lasting impression.
- Don't always focus on your child, even if he is the best player. This is a team effort and one player cannot and should not do it all.

Instructions to Players
- There should be NO instructions from the parents. It may seem helpful, but is does not allow the players to make and learn from their own decisions.

Instructions to Players
-During the game, parents should not offer any verbal direction. It may be different than what the coach and team have been working at, and only causes confusion and frustration to the players.
- Do not go over to your child at half time and give direction. This is the time for the player to be with the coach.

Strategy Changes
- There should be NO instructions from the parents.

 

 Strategy Changes
- There should be NO instructions from the parents. Right or wrong, any parental advice may causes confusion and frustration to the players.

Helping the Referee
 - Nothing needs to be said during the game to the referees.
- No matter what your feelings of the game, it would be a nice gesture to thank the referees for the time they spend running your child's game.
- Once the game is over...the game is over! Good sportsmanship is the best model for your child to follow.

Helping the Referee
-Do not call fouls, offside, handling, or yell "What was that, what are you calling, you're so biased " etc.
-The referee is trying his/her best and is not biased against anybody.
- Do not use grunts, whines or hand gestures to show disapproval.

Youth Volunteers

Region 108 has a youth volunteer program that encourages youth volunteers to participate in our Referee program. Youth volunteers are provided training and mentorship to help them build the skills and confidence they need to effectively run a game. While our expectation is that parents on the sideline will be courteous and respectful to all players and referees on the field, we ask that parents apply an even higher level of courtesy to these young volunteers. Refereeing a game for the first time is a daunting job--doing it in front of a sideline full of your elders is especially difficult.
We will enforce a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to protecting these volunteers from negative sideline commentary--offenders will be asked to leave the field.

Thank you to AYSO Region88 - Glendale, La Crescenta for sharing their sideline behaviors document.