Game Time is Parent Time

“Making Every Moment Count on the Sidelines”

Following the FUNtastic feedback to the “Sideline Wisdom” series of articles, we’re back with more ways to help parents enjoy soccer games—even when the action feels like a whirlwind. With the right approach, staying engaged and having a great time from the sidelines is easy. Let’s kick off and turn those tense moments into smiles!

👁️ Observation Assignment #1 – CHARTING

A New Way to Enjoy the Game

Ask parents to bring a marking pen and an illustration of a soccer field, preferably on a clipboard. Encourage them to zero in on their child or a standout player and follow their every move on the field.

Charting the players’ movements will give insights into whether they’re just standing around, chasing after the ball, bunching up, or starting to understand positioning and movement in the game.

Tech-Savvy Tracking:

For techy parents, plenty of soccer apps make it easy to track things like 1^st touches, passes, dribbles, and shots on goal. It’s a modern, interactive way to stay engaged and maybe make them feel like soccer analysts on the sidelines.

👁️ Observation Assignment #2 – Record Attacking Skills

Have parents focus on their child or a standout player when the team gains ball possession and starts the ATTACK. Here are some key areas to observe, record, and total:

🕹️ Controlling: Record 1^st touch successful (C1+) or unsuccessful (C1-) and where they took place.

🌀 Dribbling: Record successful (D+) and unsuccessful (D-) dribbles and where they took place.

🎯 Passing: Mark successful 1^st-touch pass (P1+), Unsuccessful (P1-)  Successful 2^nd-touch pass (P2+), Unsuccessful (P2-)                                       Note: Were the – Forward (Fp+ or -), Backward (Bp+ or -), Square (Sq+ or -) and where they took place!

🚀 Shooting: Mark the spot from where the shot was taken and the result = Goal, Keeper saved, Missed (Left, Right, or Over). Include the location from where shots were not taken.

Throw-in: Successful Forward (Ft+), Unsuccessful (Ft-), Backward (Bt+ or Bt-), Square (St+ or St-). Important: Mark where the Throw-in took place!

🧤 Goalkeeping: Record distribution by hand or foot and results (+ or -),

Note: Recording these statistics can help recognize Attacking strengths and weaknesses, which parents can address at home or with the coach in future practices.

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👁️ Observation Assignment #3 – Notes on Defense

Have parents focus on their child or a standout player when the team loses possession and shifts to DEFENSE.  Here are some key areas to observe and take notes on:

• Immediate Reaction: Does the player immediately get into a defensive stance or position?

• Chasing the Ball: Note whether the player tends to chase after the ball immediately or takes a more delayed approach.
• Tackling: Observe the player’s ability to poke or block tackle and write-down the result.

• Marking: Does the player effectively mark opponents ‘man-to-man’ or cover space?

Note: Watching these defensive actions can help parents and coaches better understand players’ reactions to playing DEFENSively!

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🎤 Post-Game Get-Together:

• A few days after the game, organize a get-together with parents, coaches, and players to discuss the game’s highlights and share charts/notes/stats and other insights in a positive, casual setting.

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😄 Promoting a Positive Experience:

• Celebrate Small Improvements: Remind parents that soccer is all about growth. Recognize small improvements, like better ball control in attack and successful poke tackling in defense—because progress is what counts.

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👨‍👩‍👧  Engaging at Home:

• Encourage parents to have their child play as many 1 vs.1 or small-sided games as possible. These games help reinforce essential skills needed for both attacking and defending!

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 📣Call to Action: Share Your Ideas!

• Dear Reader, you are vital to the soccer experience, and I’d love to hear your thoughts! How do you stay engaged during the game? Please share your favorite ways to make the game more enjoyable! Thank you.

In case you missed them, here are some of the most responded-to and popular articles on this subject:

• Sideline Wisdom – Fundamental Soccer: The article that kicked off this very successful and requested series.
• The Secrets to Game Day Success – Fundamental Soccer: Written in response to overwhelming interest from readers.
• Unlocking Game-Day Success – Fundamental Soccer: Offers insights from Coach Dave Clark to Referees and Coaches.
• Keeping Everyone in the Game – Fundamental Soccer: Assignments for substitutes to keep them actively engaged in the game.

Be sure to check these out and keep the fun going on and off the field!