All youth soccer coaches listen up.  Yes, I’m talking to you.

Let me repeat…

All youth soccer coaches, listen.

You talk to much.  I said you talk too much.

Children clearly only understand bite-size chunks of speech.  Most adults only understand brief, short and pointed pieces of information.  Therefore, what makes you think father-dad-coach, that children will comprehend your dissertation of why your child’s team just got smacked by seven goals in the last soccer game?  Why would you cuss out your youth football team for losing by five touchdowns?  Why would you have your team run laps because the home run rule cut the game short, Mr. Manager?

I was reminded of this terrible coach during a recent futsal match I coached.  The team I coached was beating our opponents by 7 goals with more than 15 minutes remaining (the entire match is 40 minutes).  My assistant coach paced up and down the sidelines for at least a minute yelling at a couple players.  I could not believe his demeanor and attitude.  This attitude was inexcusable as a coach or father.

I spoke to my assistant and asked him to calm down.

The main problem here gentlemen–our children want to be inspired.  Our children need to be inspired.  Be positive and inspire.  You are not just coaching (and representing) your own children.

At the end of the day, your child should be looking to you for inspiration and motivation, not rejection, pain and misery.

Calm down coaches!