Supporting Your Student Athlete

It's very important for children to feel that their parents applaud them and take an interest in their activities. Stress the positive, not the negative. Cheer for the other players on your child's team (and reward a fine play by the opposing team as well). Your child will respond to your sense of fair play and appreciate your awareness of the game. Children emulate the behavior they see in other people, especially parents. By receiving support and encouragement from their parents, they learn to be supportive of their teammates and coaches and respectful to officials and opponents.

The most important benefit to children playing soccer are that not only are they involved in an exciting sport, they are also developing confidence and self-esteem -- valuable assets that will serve them well throughout childhood and into adulthood.

The best way to help a child achieve goals and reduce the natural fear of failure is through positive reinforcement. No one likes to make a mistake. If your child does make one or two, so what -- remember, he or she is still learning. Encourage your child's efforts and point out the good things done well that day, both on and off the field. As long as children give their best, they deserve to be treated as winners.

The U.S. Olympic Committee
A Basic Guide to Soccer
Paperback $7.95
© 1995, Griffin Publishing; ISBN: 1882180356
128 pages

For information on purchasing the book from bookstores or here online, please go to the Web page for A Basic Guide to Soccer (Griffin Publishing).