Soccer - Enjoy the Journey!

Below was sent to all soccer coaches in North Carolina but was also forwarded to other known coaches in the area. I felt this was relevant enough to pass on. It is taken from a NC soccer forum.

Farewell to Youth Soccer

Over the years this forum has been a place of laughter, amusement, argument and even some learning. Ive bashed administrators, coaches, parents and referees all positions Ive held or continue to hold in the youth soccer community. I hope this post will be different and will invoke some thoughtfulness on the part of some out there whose children are perhaps just entering the youth & school soccer mechanism or even provide some perspective for those with only a season or two left.

In two weeks my sons classic soccer experience will come to an end. He has not played one minute of meaningful soccer since shattering his collar bone on August 26, 2009. So I guess you could say his club soccer experience ended last May. He plans to graduate high school early and begin college in January so there will be no U-18 season. His U-17 season and most of his junior year of high school have been lost to surgery and rehab. He bears the scars and the titanium plate that is clearly visible as it snakes along the exposed portion of his clavicle as evidence of the sacrifice he made for the game he so loves to play.

Its that very injury that has put this whole experience in perspective that was sorely missing. This is a kid that NEVER missed a game. As a young recreation player he wore the bubble wrap over the cast on his wrist so he could play. As the lone goal keeper on his club team I watched him drag himself from bed with the flu, play the full game on a cold, gray, rainy March morning, make a late save to preserve a tie and then ask to stay and watch the next game. This journey from U-5 to U-17 has been one filled with fond memories for our family.

In less than a month that ride will end and a part of my being will end with it. All the families from his club team that have become such a huge part of our lives for the past seven years will drift away and become part of the memories of a bygone time in our lives. And that saddens me.

Reflecting back on the experience I only wish I could have been that parent that could just relax and enjoy the fun of watching him play. For the parents of Goal keepers, you know theres no such thing as a relaxing game when your child is the keeper! I hope Ive always been supportive and encouraging. We have never rehashed the games unless he brought it up. Nice save on that free kick was usually the extent of our post-game break-down. Generally if the ball was in the net he knew what had happened and didnt need my analysis. He knew which goals were his fault and which were just the result of better play by the striker than he could deal with. He has a perfect demeanor for a goal keeper he can recall every great save and can allow goals scored to drift off to some short-term memory loss portion of his psyche.

Next month my family will say so long to our soccer family. If youre reading this and you have a child in competitive soccer I hope you can take away a few things from our soccer experience.

Attend every game! You never know when it might be the last. My sons first varsity season lasted less than three games. Yard work, office work, house work, any kind of work CAN WAIT! It was so painful to watch him leave the pitch with his arm in a sling. I cannot imagine not having been there when it happened.

Keep it in perspective. Its kids playing a game. Ive never held back expressing myself towards poor officiating. I hope I can do better in the future (and I ref, I should do better). The kids absolutely HATE parents that yell at refs If you ref you know this because the kids will tell you oh, thats so and sos dad, hes an idiot. Just ignore him.

Resist the urge to coach your children during the game. Its not helpful and much like the parent yelling at the ref the kids hate this parent even more. And sometimes its your kid that hates you, not just the other kids. Ive even seen a player tell her dad to Just shut up. Youre not helpful. The kids know to shoot, pass or clear it! Easier said than done. Relax and enjoy your kids playing.

Volunteer for the team, your club or your school. For me thats meant team manager and treasurer, Board member and sometime booster for his high school team. Find a niche that you can be helpful and Just Do It. A rewarding experience for your children does not happen without LOTS of parental volunteerism. Something as simple as a cooler full of water bottles on that hot day can make a world of difference. GET INVOLVED.

Thank your childs coaches. These men & women dedicate hours of service to our children. Yeah, they get paid but I dont know a one that does it for the money. They do it for the benefit of your child and a love of the game. Thank them often!

Be supportive no matter the outcome. My sons club team has never been very successful in terms of wins & losses. Well be the only boys team in the club to never attain Premier Division status. So what! The kids have been exposed to wonderful coaching and have made life-long friends. It should NEVER be about winning & losing!

Above all else ENJOY THE JOURNEY. The tedium of long rides to far away tournaments will not last but the memories of your kids playing the beautiful game will. Dont ruin that joy lamenting the games outcome. No one will remember the standings next year anyway. Watch, encourage and ENJOY.

Three days ago my son laced up his boots and pulled on his keeper gloves for the first time since he came crashing to the turf last August 26th. We went to his school stadium and on nearly the exact spot that he came crashing down in a heap we started some simple catching drills.

When some high school teammates showed up and he stepped between the pipes I have to say there was apprehension on my part. The first shot was toward the upper corner to his right top hand over and he pushes the ball over the bar. Just like hes done his whole life! Its a moment Ill cherish and one I thought Id never see again.

It all ends too soon. Ill miss it but Im thankful for the memories that youth & school soccer have provided for my family. ENJOY!