The Top Dangers of Sideline Coaching

Sourced from http://www.kidssportspsychology.com/

Too often well-meaning parents live through their children and expect their kids to take on their own dreams and goals. As a youth soccer coach in Portland, Ore., Sue Mak confesses that she found herself too emotionally involved at times in her son's athletic experience. She often yelled if her son was in danger or if referees failed to watch for fouls, she says.

"If someone would jump on my son, I would say, 'Open your eyes. You almost killed my kid.' If I saw a kid fouling another player, I would yell, 'Ref, watch what's going on!' "

When Mak's son, Justin, was about 12, he told her that she embarrassed him when she challenged referees' calls.

"I realized I was overzealous, so I tried to tone it down. I tried to back off," she says. "I tried to find a way to still be involved in the game but to be a real positive part of the excitement," Mak says.

Parents, like Mak, must learn to strike a delicate balance between being overly involved in their kids's sports activities and not showing enough interest in their athletics.

Coaching From the Sidelines: A Common Parental Error

Too often, well-meaning parents live through their children and expect their kids to take on their own dreams and goals. They evaluate their child's success or failure based on his or her performance--not his or her happiness. They are overly critical. And, like Mak, coach too much from the sidelines.

Says Lauren, a 12-year-old who plays soccer, Lacrosse, basketball and tennis in Portland, "The major problem affecting my confidence is my parents. Dad's cheering embarrasses me. Just before I shoot in soccer, he yells, 'Pull the trigger!" It's so awful."

Rather than expressing enthusiasm by coaching from the sidelines and criticizing, parents need to take a step back. Try to understand why your child takes part in sports. Does he or she play to be with friends? Does your child play because she loves to be part of a team? Or does she enjoy competition?

Once you understand your child's motivations, try to support his or her interests. Ensure he or she has the opportunity to spend time with teammates, to feel like part of a team, and to have fun.

Being supportive also means letting children lead.

Kids who excel in sports are those who are passionate about it. And their drive comes from within--not from their parents. They'll beg you to bat balls in your front yard with them, to rebound while they shoot baskets and to kick a ball in the neighborhood park. You don't ever have to nudge these kids into practicing.

You'll also help your children enjoy sports by telling them they're doing a great job--whether they win or lose. Keep the focus off performance. Concentrate on fun, enjoyment, laughs!

It's also important to attend kids' games, whenever possible. Cheer them on without pressuring them. Try to be supportive of coaches, referees and umpires. It's important to set a good example--even if you don't always agree with the coach, referee or umpire.

As Mak says, "Good sports parents realize this sport is a tool to teach your child about life."

Coaching From The Sidelines: Striking A Balance

As a rookie soccer coach 20 years ago, Mak struggled to find a balance in how she gave feedback to her team. After experimenting with a number of styles, she discovered that children benefit most if they receive mainly positive feedback. Her job, she decided, was to be a master cheerleader.

If you, too, learn how to be a master cheerleader, your children will experience many benefits. They'll have more fun, learn important life lessons, and likely stay involved in sports for a long time. Remember, 75 percent of kids drop out of sports by the time they are 13. That's because they're no longer having fun!

Men's Premier League Finals Games Being Played This Week

A number of the Mens PL grade(s) preliminary finals games had to be postponed and rescheduled due to weather. Keep checking the Capital Football website for any changes.

Monday 6 September
Pathway League Woden Valley v. Belconnen now at Hawker FC Monday 6 Sept. kick off 8pm

Tuesday, 7 September
PL16 Canberra FC v. Canberra Olympic now at Hawker FC Tuesday 7 Sept. kick off 6pm
PL18 Woden Valley v. Tuggeranong now at Hawker FC Tuesday 7 Sept. kick off 8pm

ACT Girls win Bronze, Boys hold Ranking at School Sport Australia Under 12 Football Championship

Report by NPL roving reporter Simon Kravis

The ACT girls team won the Bronze medal in the School Sport Australia Under 12 Football Championship held at Nelson Bay, NSW last week, equalling the achievement of the ACT girls in the 2007 Championship and improving on the 4th placing achieved by the ACT girls in 2008 and 2009. Boys and girls teams from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory also competed, with New South Wales winning gold and Queensland silver in the Girls competition in a tight contest.


The ACT girls, coached by Tom Crossley, improved greatly over the week after bruising losses to New South Wales and Queensland on the first day, and went on to beat South Australia, Victoria and Northern Territory in the preliminary stage. In the round-robin stage they drew with New South Wales but lost again to Queensland. Maddie Shevlin scored four goals, with one goal each from Ruth Kravis, Georgia Fogarty, Mykala van Deyk, Eddie Nelson, and Samantha Roff.

Although they dominated most of their games with excellent defensive and midfield work the ACT boys team seldom managed to turn their chances into goals and were placed 5th, ahead of Northern Territory, in the same position as last year. With better finishing, they would have broken the dominance of New South Wales and Queensland in the boys competition, and with the 2011 competition to be held in Canberra, next year’s team may have a good opportunity to do this.

Football-Connect Disability Football Open Days

Capital Football website advises the following fantastic initiative, with the cooperation of three outstanding ACT Clubs - Western Creek, Belnorth and Belconnen United. There is no fee for these activities - well done! This is a first rate piece of community leadership through our game. Parents, get your children to these football activities - we need you in the game. More Clubs step up to the plate please.

Belconnen United/ Belnorth Football Club and Weston Creek Soccer Club in partnership with Capital Football-Football Connect and the ACT Government are helping to develop community club based football programs for children with disabilities.

Weston Creek and Belconnen/Belnorth will be holding disability Open Days in September and October for athletes with disabilities, parents, guardians, carers and families to come along and participate in organised football sessions, meet club members and officials a have great time participating in and watching small sided football games.

Following the Open Days participants will have an opportunity to sign up for the Capital Football disability development programs(Football Connect) in October/November and eventually sign up for a club in preparation for the inaugural Athletes With Disabilities (AWD) junior league set to commence in May 2011.

Belnorth/Belconnen Football Club Open Day


Sunday September 19, 2010
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, McKellar Park, Walkley Place, McKellar, ACT, 2617
Ages: 6-18
Cost: Free

Weston Creek Soccer Club Open Day


Sunday October 10, 2010
10:00AM to 12:00PM, Waramanga Playing Fields, Badimara Street, Waramanga 2611
Ages: 6-18
Cost: Free

Womens Premier League Fixtures 2010 - Round 21

Round 21

Sunday 5 Sep 10

2:00PM Belwest Foxes v Weston Creek Kaleen Enclosed 1
2:00PM ANU WFC v Belconnen Utd ANU Willows 1
2:00PM Brindabella Blues v Tuggeranong Utd WFC Calwell 2.3
2:00PM Woden Valley v Canberra FC Woden Park Enclosed

Mens Premier League Semi Final Fixtures 2010

Mens Premier League Semi Final Fixtures 2010 - All PL Grades

Premier League:

Sunday 5th September 2010

Canberra FC v Belconnen United
Deakin Stadium, kick off 16:00

Cooma Tigers v Canberra City
McKellar Park, kick off 16:00

Premier Pathway League:


Sunday 5th September 2010

Belconnen United v Woden Valley (Deakin Stadium, 14:00)
ANU FC v Tuggeranong United (McKellar Park, 14:00)

Premier League under-18:

Sunday 5th September 2010


Woden Valley v Tuggeranong United (Deakin Stadium, 12:00)
Canberra FC v Cooma Tigers (McKellar Park, 12:00)

Premier League under-16:

Sunday 5th September 2010
Canberra FC v Canberra Olympic (Deakin Stadium, 10:00)
Woden Valley v Belconnen United (McKellar Park, 10:00)

The Ron Smith Interviews - Part 3

This program was broadcast on Tuesday 31 August 2010, on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) across the Australian Community Radio Network.

Tonight's program is the third of our interview series with Football Analyst, Elite Coach, former Head of the AIS Football program (10 years), mentor to many of our finest players, specialist technical / analytical advisor to the Socceroos and football national treasure, Ron Smith.

Ron has been engaged to review the Capital Football High Performance Program.

In this fascinating interview, the third in this series, Ron speaks to some subjects that are sure to arouse your interest and are all connected to the notion of a high performance program - age relative effect, does Futsal have a place in football development, what do you do in Summer with the HPP (run competitions or a high performance program to develop players) and Coach education (something important to Ron). Ron speaks of the need to "create the learning environment" and when coaching, asks himself this question " Is the player seeing what I am seeing?" and how to ensure you get the learning across to the player.

As ever, you could just keep listening to Ron talk on Football! A remarkable fellow!

Download Podcast here: