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Dear Parents:
The coaches are excited
and pleased to have your children on our team. We will try our best
to do all the right things for the team and your child. We will teach them good sportsmanship, how to work together
as a team, how to improve their soccer skills through practice, hard
work, and hustle, and most of all, have FUN.
We will try the best we
can to give all players as much playing time as possible.
The exceptions to this rule are if players are consistently late or exhibit inappropriate behavior. Our philosophy is to try
to expose players to as many positions as their ability allows as
well as their physical safety.
Oceana
will provide your child with a team jersey (which must be returned at season’s end),
black soccer shorts and black team socks. Please see below for additional equipment requirements.
All the
coaches are volunteers who are willing to devote a lot of time and effort to work with
your child. We are licensed by the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association (MAYSA) (www.mayouthsoccer.org).
You can help us in the following
way:
For All Practices
Please be on time, players
dressed appropriately, with plenty to drink. No jewelry of
any kind is allowed. Please try to let us know if your player will be absent.
For All Games
Again, please be on time
and call your coach if your child will be absent. Players should
arrive a minimum of 30 minutes before game time for warm-ups.
Required equipment:
team jersey, black soccer shorts, black socks, shin guards, soccer
cleats, and water bottle. No jewelry of any kind is allowed.
During The Game
Parents and friends must
remain on the side of the field opposite the teams. Please
do not stand behind the goals or allow siblings to do so.
Encourage
your players in every possible way. Please do not coach from the
sidelines-it is very distracting to the players.
All cheering
and fan support should be in the form of positive encouragement. We ask that
parents and fans refrain from negative criticism, especially of the referees (please read the “Zero
Tolerance Policy” for coaches and parents), who after all, are only trying to do the very
best job they can. Coaches are responsible for parent’s behavior at games. If the referee
complains to the coach, the offending parent will have to leave the field or the team will forfeit
the game.
We ask
that you support the MAYSA methods of teaching and coaching even if you disagree. We
welcome any discussion of our philosophy. However, for consistency, we want all the players working
with us together.
Please
keep abreast of team news, announcements, and the upcoming schedule at our web site.
We will always phone you personally with any last minute scheduling changes.
We welcome
and encourage your input. Feel free to contact any one of us either personally, by
phone or email. We will try to address your concerns as best we can.
Thank
you for the opportunity to coach your children! It is a priviledge.
Your Oceana Coaches
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10 Commandments for Parents of Athletes
1) Thou shalt not impose your ambitions on your child. Remember that the sport is for your child's own enjoyment and education.
Do not emphasize winning over teamwork. Do not judge your child's progress based on the performance of others, but rather
how he is improving in relation to his previous ability.
2) Thou shalt be supportive, no matter what. If you want your child to continue in a sport over the long run, she must have
fun. If she doesn't enjoy the sport, it will never work out.
3) Thou shalt not coach your child from the stands. You have taken your child to a trained and certified coach. If you can
do a better job get out of the stands and in the trenches. Otherwise, do not give conflicting messages that will only confuse
the athlete.
4) Thou shalt say only positive things at games. Be supportive, cheer and applaud. Never criticize your child, other children,
officials or coaches. This is your big chance to set a good example for behavior you expect from your child.
5) Thou shalt acknowledge your children's fears. What might be very entertaining for you can be very stressful for your athlete.
Don't belittle that fear or your child. Quiet support will go a long way.
6) Thou shalt not criticize the officials. If you yell at or abuse an official, don't be surprised when your child models
your behavior and acts out against other authority figures in his life. He learned it from you.
7) Honor thy child's coach. If you have a legitimate complaint, approach the coach in private and be reasonable. It will be
much easier for both of you and not send conflicting messages to the athlete. All of us accept criticism much better without
a crowd.
8) Thou shalt set more important goals than winning. You can win many games with poor effort and attitude, depending on your
opponents. Remove outsiders from the equation of success and concentrate on team work, personal growth and mental maturity
.If you set success based on the weaknesses or strengths of your opponent, you will never push yourself to the limit.
9) Thou shalt place your child first. Ask yourself if you are trying to live your life through the successes of your child.
If her success means more to you than it does to the athlete, you are in serious risk of pushing your child too hard. If you
want to be that driven, go out and play a sport yourself (you are never too old!).
10) Thou shalt not expect your child to become a star. Every parent dreams of their own child becoming a major league player.
It is more realistic to use sports to teach your child work ethics, teamwork, and the value of not giving up when you are
down.
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As an Oceana Parent I will:
(1) be encouraging, supportive, & affirmative in regard to my child's play on the field
(2) respect officials & accept their decisions (See Zero Tolerance Page)
(3) support the coach, manager, the team, & the club
(4) volunteer my services & talents to the club when possible
(5) familiarize myself with the Laws of the Game
(6) comply with rules, policies, & procedures of the team & Club as they apply to me
(7) discuss my child
*only with the coach
*not with the manager or any other person
*only at a time mutually agreed upon with the coach
*never prior to, during, or directly after a game
Further, I will never :
(1) engage in dissent directed toward an official
(2) engage in any kind or type of unsportsmanlike conduct with any official, coach, player, or parent
(3) interfere at any time with the duties and responsibilities of the coach or manager
(4) act in any manner which is detrimental to the team or the Oceana Club
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