Why do parents on the sideline yell inane drivel to the players?

[Anonymous]

I've been trained over the years with my older child to clap politely (even for the other team sometimes!) and cheer only.

But, with my little one, he's playing right defense and is in the left corner next to the other team's goal and I just can't help mentioning this to him. Sometimes he hears and does something about it!

[Anonymous]

More stupid DC urban posts. Who cares?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the deal with those soccer parents who are yelling non-stop "encouragements" from the sidelines. The kids (a) can't hear them and (b) wouldn't care if they could hear them - which they mostly can't.

Half the stuff they say is just bizarre too, like another language. Why not just sit quietly and clap or cheer on occasion when it's warranted?

This does not happen in any other sport. I find those parents who just yap at the field non-stop so off-putting.

There is not a single sport that kids play where parents do not yell at the kids -- at all ages. I went to a big high school in the 1980s and there were a thousand people at the football games and you could hear parents yelling to their kids.

That is what happens in sports. Same thing happens at pro sports including pro soccer both here and in Europe. No one at a sporting match sits quietly and cheers and claps on occasion.

Professional tennis and golf dislike this post.

Tennis more than other sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While this does occur in all youth sports, I think it's especially bad with soccer because so many parents do not understand the game the way they do sports like baseball and basketball.

They get excited when something "big" happens like when someone just boots it down the field. Or when anyone gets knocked to the ground "hey!" it must be a foul. They have no idea that just booting it to the other team is bad, and contact is part of soccer not everything is a foul.

Imagine how silly you'd look watching baseball and cheering for a big popup to the infield that everyone knows will be an out. Or yelling shoot it in basketball every time a kid touches the ball at half court.

Yes on baseball but they do in basketball -- like every game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the deal with those soccer parents who are yelling non-stop "encouragements" from the sidelines. The kids (a) can't hear them and (b) wouldn't care if they could hear them - which they mostly can't.

Half the stuff they say is just bizarre too, like another language. Why not just sit quietly and clap or cheer on occasion when it's warranted?

This does not happen in any other sport. I find those parents who just yap at the field non-stop so off-putting.

There is not a single sport that kids play where parents do not yell at the kids -- at all ages. I went to a big high school in the 1980s and there were a thousand people at the football games and you could hear parents yelling to their kids.

That is what happens in sports. Same thing happens at pro sports including pro soccer both here and in Europe. No one at a sporting match sits quietly and cheers and claps on occasion.

Professional tennis and golf dislike this post.

Same with equestrian. Actually in dressage you can be eliminated if someone outside “coaches” you.

[Anonymous]

Because empty barrels make the most noise.

Also, of you think your kid needs to get instructions every 10 seconds, then you're saying your kid has low IQ and can't make good decisions and will never learn how to make good decisions.

[Anonymous]

Positive cheering is fine. I know some people get annoyed but + cheering is and should be okay. Not to say that I am not irritated by it some times. People can cheer for their kids.

The negative or snarky stuff irritates me. My 3 DCs play high level HS/club level for 4 different sports. It happens everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Ugh, it’s bad enough I have to sit there for almost two hours on a cold hard bleacher, now I can’t even yell anything like “Run! “You got it!” “good try!” Or “nice shot!” It’s maddenly boring — I’m just trying to keep my head in the game. Even at the opera you’re allowed to yell a little!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My faves:
Random "hot route" calls
"Git er done"
B-E A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E!

you forgot "wheels!"

“shoot!” being yelled to the 9YO who just got ball by their OWN goal

[Anonymous]

I don't love it either, but. It's a free country. Who cares. Stop trying to police everyone's behavior. Put on earmuffs. First World Worries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because watching soccer is intense and its natural to want to cheer. I disagree that kids dont hear or care. They recognize friendly voices. At my kids team sometimes we just start "lets go team!" Chant, and the boys love it.

Otherwise I will yell "nice pass", "good hustle" "keep fighting" "awesome job" "keep it up" etc to refrain from giving instructions (which i agree is utterly useless at best and confusing at worst) and I will never say anything critical about my kid or others.

A person complaining about positive cheering is just odd. Why even bother going? How strange and creepy it would be to sit quietly.

If you ever have a coach suggest a Silent Saturday- try it. You may not like it for always, but was fun to hear kids talk to each other and see how they play without sideline parent coaching.

[Anonymous]

Every club coach we've had has told the parents to only cheer generally, no specific instructions that could confuse the kids or conflict with their coaching. Parents are also told not to yell at refs. All our parents follow these instructions. It makes me wonder if opponents with psycho parents aren't told to stfu by their coach.

[Anonymous]

Cheering is part of the fun to a point, but the micromanaging "coaching" from the stands -- usually there's that one especially loud a**hole --- is pretty unhelpful. Just a distraction for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Cheering is normal, to be expected, and part of the game. Shouting incessant directions, yelling at kids (any age), and putting down opponents (other kids), is not ok, and what I see every weekend on the sidelines. Seriously, the kids need to learn to make their own decisions on the field and listen to their coach, not their parent. Wish these a$$holes could see a video of themselves

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because watching soccer is intense and its natural to want to cheer. I disagree that kids dont hear or care. They recognize friendly voices. At my kids team sometimes we just start "lets go team!" Chant, and the boys love it.

Otherwise I will yell "nice pass", "good hustle" "keep fighting" "awesome job" "keep it up" etc to refrain from giving instructions (which i agree is utterly useless at best and confusing at worst) and I will never say anything critical about my kid or others.

A person complaining about positive cheering is just odd. Why even bother going? How strange and creepy it would be to sit quietly.

If you ever have a coach suggest a Silent Saturday- try it. You may not like it for always, but was fun to hear kids talk to each other and see how they play without sideline parent coaching.

I love this!