Anonymous wrote:Control freaks

^^ this

I wonder if all the parents watching would have wanted their own parents hovering when they were teens?

NEVER has a coach came to talk to the parents to tell us about their plans next year. NEVER!

Anonymous wrote:Often the coaches come over and talk to parents before the first tryout so you learn about them and their plans for the next year.

Control freaks

OMG DCU Academy tryouts were hysterical. Parents trying to look through the fence. Some trying to get to higher elevation to watch from there. And ODP every year is pretty funny, too. People getting their early to get prime parking so they can watch fields with binoculars. We parents are funny!

But as to original question, I watched when my kids were first trying out for U9 just because I had no idea what to expect, especially with my oldest. That tends to peter off as they get older for most of us.

I have no idea why anyone would stay and watch. ODP and DCU open tryouts did not allow parents to watch and yet there were still parents out there with binoculars.

Often the coaches come over and talk to parents before the first tryout so you learn about them and their plans for the next year.

All of the above, and I enjoy hanging out with the other parents so why not? For older kids, I can see where parents might not stay especially if they can drive.

You want to make sure the team is a good fit. If everyone isn’t very good, you would look at another team

Anonymous wrote:I enjoy watching my child play soccer.

Anonymous wrote:For all but the youngest kids, why do so many parents stay and watch?

What else should we do? Plenty of tryouts are not local so now we have to plan out this time at some random shop/restaurant instead of watching our child compete?

I enjoy watching my child play soccer.

See how my kid is playing. Looking at the level of play generally. Trying to get a feel for the coaches. Live too far to go home and come back.

ID-ing fellow competition...

For all but the youngest kids, why do so many parents stay and watch?