Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 20:47     Subject: Parents Coaching on the Sideline – What Should I Do?
Wear noise-canceling headphones
Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 20:45     Subject: Parents Coaching on the Sideline – What Should I Do?
The CR at our game last weekend stated he ejects parents from the game who coach from the sidelines.
Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 20:23     Subject: Parents Coaching on the Sideline – What Should I Do?
Anonymous wrote:First season of travel soccer for us.

SHOOT!

SAME TEAM!

HUSTLE!

MARK UP!!

does this get better at some point? it's easily half the parents, both teams, every game.


Only if the coach has a parent meeting and tells people to stop it.
Anonymous
Post 10/14/2025 18:45     Subject: Parents Coaching on the Sideline – What Should I Do?
First season of travel soccer for us.

SHOOT!

SAME TEAM!

HUSTLE!

MARK UP!!

does this get better at some point? it's easily half the parents, both teams, every game.
Anonymous
Post 03/30/2025 10:03     Subject: Parents Coaching on the Sideline – What Should I Do?
What can be worse is when parents start calling out parents ON THE OTHER TEAM, aggressively. We had to have what seemed like an intervention in one game.

Also, not good, when the COACH yells, insults players (parents were super quiet on that team). This was back in 7v7 days at a top level.
Anonymous
Post 03/30/2025 06:50     Subject: Parents Coaching on the Sideline – What Should I Do?
Anonymous wrote:Only hope I can offer is that we had a lot of Dad wanna be coaches on our team a few years back. At various points during the season, each one decided that the coach wasn't good enough for their child (which was why they were coaching from the sidelines), and then they left the club. The sidelines have been outstanding ever since. While the children of these dads were pretty good, the reduction in sideline toxicity led to a significant improvement in play over the long-term. Part of that was also new players trying out, seeing our parents aren't crazy, and then deciding to move to our club. It's interesting to see how some of the toxic dads ended up in the same clubs, which tells me something about the culture of the different clubs for our age group.


This is so true. Though in my experience, far worse on the boys’ side than girls’.
Anonymous
Post 03/30/2025 01:36     Subject: Parents Coaching on the Sideline – What Should I Do?
I've had this experience several times. My solution is to deal with it directly. I tell the parent face to face, I'm cool with you yelling at your son during the games after all he is your son you can do what you want. But when it comes to my son, don't speak to him during the games. If you continue, we will have a problem. All good? Has stopped every time after this. But you need to comfortable doing something like this and not afraid of confrontation. If you're afraid of confrontation, go the coach route.
Anonymous
Post 03/29/2025 11:26     Subject: Parents Coaching on the Sideline – What Should I Do?
Anonymous wrote:Walk up to him and say “never coach my son again.” Then walk away. He wont.
or throw your hat at him. Totally sends a message. Especially if its an ecnl hat. It has special powers
Anonymous
Post 03/28/2025 21:46     Subject: Parents Coaching on the Sideline – What Should I Do?
Walk up to him and say “never coach my son again.” Then walk away. He wont.
Anonymous
Post 03/28/2025 21:43     Subject: Parents Coaching on the Sideline – What Should I Do?
Anonymous wrote:Our team has a bunch of former ncaa player parents myself included, these parents all seem to get it and are silent as the grave during games.

Now the moms yelling shoot it from 40 yards out when there kid can barely reach the goal from the 18 are the most annoying.


This is my experience as well. Several D1 dads (not me) in our team. They have strong views on what they see, but they say absolutely nothing to the players from the sidelines. A couple other dads and several of the moms are a completely different story. Very knowledgeable from all those EPL and La Liga games they watch, and they don’t stop all game. A few years ago the coach sent the entire team across the field before the second half to tell the parents to stop coaching.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2025 22:05     Subject: Parents Coaching on the Sideline – What Should I Do?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Only hope I can offer is that we had a lot of Dad wanna be coaches on our team a few years back. At various points during the season, each one decided that the coach wasn't good enough for their child (which was why they were coaching from the sidelines), and then they left the club. The sidelines have been outstanding ever since. While the children of these dads were pretty good, the reduction in sideline toxicity led to a significant improvement in play over the long-term. Part of that was also new players trying out, seeing our parents aren't crazy, and then deciding to move to our club. It's interesting to see how some of the toxic dads ended up in the same clubs, which tells me something about the culture of the different clubs for our age group.


Great POV and I've seen the same. Funny how they all end up together eventually.


They the toxic ones also don't realize their reputation precedes them in this small dmv soccer community


Not PP but definetly self aware enough to know I'm potentially one of these parents who talks to much. This comment is always rich to me, they know who you are at these clubs, do they? Or, do they care if your kid can ball. But you know what? Offers are always there each spring if DC decides to seek them out, so if I am such a burden why would other clubs give offers? Don't see correlation just whiney lil beaches on this thread


Here we go, another toxic dad


100%
Trying to justify his toxicity
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2025 19:52     Subject: Parents Coaching on the Sideline – What Should I Do?
Anonymous wrote:It's the club/coach responsibility to keep this in check, shouldn't be up to the parents to do anything. I've only seen once where a coach/director made it a point to constantly remind the parents to cheer and not sideline coach. I think most clubs just don't care.[/quote]

I used to work at a club, the clubs do care, but parents are the customers. And you tell them over and over, but how exactly are you going to make them stop?
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2025 17:59     Subject: Re:Parents Coaching on the Sideline – What Should I Do?
Anonymous wrote:Abby Wambach said in a podcast that she handed up lollipops to parents on the sidelines of her kids' soccer games. Which I thought was a nice say to say keep your mouth busy


I love this!
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2025 17:46     Subject: Parents Coaching on the Sideline – What Should I Do?
Anonymous wrote:Let’s be real though. Coaching from the sidelines is only part of the toxicity of youth soccer. The moms who chum up to the coaches to get special advantages for their kids are also just as toxic. They just aren’t out in the open like the sideline dads.
but it works…. Right or wrong.

Me i just throw my ecnl hat at the dad. Problem solved

Cant speak for GA however but I imagine they throw a visor or something similar
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2025 17:46     Subject: Parents Coaching on the Sideline – What Should I Do?
It's the club/coach responsibility to keep this in check, shouldn't be up to the parents to do anything. I've only seen once where a coach/director made it a point to constantly remind the parents to cheer and not sideline coach. I think most clubs just don't care.