ParentEducation

Dear Parents,
As the Grass Fields finally open in Newton and Spring Soccer gets underway I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome everyone to the new season. With record amounts of snow this Winter I trust families are looking forward to warm sunny days back on the soccer field.
The purpose of this email is to inform the NGS community of a new section to our website called Parent Education.

Parents play a vital role in youth soccer but are often the least informed stake holders. Most parents’ primary goal is to help their child enjoy his/her soccer experience and help them reach their potential. In addition to that, many parents help coach their child’s team, act as Team Manager or volunteer their time as a Board Member. Newton Girls Soccer recognizes the important contribution made by parents in youth soccer and appreciates the challenges facing parents in their quest for guidance on how to help their child reach her potential in life, how to be supportive, and how to help their club in its mission to develop players.

The Parent Education webpage includes some great articles and videos full of helpful hints and tips in how we can create the best possible environment for our kids to play soccer and have FUN in. We invite you to use the resources provided in this section and to learn how NGS encourages parents to be involved with their child’s soccer development.  Together, we can make your child’s experience the best possible!

To get you started I’ve included two excellent videos below for both coaches and parents to watch. I strongly ENCOURAGE you take the time to watch both videos and also read through the attached articles. Both videos were part of presentations at the NSCAA Coaches Convention in Philadelphia which I attended in January.

Changing the Game in Youth Sports

Key Points from Changing The Game in Youth Sports Video:
  • The single greatest effect on performance is an athlete’s state of mind
  • Youth sports used to be about children competing against other children; now it is often adults competing against other adults through their children
  • Children play sports because it is fun; winning comes in way down the list
  • Children quit sports when they don’t get to play, and when winning becomes more important than enjoyment
  • 90% of children would rather play on a losing team than sit the bench on a winning team
  • Competition is important, but being competitive comes from putting the needs and priorities of our children first
  • We can all start changing youth sports for the better by learning five simple words (watch to learn what they are)
Interactive Parent Education Video  (www.my.brainshark.com/UK-ELITE-Parent-ed-778711933)
Finally ahead of the new season I really encourage parents to adopt a simple statement that US Youth Soccer is heavily promoting this year. After every game the only words you need to tell yours kids are “I LOVE WATCHING YOU PLAY!!”

See you on the soccer field this Spring.

Best Regards

Shaun McBrien
Director of Coaching