Parents

As parents, you are integral to the success of LYS. In LYS’ mission to create a positive growth experience for our kids, none of it happens without positive support and encouragement from the parents.

Parent’s Role

• Provide transportation to and from all practices and games. Respect your coach’s time: be punctual in arrival and pickup of your player.
• When possible, stay and watch practices as well as games.
• Lend players your support in a positive manner.
• Do not point out your child’s mistakes or criticize.
• Leave practice, team, and player management to the coach.
• “No Verbs” from the sidelines
• Support your child’s efforts as well as their accomplishments.
• If your player is in second grade or younger and you are unable to attend the practice or game, you must find another parent to be responsible for them.  Do not expect coaches to be responsible for your child when managing the entire team. Let your coach know if your players are going home with someone else.
• Offer to help coaches put up nets and wrangle gear.
• Read and respond to coach emails.
• Mark availability for games as asked by your coach and communicate with your coach about games your player will miss.
• Help ensure your player brings equipment to and from all soccer games and practices. Be sure to identify equipment with a pen or permanent marker.
• Be available to kick the ball around with your child.
• Treat all coaches, players, parents, referees, and other members of the LYS community with respect.
• Allow your child to be a child!  Don’t treat youth soccer like The World Cup.

PYSA Guidelines for parent conduct

From the PYSA Club Guide

• Remember that children play organized sports for their own fun.
• They are not there to entertain you; and they are not miniature professional athletes.
• Be on your best behavior. Don’t use profanities or harass player coaches or referees.
• Applaud good plays by your own team AND the opposing team.
• Show respect for your team’s opponents. Without them there would be no game.
• Never ridicule or scold a child for making a mistake during a competition or practice seshscsion.
• Condemn the use of violence in all forms.
• Respect the referee and do not criticize their decisions.
• Encourage players to always play according to the rules.
• Do not coach team players, including your own child, from the sidelines during the game.
• Communicate with your coach and create a positive, supportive working relationship.
• Avoid the use of fear and a win-at-all costs mentality – players just want to have fun.

From the PYSA Game Rules:

• All volunteers working with players must have consented to, and passed, a criminal background check.
• At least two adults must be present at all PYSA sponsored activities including team practices.
• ALL Parents from BOTH teams are to sit on one sideline (the same sideline) and ALL PLAYERS FROM BOTH teams on the other sideline.
• All chairs, etc. MUST be set back 3 to 4 feet from the sideline for player safety.
• Any player, coach or spectator who assaults a referee (touching, hitting, shoving, bumping, spitting etc.) will be suspended from PYSA activities for life.
• Any player or coach that damages the referee’s equipment (kicking the referee’s bag or breaking the flags etc.) will be suspended for a minimum of one year.
• Please note if a physical assault takes place against a referee the proper authorities may be called by the referee.
• Neither the referee nor the children should be subjected to negative comments from anyone.
• PYSA requires all soccer participants to be treated with respect.
• No parents OR Coaches are permitted behind the goal at ANY TIME.
• There is NO COACHING allowed by the person who has volunteered to be the Assistant Referee.
• Any player, coach or spectator who refuses the referee’s request for his/her name, or gives a false name, while the referee is gathering data to report an infringement shall have an additional 1 game suspension added to the penalty levied.