Then when the coach told all of us that he was quitting he asked for someone to take over and the rest of the parents that were there for that “meeting” (after practice random announcement) all had NO CLUE about soccer…like didn’t even know the rules!

Ok, so I played soccer in high school, haven’t touched a ball in YEARS but I want this to be a good experience because it’s their (my sons’) first time ever playing. So I volunteered. Subsequent seasons lead me to have my younger son play “up” (older age group) so I could coach them both for fairness purposes, and has lead me to really have to figure out some boundaries. I mean, when I’m coaching and one of my sons is hurt and wants “mommy” I have to be “coach” to 8 other boys. How do I balance that?

After my second season of coaching, other boys parents started requesting me as their sons coach. Then I found out I was pregnant with my 3rd son. So I had to tell the kids at their soccer banquet last fall that I couldn’t coach them anymore because all spring (first season of two this year) that I would be hugely pregnant and therefore unable to RUN!) and nobody looked like they even cared. :-(

Of course I had parents “watching me” but I also felt kind of judged in a negative way like I wasn’t doing a good job. Well, it turned out that the next season, one of the parents who was at that meeting still plays competitive soccer and he volunteered to coach! And he was willing to coach both my kids on the same team! (allowing my younger son to “play up” is at the discretion of the coach) so the kids I was coaching were still mostly together and the parents that I felt were judging me were now sitting on the sidelines with me and we watched. We did talk about things and I kind of realized some things I COULD do better as a coach!

Well, I wanted to coach this fall season but I was laid off, a full time student and juggling a 3 month old baby along with everything else. I signed the kids up and hoped for the best. Well, the same parent signed up to coach and agreed to take all the same kids. He asked for a “team mother” and I signed up for that job (armed with my new knowlegde of course!) and it was the best soccer season so far! I helped coach when he needed it, I gave him constructive feedback, I found the trophies for the team and planned the end of season party and EVERY single parent was very, very, VERY!!!! satisfied! I did good!

It was such a different feeling from the first season when I coached to now….I guess you just got me to thinking…sorry this was SO LONG! Sometimes my brain spirals off into…..other things…..just a bit…..

hmmmmm…

Good post!!

Seriously though, these people (the coaching staff/administration) need to get their stories straight. Is it a blanket policy? Why is the one mom allowed in then (and yes, letting a mom of a 5-6yr old watch seems only proper) but no one else? Ugh.

I’ve never been a fan of “blanket” policies (the fact that they let the mom of the 5-6yr old watch contradicts their claim that is is a blanket policy, actually) – punishing everyone because of 1 or 2 idiots. “But if we let YOU stay, we have to let EVERYONE stay!” is the lamest excuse. I know, why not grow a pair, coaching staff, and deal with the disruptive parents one-on-one? Then everyone else can go back to normalcy.

I say that next time you see the Nervous Nellie, you quickly stop talking, as if he “caught you” talking about him, wave nervously, and repeatedly glance at him surreptitiously and speak in stage whispers. He’ll be a wreck in under 15 minutes :)

Seriously, though, I like Leandra’s idea.

Or maybe point out that banning parents from observing opens them up to molestation accusations. But I’m bitchy that way.

My kids start gymnastics next week and parents aren’t allowed in the room because the kids show off instead of paying attention, but parents can’t leave the premises (I don’t think) in case their child needs to go pee. Still, I can’t wait for my 45 minutes stuck in the hall with my book! Wheee!! I have twin 3 year olds.

Usually, though, I just sit there and knit.

well, when he does the full-body blush, you’ll know who the coach is thinking of, won’t you?