Parents, Coaches, and Spectators
The Orlando School Soccer League (OSSL) has been so much fun! We will continue to create a positive team experience for every player competing on Friday nights!
What we want to avoid are emotionally heightened situations that cause stress and anxiety for the players. Under no circumstance is it acceptable for a parent, spectator, or a coach to step on the field and celebrate a goal with their players. We want to be mindful of every player and always create a safe environment to learn and enjoy this beautiful game we all love.
Please respect the rules of the OSSL so all of us can enjoy Friday nights!
We pride ourselves on creating an environment that is conducive to players learning from mistakes and results taking a back seat to player development.
Instruction from the sideline.
We want to make sure that each one of our players is not only learning the technical side of the game but are able to increase their tactical knowledge and soccer IQ. This may be as simple as changing direction when pressured. We do ask that parents and spectators refrain from giving instruction to the players. We want to create an environment that allows players to make mistakes and learn from them. We NEVER want our players instructed when they are on the ball as that creates robotic habits as they will just wait for instructions instead of developing any creativity or decision making ability of their own.
Please try to refrain from instructing players to “Get it out of there or “Get rid of it”. This doesn’t teach any sort of decision and just highlights that the score and short term gain is more important than the long term effect of creating good habits. Instructions like “GO,GO,GO” when players are on the ball can be detrimental to the players development as we want them to think about changing direction, dribbling with their head up, looking for an option etc. These things can’t happen if they are listening to twenty people shouting at them. We as adults couldn’t sit at a desk and process information for a task with twenty people screaming at you as you do it, so how can we expect a 6,7,8 or 9 year old to be able to?
If our focus is on short term success then we will experience long term failure!
Please understand that we want all parents and spectators to cheer and support their team and to enjoy watching your player. But we want to make sure that the player is maximizing their progression within the season.
I appreciate it!
Coach Chris