well stated.!

let the flaming begin.

Can't argue with any of that. No flames. Thank you.

Well said.

Yes!!! Couldn't agree more!! :)

Wow, a well thought post that actually gives some very good advise and insight. Thank you for sharing.

Wow, a well thought out post that actually gives some very good advice and insight. Thank you for sharing.

Run for Senate, They desperately need people who know what they are talking about.Great post.

1) Don't blink. it will be over before you know it
UNLESS YOU LIVE TO BE 100

2) don't stress about winning a u-9 6v6 game, it doesn't matter just appreciate it.
EVERYTHING MATTERS. WHAT KIND OF BS IS THIS?

3) the grass is rarely greener, stay where you are and build that team unless it is destroying your kids will to play a game they love
THAT'S A LIE. GRASS IS DEFINITELY GREENER

4) be careful about adding a "superstar" from another club. more often than not, they are joining you because their old team was sick of them. they will destroy your team.
IN OTHER WORDS, THAT SUPERSTAR IS TAKING PLAYING TIME AWAY FROM YOUR KID..

5) Coaches want the best for the kids for the most part. They are not all equal, but they most of the times, not the reason you win or lose..OUR COACH RELIES ON SOCCER MONEY. THAT'S WHY HE HAS 4 TEAMS

6) Appreciate a good team manager. It's the worst job in the world and unless you have done it, you have no idea how much work is involved.
THEY'RE NOT FORCED INTO TAKING THE JOB

7)Understand every ref stinks. They are human and make mistakes. A lot of mistakes!!!
MOST PLAYERS STINK. THEY ARE KIDS AND ALL MAKE A LOT OF MISTAKES

8)If you can come to grips with the fact that your kid is 99.9% not going to be a pro, your priorities will be in order. THERE IS ALSO A 99.9% CHANCE THAT HE WILL NOT BE A DOCTOR, ATTORNEY OR RICH LIKE TRUMP
9) Don't let soccer take away from academics. There is way more money available for good students, than good soccer players. THAT BE TRUE UNLESS YOUR DUMB BUT A HELL OF A SOCCER PLAYER
10) Love your kids and let them enjoy the game. They only have one childhood don't ruin it. IT'S TOO LATE

Excellent. Your point #8 is very true and I would say the chance of going pro - in a meaningful way, in a league or level in which it is worth the sacrifice of academics - is close to zero. Anyone who can should play a high level tournament in Europe. It will give you perspective on this point #8 and you will realize how true it is. your kid is nowhere close to big time international soccer. I don't care what he did in state cup.

There are many misguided parents out there. Mostly from parents that come from other countries and do not understand how things work here. By the time they get it, it may be too late.

Which leads into #9. without the grades, it all means nothing. You have many parents whether they realize it or not sacrificing grades for soccer, settling for a "B" because the kid plays soccer instead of demanding something better. academics is just as competitive as soccer. little messi getting a "B" from your corner high school will not cut it anywhere. You will not get into good public Florida colleges (UF) with a high school B average. Your kid needs a B plus or better from a competitive, demanding high school and solid SATs.

I will add points #11 and 12:

11) If your child is not playing meaningful minutes on a very strong team, then move them to a weaker team and let them develop. No player got better simply by training, and watching their teammates play games. That is a lie told to you by DOC's and coaches trying to pad their own wallets by taking additional bench warmers who they have no intention of playing.

12) The game is the best teacher

Adding #13:

13) Get your child in position to play High School soccer if they want to. See #8 above. The friendships with teammates and fun memories of H.S. ball far outweigh some B.S. argument that H.S. ball will detract from the child's soccer future.

USSDA does not think so...

jeeeez.

This thread is quickly deteriorating into stupidity. What made the OP brilliant was the "common sense" points. Now people are just adding points that actually make the OP's points that much more important.

The OP wasn't based on opinion so much. But rather logical suggestions based on experience.

Points 11 - 13 are just garbage opinions (right or wrong; it doesn't matter).

I disagree. You are taking a common phrase and using its literal translation to make a point that isn't accurate or intended. It is almost universally accepted that you develop far more in well planned training situations than in a game. From the amount of touches to being able to experiment without the burden of losing the game.

Practice is where you learn new skills, build on them, practice them to become proficient and gain confidence in your ability to execute these skills. Game situations are the last stage where you attempt to implement new skills mastered in practice into game situations. No one goes into a game and decides to try something brand new (and makes himself look like a fool).

Typical American parent who thinks games are important. You can learn more in small sided matches in a practice (with or without restrictions) than during an actual game.

And this isn't just true for soccer. It is true for basketball, football, baseball, Lacrosse.