Just curious how many on here watch all your kids practices? If so why i.e. makes no sense to drive all the way back home, your kid likes you watching, you like watching etc.....
Yeah, I like to stay and watch. It's too far to drive back, my son likes it and I like to get ideas for my own sessions. It's brilliant to watch my son as a parent and not as a coach.
I typically watch but i dont think my daughter wants me to anymore (she's U11). I enjoy it but i think i may have to find something to do for 1.5 hours.
It's too far to drive back for me. More often than not I take a walk or sit in the car and do work. I usually go out for the last 15 minutes or so to catch them scrimmaging.
I'll watch the last half hour usually, but try to keep my distance. Coach doesn't need parents all up in his business, but some post up right on the sideline for the whole practice every time. I don't want my being there to interfere with him correcting my son if needed.
I tended to hang around more when he was younger. Enjoyed it less when he was older and then he started driving himself so I quit altogether. When he was young we got a new dog (who's now a lazy old dog) and generally I'd take the dog and walk him around the fields. This being Northern Virginia, a lot of the practice fields were surrounded by wooded areas with pathways so that's what I would do. I did often watch the last half hour, which was usually a scrimmage of some kind.
I have always stayed for both my kids because the drive was 30-55 minutes one way. I started jogging and even biking last season but have not picked that up again this season - even though my fatass should!
I live 10 minutes away. I think I've missed one practice in three years. I love watching all my kids doing their thing. To see your kids growing up into young adults before your eyes is the best experience thus far in parenting. And this kid, I don't know what it is, but he's got it!
sort of related... Coaches really put on a great show for a half a dozen parents yesterday, whos kids were trying out. Man, if only we could get that more! Same coach that hasn't seem interested much in the last month or so until DA shows up...
I agree. I loved watching - see my kid grow up until last season when it became just painful to watch her frustration - which is when I started running.
Thats typical... But the experience there is so more organized then most of the mom and pop clubs where those new recruits are coming from. I'm interested in seeing how it goes by us. We've been letting field rest so hopefully we can get on those this weekend!
As someone who coached for 15+ years, don’t watch practice. Your kid doesn’t want you there. Find something to do for 90 minutes.
At very young ages, it seemed OK -- I mentioned in another thread that parents watching could and would be drafted to help when I coaches rec kids. But yeah, mine hasn't wanted me watching his practices for a long time.
I agree with rec and having them help out. For travel it usually leads to other kids asking them why their parent is watching and the kid being embarrassed
I cringe when I see the same parents leaning over the railing or hovering by the indoor field poking their head through the doorway watching the practice intently. Jesus, they're literally almost on the field. Typically, at least from what I've seen, it's the same parents that will stand on the sidelines right by where their kid is playing and give them coaching advice during the games.
Why do coaches care? If the parents is sitting there reading a book, on their phone and not interfering then I'd say the coach may be a bit paranoid. At my kids practices many parents were/are around – we would chat – often about nothing to do with soccer at all. What’s the problem with that? Also – I want to watch my kid because I enjoy that – why is that a bad thing? Should I stop coming to games to? LOL I actually know coaches who want parents to stay away from BOTH! I’ve had two kids go through soccer and neither one told me they were embarrassed . They did not look to me for approval on the field – when they did something right or wrong. They just did their thing.
Well said. I enjoyed watching practices when they were younger because *I* was learning (and continue to do so) about the sport. I like to see how the coaches conduct practice. Are they organized? Do they yell & scream? Do they hold kids accountable? Now it depends on what else I have to do and what else is in the area. DD practices at a local park with a 1-1/2 mile walking trail. So I can go around that a couple times. DS however practices at a HS. I'll go sit at a restaurant and watch netflix. I'll usually show up to watch at least the last 15-30 minutes.
I used to stay (mostly out of necessity; the drive time just wasn't worth coming and going)…would watch a little, but it was mostly to drink a beer or two and/or bitch and moan with a couple close soccer dads…actually, my son hated it if I watched too close…his team is he’s thing; I’ve always tried to give him his space… Son finally got his driver’s license….no more practices for me…and I can’t say I really miss it…
Yeah, last couple of seasons anyway; got close with a couple other dads…someone was always had a 6-pack…we stayed in the parking lot and were discreet about it…