5, no wait, 6 things to do or be aware of on your new team

Well, you've made the big switch and your child is on a new soccer team. Now what?

If you've been following my blog, you know I have been chronicling our decision to find a new home for my DD (darling daughter, in turfmonster.com speak) here, here, here, again here... And finally here... I started this series of somewhat related articles with this article on decisions to make about leaving a team and looking for a new team. And you know we now have a new home with Sting West 94. The search is over, but the journey is just beginning.

I would like to continue this series with list of things to do and look out for once your child and you are settled in to your new team and you can be ready for the "Now what?"

Keep in mind these should apply, for the most part, to both you and your child. So here goes:

1. Be prepared for anything.
   By this I mean, you and your child should be prepared for any and all requests that come your way. Whether the request is to do extra fitness work or volunteering, be prepared.
2. No cliques
   If your child is joining a team with other players from a previous team, make sure that he or she understands that there can be no "us and them" mentality. This is especially true with girls. Make sure that the friendships are spread amongst old and new players. It's also very incumbent on the old players to make the new players feel welcome. Whatever happens, in the end it's still a team and it will live and die by being a "TEAM".
3. Be flexible and open-minded
   Your child may be a stellar forward, but the needs of the team are at midfield. Be prepared to make that change in position because different coaches see different talents in players. Oftentimes the needs of the team will outweigh the needs of the individual. Also, keep in mind that a versatile player can be more valuable than a player that is "tied" to a position.
4. Be fit
   This should go without saying, but if your looking to qualify for the top league, in our case Lake Highlands Girls Classic League, the season starts very quickly. If your not committed by now to being in shape and ready to start a season, then it may be too late to help your team.
5. Be focused
   We all want lives and soccer should only be a part of it, but during training times, soccer should be the ONLY focus. There's a time and a place for everything else. Use the practice time wisely and efficiently. As parents, it is your duty to remind your child to stay focused and in tune with the coach and team during practices. Try to keep distractions to a minimum.
6. Finally, have fun!
   If you can't have some fun, then it's probably not worth doing. Parents have a tendency to take the fun out of things and soccer parents are no different. Ask your child if they are having fun. If the answer is no, maybe it's you. Don't be too proud. I see it everyday, you probably have, too. The overbearing parent can be a detriment to the child AND the team. Don't let it be you!

Well, I hope this was insightful and you find it helpful and useful. Please feel free to comment!

As usual, GL&HF!