| A message from the League Manager – Benjamin Ziemer - about Sportsmanship: |
| Tuesday, 17 June 2008 | |
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In the Euro Championship game Holland vs. Italy, played today, the Dutch team’s first goal was offside. A top referee made a mistake in the Euro championship – surely we can expect the same in youth soccer. Last year, when visiting Italy we watched a youth game between two rival professional clubs. The game had one center referee – with two linesman, one from each club. They did not call offside, it was up to the center referee. He made errors - two of them which resulted in goals. After the match, we interviewed the coach from Padova’s U15 boys team and asked if he minded losing on two goals - which should have been disallowed. He said he wins some games due to the referee and loses some games due to the referee - so it evens out. His primary focus was on the team, their effort, the level of their play and how well they focused on his game plan! Remember this is at the professional youth level - the stakes are high - a spot in the Italian Nationals! We must teach our coaches, players and parents that we want to win games - they are important. But, we also want to teach the players how to behave – when winning, when losing, when under pressure, when wronged, or when lucky and unlucky. The parents and coaches have a responsibility to cheer their players on but, to remain under control, and to keep things in perspective. They need to sit back and relax! Coaches must see the game as a learning time. They must encourage their team to try to play a style of soccer which will allow their players to develop – possession soccer if possible. They must recognize the most important quality is the effort of their players and how well they play - not the result. Especially in youth soccer, the result should never be the first consideration - the development of the player(s) must be the primary focus! Of course, the referee’s, like all areas of our game, must be improved, but in the meantime players, coaches and parents must behave properly and strongly encouraged to do so regardless of the events on the field. NorCal is building this Sportsmanship section that will break down every important issue for you, players coaches, managers and parents. Thank you, Benjamin Ziemer, NorCal League Manager for the Board of Directors |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 June 2008 ) |
