Improving Your Skills As A Spectator

At almost any game, you are bound to hear some parents yelling loudly from the sidelines, their voices carrying over the others. You’ll see parents screaming at the ref, shouting out instructions to their children (such as “run faster” or “down the left side”), hollering, gesturing, and jumping out of their seats. You’ll also, no doubt, experience parents berating their children from the sidelines (“Focus, Sam!”) or being ecstatic depending on the play of the moment, and in general, modeling inappropriate and immature behavior. Also, in the anonymity of a crowd, you’ll often hear parents screaming things that they might otherwise never say. Many team coaches have resorted to insisting that parents sit sequestered on the opposite side of the playing field from the kids.

Given the tremendous amount of anxiety and ambition parents bring to the table when it comes to their child’s activities, it’s not surprising that parents are losing their cool on the sidelines at youth sporting events. In many areas of America, this behavior has gotten out of hand. Take, for instance, an argument between two fathers after a youth hockey practice in Massachusetts that cost one of them his life. In Florida, a furious parent shot a referee at a child’s soccer match. In California, a baseball coach for 8-year-olds went into the stands wielding an aluminum bat to silence a hostile crowd during a game.

Theoretically, it all sounds perfectly easy to stay calm and positive, until one kid on the opposing team elbows your 6-year-old in the ribs for the third time during a soccer game. It’s hard not to lose yourself in the tension of your child’s competition.

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AA County Coaches Certification Clinic

Coaches are entrusted with the important responsibility of providing an enjoyable healthy youth sports experience.  They are challenged to nurture children in learning many of life's lessons - teamwork, respect for authority, winning and losing graciously, self-confidence  and discipline, and more. To help meet this important undertaking, we offer Coaches Certification Clinics four (4) times each year.  All Youth Head Coaches in County-sponsored leagues must be certified every three years.  To assist with this vital undertaking, the clinic covers topics such as, departmental procedures, coaching philosophy, sports psychology, legal matters, health and much more.

There are three levels of certification:
Bronze: Coach's initial certification, (first time to a clinic).  This is valid for three (3) years.

Silver: Coach's second certification.  After three (3) years a coach must return to the coach's clinic for a certification update or the second level of certification.

Gold: Coach's thrid and final level of certification.  Once a coach has attened a GOLD clinic he/she will have a lifetime certification.

If a coach DOES NOT re-certify prior to their expiration date of their current certification they may lose that certification and will be come inelligible to coach.

• There is NO charge to attend a clinic;
• Clinics generally run for two (2) hours;
• No pre-registration required.

For additional information contact Sports Supervisor Donna Liberto at (410) 222-7865 ext 3535.