Stop Shouting from the Sidelines
The Story
Fictional story based on real events.
Last weekend, we played a small-sided game — kids laughing, competing, trying their best.
But then, one moment changed the tone of it all.
One player, let’s call him Jayden, received the ball near midfield. He froze.
His dad yelled, “Pass it! Pass it! Move!”
Another parent shouted, “Shoot!”
And from the bench, one of the other players yelled, “Go left!”
Three seconds later — Jayden lost the ball. He looked to the sideline, his eyes searching for approval, not understanding what he’d done wrong.
And right there, it hit me again:
we’re robbing kids of their chance to think.
The Lesson
In youth football, silence can be a powerful coaching tool.
When parents and coaches constantly shout instructions, they unintentionally do three things:
-
They replace the player’s decision-making with their own.
-
They build fear instead of confidence.
-
They turn the game into a test, not a playground.
The truth is — football is a decision-making game. Every second, players must see, interpret, and act. If they’re always told what to do, they’ll never learn to see for themselves.
So when we yell, “Pass! Shoot! Move!”, what we’re really saying is, “I don’t trust you to figure it out.”
And over time, that message sinks in deeper than we realize.
The LB Method Way
In the LB Method, one of our five pillars is Environment — because how we teach is just as important as what we teach.*
Our environment is built around:
-
Autonomy: Players learn through guided discovery.
-
Mistakes: Seen as part of growth, not failure.
-
Silence: We use it intentionally to let players process and act.
We step in after moments, not during them — asking questions like:
“What did you see there?”
“Why did you choose that option?”
“If you could do it again, what might you try differently?”
Those questions do more for a player’s development than ten shouted commands ever could.
The Parent’s Role
Parents are the foundation of a player’s environment. Your tone, your reactions, your words — they all shape how your child feels about the game.
Here’s what great sideline support sounds like:
-
“I love watching you play.”
-
“Have fun out there.”
-
“Keep trying.”
Simple. Encouraging. Safe.
Let your child know that win or lose, their effort is what matters most.
Your calm gives them confidence. Your silence gives them space to grow.
Final Message
Every player deserves the freedom to think, to make mistakes, and to learn through experience.
When we shout from the sidelines, we’re not helping — we’re hijacking their learning.
So next time your child has the ball, take a deep breath and remember:
Sometimes the loudest support is quiet confidence.
⚽ Want to understand your role in your child’s development even deeper?
📘 Download the LB Method Parent Guide — a short, practical resource that helps parents create the right environment for confidence, joy, and growth.
Post Comment