NorCal State Cup Warns Youth Soccer Families: Behave or You Won't Play

This sportsmanship message was sent to the parent representatives of the 354 U9-U10 youth soccer teams playing in the 2011 NorCal State Cup and to the club board members:

It is important that nothing that is written below detracts from the outstanding sportsmanship among players, coaches and parents during the Younger NorCal State Cup(s).

We will probably never reach the perfection that is our goal, but in the younger U9 - U13 ages, the Clubs and NorCal have certainly reached many hundreds of games that are perfect or near perfect.

At the this weekend I saw only joy and happiness on the faces of the players. My favorite times were when I heard players thanking each other when they handed or threw the ball to the other team players for throw-ins.

NorCal has some unhappy news about Sportsmanship and the Younger NorCal Cup(s).

In the past month, the PAD Committee removed two Under 11 teams from future participation in the 2011 Cup(s).

For the one team, an Under 11 Boys,  it was because of the adults misbehaving in a destructive manner at a game and embarassing their Club and NorCal. 

This is the first time in memory that a Younger — U9 to U13 — team has been suspended from playing in NorCal events.

The second team involved parents conspiring to falsify birth certificates which enabled their older boys to play on a team for which they were too old.

Everyone involved in our wonderful sport needs to be proactive in helping develop and maintain the highest levels of sportsmanship. 

From my teaching experience, I will advise all coaches and managers that the use of foul language is often a sign that the player is being poorly influenced by their peer group and/or the media. 

Setting the proper standards for our young players is better left to wise and caring adults.

The adults associated with team management should be proactive in mentioning to their impressionable players the long-term value of good sportsmanship. 

It is also important that all parents understand the Club and team "culture of good sportsmanship." 

Three years ago, at the 2008 NorCal Cup(s) a father watching his daughter play in her first games with her new team had not learned that culture about the new team and Club.

At the end of the game, he ran out on the field toward the referees so violently that 8-year-old girls began crying and running toward their fathers and mothers.

Please thank the players who provide so much energy, joy and sportsmanship to the NorCal events.

Please thank the parents for behaving so well and for setting a great example for their children and the other parents.

And, thank you to the wonderful NorCal coaches and managers, for creating that team and Club "Culture of Excellent Sportsmanship" that will benefit their players for their whole lives.

— Herb Ziemer (NorCal Cup Coordinator U9-U13)