The dedicated fan or parent is an
important part of any soccer program. Who else would drive the tires
off their car, stand by through burning sun, driving rain, Arctic sleet
and hoards of carnivorous mosquitoes to cheer every success of their
kids and the team. In your enthusiasm it is important to remember the
following items.
By showing up at the game you become an
official NJSL fan and a member of the team you are supporting. As a
member of the team you are expected to uphold the philosophy of the
league in your behavior toward the players and the officials.
For every fan of the team wearing green
there is a counterpart with a player wearing yellow sharing the same
burning desire for victory and success. Fans tend to view games in one
color. You are encouraged to view it in both green and yellow.
Youngsters who are often learning the rudiments of the game and have
widely varying skill levels play the game. The behavior of the fans can
have a strong influence on the player’s feelings toward themselves and
the game, both positively and adversely. A coach who quite possibly is
coaching a game he or she has never played is leading the team. As you
are sitting on the sidelines appreciate all the coach does. The game is
being officiated by a person who, although he or she has attended a
class and passed a test administered by the USSF, may just be learning
to apply classroom knowledge to the field. Hostile adult coaches and
fans can easily intimidate the younger referees.
Accept the referee’s judgment, as in the
game of soccer his word is law. If you feel the referee has done a good
job during the game, find time afterward to seek out that person and
compliment him or her. If you think the referee has not done a good
job, contact the NJSL Board.
As an NJSL fan you are expected to
acknowledge good play on both teams and set an example of good
sportsmanship. Nothing can be more stimulating to the players than
cheers, applause and recognition of a task well done.
Anything positive from the sidelines is
fair game and encouraged. Good sportsmen are easily identified on the
sideline because when they cheer they also smile.
Conversely, poor sportsmanship has no
place in the NJSL. Poor sportsmanship on the part of fans, coaches and
players destroys the essence of the recreation NJSL is fostering. Poor
sportsmanship by those ringing the field carries onto the playing area
and erodes the performance of the participants by redirecting their
attention from elements of the game to elements that are not part of the
game.
Coaches, fans and players who
consistently display poor sportsmanship are subject to censure from the
NJSL. Poor sportsmen never smile when they holler or cheer. Be a
true NJSL fan and always wear your smile.
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