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"Dad" or "Coach"?

AudioDwebe

AudioDwebe

Guest
Dec 21, 2011
888
805
Pacific Northwest
#1
I'm coaching my son's soccer team this year (7/8 year olds) and have a question: I was going to have him just call me "Dad" but one of my friends at the office recommended that he also call me "Coach" like all the other kids while on the field.

What has been your experience in these types of things?

I'm pretty much set on my son calling me Dad, but wanted to get a feel for how (or if) something like this might affect the team.

Thoughts?
 
#3
I don't believe it will matter to the other kids. They all know that's your son. If anything, the parents will be more of a concern.
My one grandson just returned from Spain and Portugal from a invitational soccer tournament.
 
#8
My dad was my little league coach back when I was 11 & 12. I dont think while on the field I ever referred to him as either. There was definitely no preferential treatment.

I wasnt that great of a player to begin with, since I had just started and was playing with a lot of kids who had been playing since they were 5 & 6 years old. Eventually, though, I worked my way up to being our best outfielder, and from there got promoted to 3rd base.
 
#9
I coached my three kids in soccer and baseball for a total of about 11 years. I just kind of let them call me what they wanted to(most of the other kids called me "coach Neil"). As I recall, they kind of floated around a bit for a while, but pretty much ended up calling me "Coach". The parents didn't seem to care much what my kids called me, as long as I treated everyone fairly, and the kids had fun.
 
#10
Another vote for "Coach"

I played on teams coached by a player's dad and we always resented the coach's son (who called him "dad" and would get preferential treatment). It did build comradery between all of us who weren't the coach's son, though.
 
#13
Thanks for the input, guys. I really appreciate it.

The thing I don't want is any division/lack of team spirit within the team (I've got eight kids total) and the "Dad" thing was just a bit of a concern.

I'll definitely treat all of them equally. I'm sure my son will resent being treated like everyone else at first but he'll adjust soon enough. Maybe I'll just sort of play it by ear and let it naturally progress to wherever it will (I'm guessing he'll end up call me Coach like all the other kids).

I'm excited, but nervous at the same time. We have our first practice tomorrow afternoon.

I'll definitely look into a rugby league next. ;)
 
#15
NG51 said:
You're gonna have a blast! Coaching was one of the best things I ever did with my kids and their friends- even, now 15 years+ later, I run into some of my old players-they still call me "Coach"!
Good luck!
Click to expand...

It's truly amazing the impact a coach can have on a child's life. I've been wanting to get into coaching rec soccer myself, but I've always been somewhat hesitant given the way the general public views adult men spending time with kids who aren't their own. Seems a bit risky to me even though I know it's something I'd greatly enjoy and would be quite good at it.
 
#16
What he calls you isn't important in my opinion. What is important is that he is treated exactly like the other kids. I helped coach a friends little league team of 8 and 9 year olds. We would make sure that the best players would know what it was like to sit the bench, and that the worst players had a chance to play entire games. Everyone got equal playing time, because at that age winning isn't important and every kid should get an equal shot.
 
#17
"coach" unless you want your son to assume the role of "common enemy"

Even if you don't show preferential treatment (or if you do, and just think you don't) one of their teammates calling the coach "dad" could easily give that impression.

especially for those players who don't have a dad at home
 
#18
jmattbassplaya said:
It's truly amazing the impact a coach can have on a child's life. I've been wanting to get into coaching rec soccer myself, but I've always been somewhat hesitant given the way the general public views adult men spending time with kids who aren't their own. Seems a bit risky to me even though I know it's something I'd greatly enjoy and would be quite good at it.
Click to expand...

This is something I would like to do as well...it also concerns me in the same way it does you
 
#20
I'm looking forward to working with all the kids. I think the idea of being a (potential) positive influence on a youngster is quite awesome.

I'm a bit ashamed and embarassed to say that I've never thought of coaching anything until my son got involved. In hindsight, it seems really selfish of me.

I'm definitely looking forward to the challenge.
 

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